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Scrapping the first Shelby Mustang?

Scrapping a Shelby Mustang?

Scrapping a Shelby Mustang?

A good friend of ours owns the “003” Shelby Mustang, which happens to be the 1st street Shelby (“001” and “002” were race models).  We received this great email and photo from him and are reprinting it with permission.

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Hello everyone,
As a response to the current political and economic changes in the U.S. within the past year,  I thought I should do my part in evaluating my carbon footprint as well as thinking it may be worthwhile to turn a slight shade of “green”. So I took 003 to the emission testing area on Monday morning, it is a very short drive from my house, so the car had only been on the road for a little more than 5 minutes. A blast on I-5 for a few miles may have suited the car to run better, but at 9:00 in the morning I thought the traffic would be pretty congested. When I entered the vehicle emission testing center, I could read one of the attendant’s mouth saying, “What the #&^*?” That alone was worth the price of admission. With nearly straight side exhaust pipes, people are aware you have arrived ………from a couple blocks away. Thirty years ago, I would have liked the attention, now I don’t want it, but look what you are driving on the street.   I was thinking/hoping the car would fail horribly in every section, but it passed!  Just my luck, feeling kind of rejected, I drove the car over to the local Ford dealership since the sign outside stated “Cash for Klunkers”.  If memory serves me correctly, 003 was sold as a used car to Bill Moir in July-August of 1965 through Ed Leslie’s dealership for $4,350.00.  I had heard that the “cash for clunkers” program was giving out $4,500.00 for the trade-in allowance. I thought, “How many 45 year old cars today could actually sell for what they cost new, not very many”. Seemed like a good idea to me at the time. A Ford salesman approach and seemed quite happy with the car, but he told me the program ended two weeks ago and the car was too old anyways. Someone also told me the car was too old at the emission testing  facility as well,  so much for  trying to lessen my carbon footprint and becoming more “green”. At least I can say I tried.

2 Comments

  1. Vicky Vicky
    September 12, 2009    

    wow! i can’t believe somebody would give away a shelby just cause its not as “green” as other cars! i would buy that car in a heartbeat! who cares about your “carbon footprint” when you have a beautiful piece of american history in your garage?! it just amazes me! i treat my mustang (a slightly modded 2001 v6) as if it was a million dollar car, which in my eyes she is and anyone lucky enough to own a shelby should treat it with the respect it deserves…..

    • September 13, 2009    

      This Shelby is definitely a fine piece of American history. The owner takes great pride in the car and is meticulous about restoring it to its original street model condition. He brought it to the Ford dealer as a joke, which made for a great laugh. He would never turn this car in for $4,500, as the Mustang’s current value far surpasses that.