Hello

[Talan423]

A new guy here, i currently own a 1968 GT/CS Mustang, Presidential Blue with a 289 C-4. This was my first classic mustang which was in rough shape when i took her home. After 4 years of restoration she is in much better shape. i think i am ready to move on to a 65 shelby project now, hopefully i can find one on this forum in the future! Can anybody on this forum tell me what type of $ i am looking at for say a "Shell" with no engine?

Thanks
Tom

[tesgt350]

Hello and welcome. Keep an eye on Ebay for a Shelby project. one pops up now and then.
David.

[shelby6t5]

First of all, welcome to the Forum!
You picked what is certainly the biggest $ Mustang based Shelby to find, especially in the Internet / Barret-Jackson age where every schmo who has anything even remotely related to a Shelby thinks it is worth huge $.
Before I found my 5, I was aware of only two "shells" available, one of which was completely stripped, just a uni-body, the other was close to that, not nearly as "naked".
Both were legit cars, and both owners were adamant about $100K +.
I understand the less naked one (late 4xx) did sell for somewhere around 90 last year.
I was fortunate enough to pay about that for a complete, early car in need of a resto. It took a lot of homework and a bit of "Stalking".
Buying a shell, or any Shelby missing important parts will set you back huge $ if you intend to bring the car back to the way it left Venice or LAX. If you can, buy the most complete car you can afford. As an example, a BW T10M can set you back 10k if it is missing. Real 65 Tachs and other bits are made of "unobtainium" or can take years to track down.
I am not trying to discourage you, just give you a sense of reality. Finding a car that is not currently known to others can be both a difficult, frustrating journey, and a joyful one if it ends well.

Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress.

Mike
SFM 5 017

[vernonestes]

Hey welcome to the forums!
Post some pics of the gt/cs!
Were you at the cobra show at KCIR earlier this year?
Best Regards,
Vern

[Talan423]

Originally Posted by shelby6t5

First of all, welcome to the Forum!
You picked what is certainly the biggest $ Mustang based Shelby to find, especially in the Internet / Barret-Jackson age where every schmo who has anything even remotely related to a Shelby thinks it is worth huge $.
Before I found my 5, I was aware of only two "shells" available, one of which was completely stripped, just a uni-body, the other was close to that, not nearly as "naked".
Both were legit cars, and both owners were adamant about $100K +.
I understand the less naked one (late 4xx) did sell for somewhere around 90 last year.
I was fortunate enough to pay about that for a complete, early car in need of a resto. It took a lot of homework and a bit of "Stalking".
Buying a shell, or any Shelby missing important parts will set you back huge $ if you intend to bring the car back to the way it left Venice or LAX. If you can, buy the most complete car you can afford. As an example, a BW T10M can set you back 10k if it is missing. Real 65 Tachs and other bits are made of "unobtainium" or can take years to track down.
I am not trying to discourage you, just give you a sense of reality. Finding a car that is not currently known to others can be both a difficult, frustrating journey, and a joyful one if it ends well.

Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress.

Mike
SFM 5 017

Mike-
thanks a million for your time to respond and especially for your honesty in telling me what i can expect. when you say $100k + for a "shell" do you mean with the engine or without? i just want to get an idea as to price ranges for anything i may come upon in the future.
thanks for all of the "welcomes" i look forward absorbing everyone's knowledge on this forum!

[shelby6t5]

By Shell, I do indeed mean a bare unibody. Complete cars in need of a restoration are in the high 180's to 200 or so. Have seen several very original cars with no questions in a need of a resto go for over 200.
Do your homework first - good luck.

Mike

[Talan423]

mike-
how large of a final value difference is there between a restored 65 with its original engine and one without (donor k code)?

thanks
tom

[shelby6t5]

That's a tough question to answer.
If all the date codes are correct, and all the Shelby specific parts are on a correct, but non-numbers matching block it would be up to the buyer to make a decision on how much that meant, money-wise to him.
A lot of these cars were driven hard and put away wet - I would hate to even guess the % of cars with their correct original drive-train, I suspect it is pretty low.
A guess would be 5 to 10k less.
Anyone else have an idea on how the prices trend for original engines vs non-original?

Mike