Man, let me tell you about this project I just wrapped up. It was a doozy, but totally worth it in the end. I got my hands on a classic – a 1967 Mustang Shelby GT500. Yeah, you heard that right. This thing is an absolute beast, and it’s been a dream of mine to work on one of these bad boys.
Getting Started
First off, finding this car was a journey in itself. I scoured online listings, called up every classic car dealer in a three-state radius, and even got a few weird looks when I asked around at local car shows. Finally, I found her – a little rough around the edges, but with good bones and tons of potential. It wasn’t cheap, though. Let me tell you, these classics are going for a pretty penny these days. I heard some have sold for over $500,000! Mine wasn’t quite that much, but still a hefty investment. I remember seeing somewhere that the average price is around $154,000, and mine was around that ballpark.
The Dirty Work
Once I got her home, the real work began. I started by completely stripping her down. Every nut, every bolt, every piece of trim – all of it came off. I labeled everything meticulously, took a million pictures, and made sure I knew exactly how it all went back together. Trust me, you don’t want to play the guessing game with a car like this.
- Engine: This baby had a massive V8. It was grimy, greasy, and beautiful. I pulled it out, tore it down, and gave it a full rebuild. New pistons, rings, bearings – the works. It was a lot of late nights in the garage, but hearing that engine roar for the first time after the rebuild? Pure magic.
- Body: The body had its fair share of dings and rust, as you’d expect from a car this old. I spent weeks sanding, patching, and prepping it for paint. I even learned how to do some basic welding! It was tough, but seeing those panels smooth and straight again was incredibly satisfying.
- Interior: The inside was pretty trashed. Seats were ripped, the dash was cracked, and it smelled like old gym socks. I reupholstered the seats, sourced a new dash, and deep-cleaned every inch of the interior. It took forever, but now it looks (and smells) like a brand new car.
Putting It All Back Together
After what felt like an eternity of rebuilding, repainting, and restoring, it was finally time to put it all back together. This was the most nerve-wracking part, but also the most rewarding. Seeing all those individual pieces come together to form a complete car was just… wow. It was like watching a beautiful, powerful phoenix rise from the ashes.
The Final Product
And now, she’s finally done. My 1967 Mustang Shelby GT500 is a beauty. That classic design, the powerful engine, and that iconic Shelby styling – it’s all there. It’s not just a car; it’s a piece of automotive history. And let me tell you, driving this thing is an experience like no other. The raw power, the rumble of the engine, the way heads turn when you cruise by – it’s pure adrenaline. I’m not sure I’ll ever sell her. This one’s a keeper, folks. I’ve heard they only made about 2,048 of these in ’67, so I feel pretty lucky to have one in my garage.
It was a long, challenging, but ultimately incredibly rewarding experience. Hope you enjoyed hearing about my latest project!
