1967 GT350 #67200F2A02615.

AUTHENTICITY:  Genuine ’67 Shelby GT350 fastback serial number 2615.  Original Shelby VIN plate incorporating a “Z” prefix in the stamping. Shelby VIN is clearly stamped into right fender apron. The 7R02K Ford VINs stamped into the inner fender aprons have been observed and recorded. The Ford number has been verified by the Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC), which has custody of the Shelby factory records.

The door striker pins are both date stamped “4 - 67”. These coincide with the car’s May build date at Ford.
This GT350 is listed in the Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC) World Registry 1997 Edition, on pages 684 and 755.

Numerous original documents or copies of documents pertaining to #2615 survive and accompany the car. They are arranged in a large binder and include:
- Albion, S.A. vehicle order to Shelby May 5, 1967 (copy)
- Shelby American Invoice for vehicle to Albion, S.A. August 16, 1967 (copy)
- Original owner’s manual and sales brochure
- Spanish vehicle registrations and insurance documents from the 1970’s and 80’s
- English vehicle importation, registration and insurance documents from the 1990’s
- Restoration and parts receipts (England) from early to late 1990’s
- Magazines and calendar featuring the car in 2000 and 2004
- Elite Marti Report

HISTORY:  Produced at Ford’s San Jose, CA assembly plant on May 18, 1967 and shipped to Shelby American in Los Angeles for completion. Completed by Shelby on June 10, 1967 and shipped July 6,1967 to Albion, S.A. in Madrid, Spain.

Sold by Albion on December 23, 1967 to the first owner, Jose Dacruz Cao of Madrid. Assigned Spanish registration number M631475. Cao would own #2615 for the next 23 years, through 1990. He used it regularly throughout his ownership, during which the car was repainted no fewer than six times, the last being to the Spanish national colors of red and yellow. During this time it sustained only one accident, in 1972. This resulted in minor damage to the front fiberglass nose and one front fender. The fender was replaced with a new Ford unit and the nose was repaired, as replacements were no longer available.

The Spanish climate is very warm and dry, similar to that of Southern California in the USA. Thus, #2615 sustained no substantial corrosion damage, and other than the fender, retains all of its original body metal. The nose has since been replaced, but other than this, all of the car’s fiberglass is also factory original.

The next owner was Martin Ashenden, an Englishman living in Valencia, Spain. Shelby values escalated dramatically during the late 1980’s. Mr. Ashenden, being knowledgeable of Shelby vehicles, traveled the country during this period looking for surviving examples. He was able to acquire six cars throughout Spain, which he subsequently resold to enthusiasts in England. #2615 was among these.

Ashenden bought #2615 on December 28, 1990 for 300,000 Spanish pesetas, then equivalent to about $3100 US dollars. On February 21, 1991, he transported it to England, where he proceeded to drive it during a visit. The car was in poor condition and broke down. It was judged not immediately repairable so as to be driven to get back to his home in Spain, and the cost of transporting it there was prohibitive. So, he decided to sell #2615 “as is” in England.

The third owner was John Ashbourne of Suffolk, England who acquired #2615 from Ashendon on February 27, 1991 for 11,000 English pounds, then equivalent to about $21,100 US dollars. The mileage was recorded at this time to be 104,520 miles. Ashbourne was the chairman of Addenbrookes Hospital and at the time also head of the Shelby Heart Trust Fund in England. He and Carroll Shelby were personally acquainted, and Shelby would stay at his home when visiting England. During one of these visits, Shelby autographed the inner fender apron of #2615 and also the sun visors. There are photographs in the car’s file of him performing these autographs.

Because Ashenden had brought #2615 into England on the premise of using it for travel only while he was there visiting, it became John Ashbourne’s responsibility to formally arrange its importation with the English authorities. A dispute emerged over the claimed value of the car for customs and excise duties, which eventually led to its being impounded on February 28, 1992 by Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise. An appeal by Ashbourne was denied March 13, 1992. He apparently subsequently resigned himself to pay the additional fees, and recovered the vehicle soon after.

