GT500 Tribute Build

[mlplunkett]

I've been in parts collection mode for several months and have now collected enough parts that I'm ready to get serious about wrenching on my GT500 tribute car. I hope that by documenting the build I can provide a reference for others who may admire the Shelby marque as I have for all these years but not be able to justify the cost of an original. I'm a retired engineer and just had my 65th birthday so the early days of the Shelby legend were headline car news when I was a preteen building scale models of GT40s and a host of other performance automobiles. I've been a Shelby fan as long as I can remember and decided probably 25 years ago that I would eventually build a 67 GT500 tribute car when I was done funding the education and marriage of my 4 kids. Having no plan for striking it rich and having no rich relatives I never really considered that I would ever be fortunate enough to own an original. At any rate this is the kickoff of that project. These photos show where I started when I purchased the car in Atlanta from a guy who had owned it for about 25 years. He started his restoration with a brief flurry of activity about 15 years ago (new 351 motor, new seats, new brakes, etc.) and then he parked it for most of the 15 years since then. I won't be using much more than the shell but at least I get to see how it comes apart so I'll have an idea how to put it back together. This is how it looked when I got it.

[JD]

Good luck, (also as you may know there maybe some good parts on that car that you don't need but others do)

[SHELB66]

From the pictures, it appears as if you have a good starting point.  Finding a decent body is half the challenge.  As JD mentioned above many of the parts that you will not be using can be put towards the parts you will be needing, either by selling or trading.  Good luck!  Keep us posted on your progress.

Craig R.

[2112]

Going with an original color combination?

[Side-Oilers]

Yes, good luck and thanks for posting. Many of us are in your age group...or a bit below/above.  We share in your time-frame of growing up and becoming interested/obsessed in Shelbys. 

Glad you're getting to do your project.  There's no time like the present.

[mlplunkett]

My color scheme will be a version of the nightmist blue. Here's my trial run on my 67 Donzi that got the Shelby treatment. I might have to mount a trailer hitch on the GT500 just long enough to take a picture of these two in tandem.

[JD]

My color scheme will be a version of the nightmist blue. Here's my trial run on my 67 Donzi that got the Shelby treatment. I might have to mount a trailer hitch on the GT500 just long enough to take a picture of these two in tandem.

Do trailer the boat all the time - that will stop traffic !

[Side-Oilers]

My color scheme will be a version of the nightmist blue. Here's my trial run on my 67 Donzi that got the Shelby treatment. I might have to mount a trailer hitch on the GT500 just long enough to take a picture of these two in tandem.

I remember when you posted that Donzi pix before...very cool!!!

[cbrown]

Pretty sure Kid Rock has one too.  40 footer!!!    rolling lake St Clair...

Chris

[The Going Thing]

It looks like you bought a solid base.  If you didn't invest in the Osborne manuals, buy them all. You'll need them I guarantee you!

[mark p]

My color scheme will be a version of the nightmist blue. Here's my trial run on my 67 Donzi that got the Shelby treatment. I might have to mount a trailer hitch on the GT500 just long enough to take a picture of these two in tandem.

Do trailer the boat all the time - that will stop traffic !

That sounds like it would be very cool

[JD]

It looks like you bought a solid base. If you didn't invest in the Osborne manuals, buy them all. You'll need them I guarantee you!

^^^^ +1 (get the whole series of the '67 books, don't get just a couple)

[2112]

I didn't catch the Donzi from before. Looks fantastic. I am a big boat guy, have had 3, all blue.

[mlplunkett]

The before and after on the boat was pretty dramatic. About a 2 year project. It will sling grandkids off a tube like nobody's business. We take it over to Louis Smith Lake in AL every July 4th for a family reunion. If you care to see what's involved in a boat overhaul you can page through the whole process on the Donzi forum.
https://www.donzi.org/forum/showthread.php/5855-Restoration-of-16-441

[FL SAAC]

Good luck on your build,  but most importantly do what brings you happiness!