Description

The Shelby name may be the most recognized and revered in all of the autoverse, certainly in the muscle car galaxy. So, when we come across a true numbers-matching example of one of the rarest Shelby-designed Mustangs in history, decked out in its believed original Candy Apple Red paint, it is a special day. This stunning 1970 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 marks the final year of Carroll Shelby's collaboration with Ford (until the Shelby name returned more than four decades later). With its functional hood, aggressive side scoops, and ironic Shelby badging, this GT500 is one of just seven made with this paint/trim code combination, making it about as unique a find as a unicorn wearing a saddle made of four-leaf clovers, riding under Haley's Comet.

Inside, we find a clean, believed-original Dark Red Knitted Vinyl, complete with optional Hi-Back bucket seats. A large center console separates those supportive seats, while a power-assisted, wood-rimmed steering wheel features a Cobra emblem. Set against a wood-grain-trimmed dashboard, a four-pod gauge cluster features an 8,000-rpm tachometer and a curiously conservative 140-mph speedometer. In contrast, a pair of auxiliary gauges monitors oil pressure and voltage at the base of the center stack. What appears to be the original AM radio offers some entertainment, but in all actuality, the real music will be emanating from the trick center-mount dual exhaust pipes.

Under that ultra-aggressive hood, we find an even more aggressive motor.  A numbers-matching 428 cubic-inch Cobra Jet V-8 engine. From the factory, this motor was equipped with an iron block and heads, a single Holley four-barrel carburetor, and a high-flow intake manifold. That big block sends spent gases out through dual exhaust capped off with a set of factory mufflers.  In 1970, power totals were advertised as a grossly underrated 335 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque. That power, whatever the real number is, gets routed through a numbers-matching C6 three-speed automatic transmission before heading out to the 3.00-geared Ford nine-inch Traction-Lok rear end.

HIGHLIGHTS:

•     1 of 7 Made in this Paint and Trim
•     Numbers Matching 428 Cobra Jet V8
•     Numbers Matching C6 Three Speed Auto
•     3DA Dark Red Knitted Vinyl
•     Hi Back Bucket Seats
•     Power Steering
•     Power Brakes
•     Front Disc Brakes
•     Factory Buildsheet
•     Title Documentation
•     Marti Report
•     Original Window Sticker
•     Unbelievable Find

This 1970 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 rides on a factory-style suspension that was beefed up from the factory to handle Shelby's increased power requirements. Power brakes featuring front discs stand ready to scrub off speed at a moment's notice. If you've been searching for a true automotive treasure made by the Godfather of Ford performance, this Candy Apple Red, numbers-matching GT500, complete with its factory buildsheet, title documentation, original window sticker, and a confidence-inspiring Marti Report, is the one you've been waiting for. But don't wait because this one won't be here long. Call today!