Ashcroft attempted to undertake a restoration, and #2615 was disassembled in 1992 for this purpose. Not being an automobile man himself, he hired the major work out to various individuals. The body was repainted, and the usual other facets of such an endeavor were undertaken, including an engine rebuild and brake and suspension work. Documents in the file and professional evaluations by the subsequent owner indicate that the quality of this work was generally inferior. Ashcroft himself wrote a letter to the painter on February 22, 1994, expressing concern over the deterioration of the finish. The restoration was never completed. Ashcroft, apparently discouraged, finally sold #2615 in its unfinished state.

The fourth owner was Alan Faulkner-Stevens of Buckinghamshire, England, who acquired it in February of 1998. He is the proprietor of Dragon Wheels, a professional restoration shop specializing in American vehicles, particularly Shelbys and Corvettes. Alan purchased #2615 for his personal use, and immediately set about to complete it. The car was finished by April of 1998 and road registered in England for the first time, receiving number BBD 106 E. These registration plates remain with the car. Alan immediately began to encounter problems, including engine overheating and oil consumption, balky shifting and brake troubles. After 1400 miles, the engine failed. The original block could not be saved; as it had already received 8 improperly fitted bore sleeves. Two of the main bearing caps had also been installed in the wrong positions, resulting in bearing failure.

The engine was completely replaced and the other problems were sorted out over time. #2615 became a very reliable, enjoyable road driver. During this period, #2615 was equipped with reproduction Shelby ten spoke aluminum wheels and Goodyear Speedway 350 bias ply tires. It also became a fixture at English car shows, and represented the Dragon Wheels business to prospective clients. #2615 was featured in various British car magazines of the period. It appeared in a center spread article in the April 2000 issue of Classic American and also as the feature car on the magazine’s year 2000 calendar. It also appeared on the cover of the July 2, 2000 issue of Exchange Mart. The December 2004 issue of Classic Car incorporated #2615 into a comparison among vintage performance cars from five countries.

The fifth owner was Bill Collins, proprietor of Bill Collins Collector Fords in Middletown, PA, USA. Alan Faulkner-Stevens decided in August of 2005 to sell #2615, in order to pursue acquisition of an AC Cobra. He and Bill had become acquainted in 1997, and they had partnered on several occasions to find and acquire Shelbys in the USA for Alan’s European clients. Bill bought #2615 and returned it to the USA on October 17, 2005. Following some work to return the lighting and signaling back to US specs, #2615 was placed up for sale.

The fifth owner is Paul Hartman of Prince Frederick, Maryland, USA. Paul first saw #2615 on display in February of 2006 in Bill’s booth at the annual Collector Vehicle event in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Although he had not attended with the intent of buying a car, Paul was smitten with #2615’s dark good looks and agreed there to purchase it. Bill delivered it to him on April 7, 2006.

Paul has enjoyed #2615 for almost three years. It has been maintained and improved under his ownership. Notable changes are modern radial tires and Mag Star wheels, and a conversion to inboard style grille lights from the original outboard style. Paul is now acquiring a 1968 Shelby through Bill, which has prompted the sale of #2615. It was delivered back to Bill in November of 2008.

CONFIGURATION/CONDITION: This GT350 is a factory four speed car and was originally produced in the Nightmist Blue color with black interior. Grille light arrangement was originally the “outboard” style, now changed to “inboard”. It was originally equipped with steel wheels and wheel covers. Kelsey Hayes “Mag Star” wheels are now fitted with Goodrich T/A radials. Radio is AM. This Shelby was cosmetically and mechanically restored in the 1990’s.The restoration focused on producing a pleasing road car, rather than a concours show example. Thus, the level of detailing does not approach that of show only examples. Since its completion ten years ago, it has been used as a road and occasional show car and has traveled approximately 7200 miles, for a total current mileage of 111,700.

