Another Rent a Racer featured white and gold

[deathsled]

Referenced as a "cult item" at 7:26 in.  Maybe Tony's on to something.

[GeotechDuck]

Nice!! Enjoyed this. 

[FL SAAC]

Yup right at 7:26 they do say "cult item"

This Tony person you mention, does he also go by the "prophet"

Let me add, they are "Blue Chip" collectibles,  probably the most sought out of the early real ones 1965 throuugh 1967

More desirable I do agree are the GT350R, one of one 1967 convertible GT500, Lil Red and the Green Hornet to name a few

But again not bad for a "used car" I must say...

[6s1640]

It interesting that the "H" is left off the fender striping.  I wonder why?

Cory

[Bob Gaines]

It interesting that the "H" is left off the fender striping.  I wonder why?

Cory

Back in the day the rental car stigma was a negative. It was not uncommon for some of the typical black cars which were so typically identified as Hertz rentals were painted white or other colors before or shortly after resale to try and disguise the heritage. Those same cars typically left the H off for those same repainted cars. Remember there was no way to tell if they were a X Hertz rental car until the later 1970's and even then only a small few were dialed in the SAAC registry to figure out the history of each. Of course a gold stripe hints of what it could be but back when owners personalize their Shelby to their own taste it wasn't given much of a second thought.This is especially true back when only the black cars were typically associated with Hertz and most enthusiasts were unaware that Hertz cars came in another color besides black. I am not saying it is for sure that is the case of the car that is the subject of this thread here but it certainly was for many other 66 GT350 X rental cars back in the day. Up until the late 80's the Hertz cars were considered the red haired stepchild of the 66 Shelby's and consequently sold for substantially less . Fast forward to today and the value is at least as much as a similar GT350 if not more in many cases. 

[pchmotoho]

Some early ones never had an H on the fender stripes

[cobrachi]

When I bought 6S531 in 1970...there was no "H" on the stripes, and could not find any remnants that it had been changed recently...

[6s1640]

It interesting that the "H" is left off the fender striping.  I wonder why?

Cory

Back in the day the rental car stigma was a negative. It was not uncommon for some of the typical black cars which were so typically identified as Hertz rentals were painted white or other colors before or shortly after resale to try and disguise the heritage. Those same cars typically left the H off for those same repainted cars. Remember there was no way to tell if they were a X Hertz rental car until the later 1970's and even then only a small few were dialed in the SAAC registry to figure out the history of each. Of course a gold stripe hints of what it could be but back when owners personalize their Shelby to their own taste it wasn't given much of a second thought.This is especially true back when only the black cars were typically associated with Hertz and most enthusiasts were unaware that Hertz cars came in another color besides black. I am not saying it is for sure that is the case of the car that is the subject of this thread here but it certainly was for many other 66 GT350 X rental cars back in the day. Up until the late 80's the Hertz cars were considered the red haired stepchild of the 66 Shelby's and consequently sold for substantially less . Fast forward to today and the value is at least as much as a similar GT350 if not more in many cases. 

Hi Bob,  Yes, agree with your assessment and have known this for sometime.  I just find it strange that in this modern era, where ex-rental SAI cars are now revered, that the missing "H" has not been put back.

Cory

[FL SAAC]

Or possibly they ran out of the GT350H stripes and since they had to comply with a qouta, they just started to use the regular GT350 stripes on Hertz cars

a perfect example of "Adapt, improvise, overcome"

[Bob Gaines]

Some early ones never had an H on the fender stripes

Those were typically not gold side stripe cars you will find.

[pchmotoho]

It interesting that the "H" is left off the fender striping.  I wonder why?

Cory

Back in the day the rental car stigma was a negative. It was not uncommon for some of the typical black cars which were so typically identified as Hertz rentals were painted white or other colors before or shortly after resale to try and disguise the heritage. Those same cars typically left the H off for those same repainted cars. Remember there was no way to tell if they were a X Hertz rental car until the later 1970's and even then only a small few were dialed in the SAAC registry to figure out the history of each. Of course a gold stripe hints of what it could be but back when owners personalize their Shelby to their own taste it wasn't given much of a second thought.This is especially true back when only the black cars were typically associated with Hertz and most enthusiasts were unaware that Hertz cars came in another color besides black. I am not saying it is for sure that is the case of the car that is the subject of this thread here but it certainly was for many other 66 GT350 X rental cars back in the day. Up until the late 80's the Hertz cars were considered the red haired stepchild of the 66 Shelby's and consequently sold for substantially less . Fast forward to today and the value is at least as much as a similar GT350 if not more in many cases. 

Hi Bob,  Yes, agree with your assessment and have known this for sometime.  I just find it strange that in this modern era, where ex-rental SAI cars are now revered, that the missing "H" has not been put back.

Cory

The H was never there but like Bob G. said these were not gold striped cars and the ones Ive known about were white.

[6s1640]

What you guys are saying is all true, back in the day.  Many ex-rental GT350H's were altered to disguise them from being ex-rental cars.  To disguise a car, it is more probably that blue stripes would have been painted on a white GT350H and a blue non-H GT350 side stripe, not gold. Also, why would SAI have non-H gold striping?  (I'd like to see that in the meeting notes.)  It would appear the car has been repainted by the absent blackout area behind the scoop, so it is a non-original paint car. And once a car no longer has its original paint, all bets are off on what's original. If the owner or painter at the time wanted to hide the fact it was an ex-rental, they did a crummy job painting the gold Le Manns stripes and gold side stripes.

I have several buddies that purchased 1966 GT350's back in the day, one was an original red car with white striping.  The other was black with white striping.  They were both surprised to find gold striping under the white paint.  So it is true back in the day.  It worked, they had no idea they bought an ex-rental.

Last, some of the first HERTZ GT350's cars (18) out were white with blue striping, no "H".  Ask Randy Gilles (RIP).  My buddy that restored white 6S463 restored with no "H" because he could not find any proof these early white HERTZ cars had the "H". 6S531 was also a white HERTZ and no "H" described by Cobrachi.  I expect part of the 18 with blue striping.  Randy restore 6S477 with an "H".  It helped tell the story.  I have not seen, verified original GT350H's with gold striping with no "H" from the factory.  (I would like to see the factory documentation.)

Take care

Cory

[FL SAAC]

Adding to the Fascination and Mystique to those "Legendary Cult Cars"

Or the Hertz Cars with out the "H"....

Even after close to 60 years, these "Rent a Racers" remain on top of the mainstream news

[Coralsnake]

Bob-

Its like having an old police car. Sounds great until youve worked at a police department and find out people are barfing, pissing and crapping in them.

😂

[Bob Gaines]

Bob-

Its like having an old police car. Sounds great until youve worked at a police department and find out people are barfing, pissing and crapping in them.

😂

+1 🤣