Shelby GT350 Hertz: The Astonishing Saga of a 60-Year-Old Mustang That Avoided the Restoration Garage
The iconic Ford Mustang, a symbol of American muscle and performance, celebrated its 60th birthday in 2024. While Ford commemorates this milestone with a special anniversary edition, an extraordinary piece of Mustang history quietly stole the spotlight at a recent event hosted by the Mustang Club of America at Barber Motorsports Park.
Amidst a sea of Mustangs spanning six decades, one car commanded unmatched attention - a 1966 Shelby GT350 Hertz. Known as the 'Rent-a-Racer,' this car had remained hidden from the public eye, last seen in 2009 at the Mustang's 45th anniversary celebration. The story of its discovery and its journey is as remarkable as the vehicle itself.
This Shelby GT350H isn’t just any classic muscle car. It's a survivor, having been in the same family's hands since 1967 without undergoing any restoration since it first left the Jim Skinner Ford dealership in Birmingham, Alabama. Its appearance, complete with a patina of age, battle scars, and a damaged engine hood, tells a story of resilience, history, and an unbreakable bond with its owners, Mary Ann and Andy Vann.
The vehicle's journey to notoriety began innocently enough. Shortly after their marriage in 1969, Mary Ann turned the Shelby into her daily driver. However, its uniqueness soon attracted unwelcome attention, leading to a decision to withdraw the GT350H from the public's eyes after a particularly unsettling incident involving an aggressive buyer. It remained hidden away until a dramatic unveiling at the Mustang's 60th anniversary celebration.
Despite its long slumber, the GT350H’s charm hasn’t faded. It still sports the original black and gold livery and houses the numbers-matching 289-cubic-inch K-code V8 engine and three-speed automatic transmission. Its return to the limelight was not just a trip down memory lane but a testament to the enduring allure of the Shelby Mustang and the fervor it inspires among enthusiasts.
The backstory of the GT350H is as intriguing as its physical condition. Ford and Shelby’s collaboration birthed the Hertz 'Rent-a-Racer' program, positioning approximately 1,000 of these high-performance vehicles in the hands of the adventurous renters. Their tenure as rental cars often involved secret sojourns into the realms of SCCA racing and performance part pilfering, making each surviving car a tapestry of untold adventures.
While most of these Hertz Mustangs left the factory adorned in black and gold, a select few sported a white and blue stripe combination, further adding to the diversity and desirability of these vehicles. Presently, an original Shelby GT350H, particularly one as untouched as this, can command prices upwards of $300,000, underlining the significant cultural and monetary value attached to these historic automobiles.
The fascination with this Shelby GT350H is a vivid illustration of our collective admiration for classic cars, their stories, and their ability to connect us to the past. As revealed through the lens of the 'Junkyard Life' YouTube channel, the saga of this Mustang’s journey from a beloved daily driver to a sought-after collector's item encapsulates the spirit of the most legendary American cars.