Although the engine in #2615 has been replaced, the owner who performed this change reports that no 7R02K VIN number was found on the original block. That block bore a casting date of 7A19 (January 19, 1967) and carried the factory orange paint daubs particular to the high performance 289. This is confirmed by photos taken of it during the changeover, which are in the car’s file. Inquiry into this situation can be made to the 1967 Registrar for the Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC), custodian of all factory records and known histories of Shelby Mustangs. They report that certain batches of ’67 GT350’s were produced without block VIN stampings. I have owned other ’67 350’s with original, but unstamped blocks and they have been generally between serial numbers 2200 and 2700. Some of these cars were verified by SAAC.

ENGINE: The replacement engine block bears a casting date of 7F16 (June 19, 1967) and an assembly date of 7F21 (June 21, 1967). Interestingly, the block casting number is C8OE, although the engine is known to have been sourced out of a ’67 “K” VIN Mustang fastback, and had all of the unique high performance internals intact, as well as a standard factory bore size. Photos of this block are also in the car’s file. It is known that as Ford began the changeover from 289 to 302 displacement, it was common for various components to become intermixed within a particular engine assembly. My decades of experience dismantling such engines confirm this. The late production date of this block (June) within the ‘67 model year further confirms this probability.

The air filter assembly is a new quality reproduction of the original style factory high performance unit. The carburetor is the factory original Holley 715 cfm with S2MS engineering number and 721 date (1st week February 1967). The original Cobra lettered aluminum intake manifold is in place with S7MS engineering number. The original Cobra aluminum valve covers are intact. The original FoMoCo logo dual point distributor with C5OF-E identification and 6C15 date (March 15, 1966) is installed. The water pump is a generic replacement new in 1998. The alternator has the large diameter high performance pulley.

An extensive engine rebuild with modifications was performed in March of 1998. Receipts for this accompany the car and detail the work done. The short block is balanced with new forged pistons and connecting rods. The crankshaft is the original. All engine internals were checked and machined to high performance standards. A new hydraulic cam, lifters and oil pump were installed. The engine was dyno tested and develops 355 horsepower at 6200 RPM. It has accumulated approximately 7200 miles since completion of the rebuild.

The original cast iron high performance exhaust manifolds are in place. The exhaust system is an OEM style reproduction system, with factory style “H” pipe, integral resonator intermediate pipes and transverse muffler. The system exits through original style chrome flared tips beneath the rear valence as original. The system is in good condition, with a nearly new appearance from the intermediate pipes back.

The engine compartment has been cleaned and painted semi gloss black, as is the underside of the hood. The compartment has been detailed. The original export brace is intact, along with a Monte Carlo bar curved to ease access to the distributor. The radiator is a factory style, extended width high performance unit that was rebuilt at restoration. A fan shroud has been fitted. The factory power steering cooler is intact, as is the extra wide diameter pulley on the power steering pump. The factory power brake system is in place. The battery is a generic aftermarket brand. Hoses, wires and cables are new original style reproductions. The horns are original. The windshield washer system is intact and functional, being the late production style with plastic reservoir.

DRIVELINE: The transmission and rear axle assembly are the original factory installed units to this vehicle. The Transmission ID tag is intact and reads RUG –N. This decodes to '67 high performance 289, close ratio. The last four digits of the car’s Ford VIN are stamped into the bottom of the transmission main case. A rebuilt factory shift controller and handle control the trans. The rear axle is the original 9 inch unit with 3:89 gear ratio and 28 spline axles. The differential case casting date is 6L16 (November 16, 1966). The axle metal ID tag is missing.

The factory spring snubbers are in place above the forward end of each spring. Gas pressure shocks are installed all around.

BODY: On the exterior, This Shelby was originally built with outboard mounted grille lights. The original steel wheels and covers were replaced in 2007 with reproductions of the factory optional Kelsey Hayes “Mag Star” 15x7 mag style wheel. These are mounted on 225/60R15 BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires, also new in 2007.

