New with '07 Shelby GT & ancient Mustang history

[lgs07shelbygt]

New to Shelby Forums and looking forward to excellent information and pictures.

Timing is everything.
Last July while at local Ford dealership, Van Cleve Ford, having water pump replaced on our F250 Powerstoke I noticed a Black Shelby GT in their used car line. Only a few weeks old and 3200 miles it had just been traded in as the original older owner had difficultly getting in and out of the car.
Within a week it was home.

2007 Shelby GT
CSM No. 07SGT1717
Black & Black

Not the '65 Shelby GT350 I have always wanted, but months later just can't stop grinning after a drive.

Previous Mustangs:
1965 Coupe - 2nd owner
289 4 barrel, 4 speed with factory Pony Pack & traction bars
Silver/Grey with Red interior
(owned 1969-1971 during high school; Dad owned from 1971-1976)
no silver spoon, just hard farm work @1.25/hr for 2 years prior, good $s for prize Angus cow & calf, and $300 from '57 Nash Metropolitian
Paid $1150 out the door

1968 California Special - 3rd owner
Blue with white stripes, blue interior, matte black shaker hood scoop, custom flared rear fender wells to house the large rear tires
Paid $2500 + tax & lic
apparently factory motor blew up at ~15,000 miles
original owner replaced it with 351 Windsor radically modified with dyno runs >400 hp and complete suspension upgrades for canyon racing in Southern California. Modifications represented as performed at none other than Shelby.
I purchased from 2nd owner in August 1973. He only ran it a few times at local drag strip in ET brackets. Long since lost the ET slip he provided, but incrediable times and speeds!
Just home from the Navy, my Dad and I had searched in vain for 3 weeks for a GT350 of any vintage, and (kick myself) passed on a '68 GT500 because Dad said it was too rough condition for the asking price of $2500.
Then we stumbled across a small specialty car lot owner who suggested we take a look at the '68 California Special he had purchased recently. It was on a car hauler ready for its weekly trip to Woodburn drag strip. It was all over when we flipped the switch to the electric fuel pump and fired up the motor. He just grinned and said, come back in 2 days and it will be street legal - exhaust and tires.
We returned to find massive rear tires had replaced the M&H Racemasters slicks and oh so sweet Cragar mags up front where the skinny drag wheels & tires had been. Black side pipes now quieted the previously open headers.
A short quick drive with a couple stationary burn outs thanks to the line lock and Dad said, "you buy the car and I'll buy the slicks".
Unfortanately within 3 weeks of purchase, gas was rationed in our area. Just home from Viet Nam and attending college I could not afford to keep it. It would only run on Standard(Chevron) White pump high octane fuel with best observed mileage at ~4.5 mpg. Dad had purchased (3) 55 gallon drums for me, but it just consumed too much fuel driving 50 miles a day to college.
Had difficultly finding a dealer willing to take as a trade due to the radical motor and fuel availability and prices at that time.
Dad and I stripped all accessable bolt on parts before trade and put them on the '65 Coupe that Dad now owned. (Cool Can container for icing fuel during racing, line lock, side pipes, dual batteries mounted in trunk, and various other specialty parts too many to list)

Not exactly a short introduction, but wanted to share ancient history that ultimately lead to present Shelby GT Mustang ownership.
Thanks!
Lg

[vernonestes]

Hey welcome to the forums, Glad to have ya!
Lots of great people here!
Best Regards,
Vern

[mrdoc442]

Welcome, from another Vietnam Vet.

Doc

[tesgt350]

Welcome, nice Cars.

David.

[Doug_GT350]

Welcome... I know how ya feel about your new ride, they are sweet!

[DriftinBayBay]

Timing is everything!

Good Job!

Welcome