Shelby Christmas Card

[BGlover67]

I recently was lucky enough to have found this card for sale. 

https://imageshack.com/a/Ynrn7/1

It's from original artwork by Michael Turner.  This card is of Phil Hill driving a Cobra around the Sicilian mountains of the Targa Florio in 1964.  I shared it with my friend Kieth and he asked me what year it was produced, to which I wasn't sure.

In what can only be described as a serendipitous event, yesterday I received a GT350 plate that I recently found:

http://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=8641.0

and with it was a copy of the Competition Press & Autoweek, October 2, 1965.  On the back page was this ad from England's Studio 88 for a set of Christmas cards based on Europe's leading racing artist, Michael Turner.  So now I know they were from 1965.  Pretty cool!  Check out the ad with the 1965 GT350 that used the front plate I bought.  The seller's friend purchased it from Downtown Ford in the late '70s.

There were 8 cars credited as going to Downtown, 041, 076, 078, 113, 115, 116, 183, 184.  I think the car pictured in the ad is most probably 041, because it was sold to the Manager of the Hi-Performance Department, Bob Cooper.  I think there is an excellent chance that it would be Bob in the picture behind the wheel with the helmet on.  Does anyone agree?


Lastly, if you want to eat your heart ad, check out the classifieds from this newspaper, but I warned you.  '58 Ferrari California for $6k, '64 Cobra for $4975, Paul Peterson's '64 Cobra custom, Testa Rosa Protoype for $2995, & etc. 


Update:  I scanned the images to read them better:

https://imageshack.com/a/KG8n7/1

[Shelby_r_b]

Wow!  I've score, Brian!

[JD]

Great buys and thanks for scanning the ads. 

I'll take the Ferrari at the bottom of the page that carry's-over to page 14!!

[propayne]

Very, very cool and new to me.

Michael Turner is one of the best - this is from his book "Drawing and Painting Racing Cars".

- Phillip

[BGlover67]

Found this website about Turner.  Click on each year to see more pics.

https://www.studio88.co.uk/acatalog/Michael_Turner_motorsport_cards.html

[propayne]

^^^ Great site to poke around in - his son Graham is amazing also.

You can find prints of GT40s and a Daytona Coupe print.

Plus you can purchase original art at what I think are extremely reasonable prices.

- Phillip

[2112]

As usual, great finds!

I can only imagine how great it was for car guys and racing back then.

[gbart14]

Brian Glover - Brian Littlefield pointed me to your copies of the Oct 2 1965 Comp press and auto week and I just received same copies from Howard Pardee. Thanks to all three of you. The 65 Shelby for sale in the ad is my 5S243 then owned by Robert McKay who was a writer and photographer for Road Test Magazine and drove the Shelby in the IX Rally in Mexico in 1965. There is a detailed article about it in the May 1966 Road Test Magazine and also a full page photo in the Oct 1965 Sports Car Graphic shown attached. I am continuing to search for history after McKay and this has re-ignited my fire for it after many many attempts to get info previous to Ben Eriksen who I bought it from in the early 80's. I am looking for a copy of that Oct 2 1965 Comp Press and any copies in 65 that may have discussed the rally in Mexico. FYI, I am now in the Portland area and President of SAAC Northwest. Thanks for any help.

[BGlover67]

PM your email.

[SFM66H]

Brian,

Coolest plate E V E R . . .

Kieth

[BGlover67]

Brian,

Coolest plate E V E R . . .

Kieth

Spoken by one of the coolest guys ever.