The hood is an all fiberglass, unlouvred style. The deck lid is entirely fiberglass. The lower brake scoops are non-functional. All Shelby exterior equipment, unique identification and trim are intact. The hood pin cables are factory style with the swivel ends.

The exterior was repainted in 1993 to the original Nightmist Blue Metallic color. The material is a single stage acrylic, reportedly used to replicate the texture of the original factory finish as closely as possible. The overall finish has average to good paint smoothness and gloss, which is remarkable considering its age. Some cracking is visible on the hood, tops of the front fenders and top of the left rear quarter panel. The car presents a good overall appearance, although the cracking is evident even on casual inspection.

All body metal is original with exception of one front fender. There is no evidence of any panel replacement. The front engine compartment aprons and shock towers show no signs of corrosion. The frame rails supporting the front floors have some jacking damage. The factory primer drips are still visible on the floor pans. The rear rails and trunk drops are in excellent condition. The trunk floors and rear structural areas are sound. The fuel tank was replaced at restoration and remains in as new condition. The underneath was repainted black during the initial restoration attempt in 1993. It is not detailed and has accumulated patina from over 7000 miles of road use.

Most of the exterior trim is in new to excellent condition, being replaced at restoration.  All fiberglass body components are original with exception of the front nose, which is a new reproduction. Panel fit and alignment is very good, both fiberglass and metal. Window glass is generally good with no substantial scratches. The windshield has been replaced.

INTERIOR: The interior has its original dash pad in good condition. The dash gauge bezel is new and the remaining dash trim components are in matching condition. The speedometer/tach are the correct 140mph/8K calibrations. The underdash gauge cluster is intact. The original wood steering wheel is intact with correct GT350 center cap. The wood rim of the wheel is in good condition. The radio is the original AM. All gauges and accessories are in working order except the clock. The windshield wipers, heater and defroster work well.

The roll bar, inertia reels, shoulder harnesses and all seat belts are intact with correct “GT350” logos and front belt retractors. The shoulder belts have been modified by the installation of buckles so as to be detachable for easier access to the back seat. This modification has reportedly been in place since the car was new. The original transmission shifter is in place. The carpet and seat upholstery were replaced at restoration and are in good condition. The fiberglass deluxe seat backs and side bolsters are in place. The headliner is in good condition.

The door panels and door aluminum are in good condition with no splits or tears. The correct ribbed grilles are in place on the lower door, with integrated courtesy lights. The doorsill plates are original with the Shelby American ID plates intact.  The interior fiberglass trim and rear seat side panels were refinished at restoration and are in good condition. The foldown seat assembly is intact and its chrome trim is in good condition. The trunk interior access hatch door is in good condition.

The interior of the trunk is finished in the original Nightmist Blue color. The trunk mat is a quality reproduction plaid rubber backed style. There is presently no spare tire/wheel, but the jack, handle and holdown are intact.

OBSERVATIONS: The car starts readily and runs and drives very well, with strong power. Handling and road manners are good with stable steering and suspension. The power assist to the braking is working properly and the car stops straight. Brake and fuel lines are believed in good condition, as are the front brake rotors and most of the brake system.  All of the interior and exterior lights, including the brake lights, turn signals and four way flashers are in working order.

The odometer displays 11,700 miles as of the date of this description. Actual mileage is believed to be 111,700 based upon the mileages recorded beginning in the 1970’s on work orders and other documents.

While not perfect, this is an excellent appearing and very enjoyable driver example of the ’67 GT350. The Nightmist Blue color is quite popular on this model and accentuates the ‘67’s aggressive styling. The complete history and extensive documentation enhance its integrity and appeal. It is pleasing to look at and is presentable and enjoyable as is, and could be progressively enhanced to a higher level while still being driven. This Shelby is a logical choice for the enthusiast wanting a nice car they can drive without fear of deteriorating an expensive restoration in the process.

PRICE: $119,500
Description prepared by Bill Collins on January 5, 2009