302ci OHV V8
Holley 4-Barrel Carburetor
250bhp at 5,000rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Coil Spring Front Suspension, Semi-Elliptic Rear Leaf Springs
Power-Assisted Front Disc with Rear Drum Brakes

*Consecutive Unit Number with Lot 183
*Owner History Known from New
*Nicely Restored for Show or Go
*Entered into the Shelby Registry

THE SHELBY GT350

Starting with the 1968 model year, the Shelby Mustang program had some major changes. In addition to convertible models being offered, the GT350 now received the newly released larger displacement 302 cubic inch small-block, and even though the horsepower rating was than the previous GT350's, it was still a potent machine with a 600 cfm Holley V8 atop a Cobra aluminum intake manifold. Add to that the oval aluminum air-filter and those Cobra emblazoned valve covers and it was game-on. Production of the basic Mustangs destined for the Shelby program switched from the San Jose, California plant to Metuchen, New Jersey. From there the partially completed cars were shipped to the A. O. Smith company in Southfield, Michigan. There the fiberglass hood, unique fascia and special taillights, plus other Shelby exclusive parts such as console, gauges and badging plus special options, were added according to the customer's orders.

Also new this year was the serial number or VIN system issued to Shelby Mustangs. Up to 1967, Shelby created their own serial number system, deleting or masking the original Ford numbers. For 1968, Shelby Mustangs retained their Ford issued VIN, at the very start of the model year plus a Shelby derived VIN that included year, model, body style, engine and transmission. This complicated system was applied to around 150 early units. Most 1968 Shelby Mustangs retained their Ford issued VIN, followed by a Shelby specific VIN consisting of simply five digits. Serial numbers were issued at the factory when the orders were received. When a group of orders arrived at Metuchen from a dealer or a district sales office, the unit sequence numbers were issued in consecutive order at that point. Shelby orders usually arrived at the Metuchen plant in batches of anywhere from 20-25 to up to 150 cars at a time, and as a result, Ford would issue VINs to these cars in the order they were processed. After the serial numbers were issued, the orders were sent to production scheduling to determine when each car would actually be assembled. From that point on, consecutive numbers were separated and rarely ever kept together. It wasn't uncommon for higher unit numbers to be produced out of order, often with no rhyme or reason.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

In the middle of March 1968, a small group of Shelby orders were received at Metuchen of which the car on offer, 8T02J188438 was assigned Shelby ID number 02802. By coincidence, the very next car ordered, was virtually identical.

Finished in Lime Green metallic this GT350 was delivered new to a doctor in Boise, Idaho, according to our consignor. It was lightly used, and never abused. In 2007 it was acquired from the second owner, an oil-deck worker who lived near Rock Springs, Wyoming. It has been beautifully restored and retains all its the original equipment including the factory installed AM radio, Shelby gauges and other Cobra related appointment. Our consignor tells us it runs out quite well with the original engine and tight shifting 4-speed transmission. In the daylight the paint comes alive and those 10-spoke alloy wheels glisten. The fit and finish of this car are at or above factory standards with easy opening and closing doors, hood and deck lid.

An important part of the Shelby Mustangs from 1968 are the "buck tags" which were attached to the car while it was being welded together in the body buck. On this car, that tag indicates this car's body was assembled on March 19, 1968 in gate #31, which is where many of the fastback Shelby's were assembled at Metuchen. The tag also shows this car was fitted with among other things, fold-down rear seat and rear-bumperettes.

Two years after adding this car to his collection, he acquired an identical Shelby Mustang , thinking it would be keen to have a pair of identical twins. It would be a couple more years before an amazing discovery was made!