Shelby: A Historical Look at the Legend

The stir the Shelby Mustangs have made in the hobby over the years has been huge. Of all Mustangs, these heady beasts have the greatest impact on the marketplace and the show field—even greater than the Boss cars we peeked at last month.

What drives this desire by most—if not all—Mustang enthusiasts to lust after these sometimes hairy-chested beasts that Carroll cranked out of his Los Angeles and finally the Ionia, Michigan, plants? The answer is as varied as it would be for any Mustang, but surely it just boils down to a couple of things: first, is value. The Shelby GT350 and GT500 hold their value well. Even when the old-car market goes soft, the Shelby does well. The second reason is jazz. The Shelby has that “certain something” that stops people in their tracks at a show and makes them want to take a closer look. This is especially true where the average joe is concerned in regard to the ’67-and-up GT350 and GT500. To the typical car guy, these Shelbys are markedly different from the Mustang herd.

So we are going to delve into the things that make a Shelby “Shelby,” and we’ll even give some values and tips on where to go if you are interested in these cars.