2052. She ran with the big dogs. Amateur....but we felt we did Carroll proud. We showed more taillight than we saw. Sold her in 2015. Shelbys had become money - not muscle. Adios SAAC. Never looked back.
Fast forward 6 years....surprise....she's on an internet auction. Pussycats talk some trash about her. I don't own her...but I still love her. I bark back. That leads to me posting some memories of my old warrior friend. Surprise again....my posts get very nice compliments.....I am flattered....I had never posted one single word on social media before last week.
Join me for a repost.....take a memory ride with 2052.
1985
Dad was dying......he knew it....Mom knew it....it wasn't discussed....his nickname was "Iron Man".
Dad and I never spent much time together (as a railroad freight conductor he was gone most of the time). But on that day back in 1967 we were together....fawning over some new Shelbys at the Akron Ford dealer......" Son, you're welcome to have the Pontiac for trade-in on this Shelby here...if you want"
DO I WANT! How else would a college kid afford a car that stickered in fuel injected Stingray range.
I was home on a visit. 2052 was there too....sleeping in Dad's garage. I proposed a ride....how about that long causeway that ran over the big reservoir supplying the city of Akron with water. So 2052 drove Dad and I over there on some winding back roads ....the Shelby had to like this more than that boring point A to point B straight line stuff that I asked of her in years prior. This was her true calling.
Dark night....causeway empty of headlights. Pavement baby ass smooth. Ran the gears gently .... held steady around 110. Car was ready for more....I wasn't... blowing a tire meant drowning. I think I told Dad we were doing 120.....wanted him to have max thrill. ( I doubt you can feel any difference between 20 and 120 in a modern Shelby....technology being what it is now....how boring would that be uh?... 2052 was not boring.....going 120?....you knew it) The roar of the exhaust mixed with the wind noise and tire whistle was intoxicating. I felt I could just drive Dad straight on up into heaven.
I had to get Dad home for his PM meds. Helping Dad up the stairs he says to me "you still drive a bit fast son"..... Yea Pop I gotta work on that.
Years later Mom told me that Dad would sneak out in the garage, sit in 2052's passenger seat, and take a nap listening to his Guy Lombardo music.
Go make some memories with your Pop....most are better men than you will ever realize.
Footnote:
I have known many good men and many good cars. All have a story. Some are just more interesting than others. I turned 74 today....more road behind me now than ahead. Guess I'm getting gabby.
UPDATE. Sorry should have introduced 2052. Bad manners. 1966/white/blue/4 gear/ AHRA2FX 1969-1974/Boss 302 heads/ Hurst/ Hookers/ Lakewood/Americans/Locker/3:89-4:56 tried um all
Cool Story, Thanks for sharing your memories ;)
My Step Dad has been gone for 10 years now and I keep the fond memories of him always in my mind ;)
Wonderful memories for you and touching for me. Thank you for sharing!!!
Quote from: Hardtravelin on May 23, 2021, 07:36:07 PM
2052. She ran with the big dogs. Amateur....but we felt we did Carroll proud. We showed more taillight than we saw. Sold her in 2015. Shelbys had become money - not muscle. Adios SAAC. Never looked back.
Fast forward 6 years....surprise....she's on an internet auction. Pussycats talk some trash about her. I don't own her...but I still love her. I bark back. That leads to me posting some memories of my old warrior friend. Surprise again....my posts get very nice compliments.....I am flattered....had never posted one single word on social media previously.
Joint me for a repost.....take a memory ride with 2052.
1985
Dad was dying......he knew it....Mom knew it....it wasn't discussed....his nickname was "Iron Man".
Dad and I never spent much time together (as a railroad freight conductor he was gone most of the time). But on that day back in 1967 we were together....fawning over some new Shelbys at the Akron Ford dealer......" Son, you're welcome to have the Pontiac for trade-in on this Shelby here...if you want"
DO I WANT! How else would a college kid afford a car that stickered in fuel injected Stingray range.
I was home on a visit. 2052 was there too....sleeping in Dad's garage. I proposed a ride....how about that long causeway that ran over the big reservoir supplying the city of Akron with water. So 2052 drove Dad and I over there on some winding back roads ....the Shelby had to like this more than that boring point A to point B straight line stuff that I asked of her in years prior. This was her true calling.
Dark night....causeway empty of headlights. Pavement baby ass smooth. Ran the gears gently .... held steady around 110. Car was ready for more....I wasn't... blowing a tire meant drowning. I think I told Dad we were doing 120.....wanted him to have max thrill. ( I doubt you can feel any difference between 20 and 120 in a modern Shelby....technology being what it is now....how boring would that be uh?... 2052 was not boring.....going 120?....you knew it) The roar of the exhaust mixed with the wind noise and tire whistle was intoxicating. I felt I could just drive Dad straight on up into heaven.
I had to get Dad home for his PM meds. Helping Dad up the stairs he says to me "you still drive a bit fast son"..... yea Pop I gotta work on that.
Years later Mom told me that Dad would sneak out in the garage, sit in 2052's passenger seat, and take a nap listening to his Guy Lombardo music.
Go make some memories with your Pop....most are better men than you will ever realize.
I have known many good men and many good cars. All have a story. Some are just more interesting than others. I turned 74 today....more road behind me now than ahead. Guess I'm getting gabby.
Really nice. Car time with our dads makes for great memories.
Really the best 1st post you can do at SAAC, congrats. Welcome to the family.
And your post came at the right time for me, thank you for that.
...and 2052 is what? It can't be a '65 or a 427 Cobra, other then that it could be anything? :)
Quote from: shelbydoug on May 24, 2021, 09:44:29 AM
...and 2052 is what? It can't be a '65 or a 427 Cobra, other then that it could be anything? :)
This is 2052.
http://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=14956.msg122631#msg122631 (http://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=14956.msg122631#msg122631)
Hey Dave! I was just reading your post and realized you are the guy I was talking to Sat. afternoon. My wife and I had the 66 Hertz car. We really enjoyed hearing about your time with the Shelby. I did not realize it was your birthday, so Happy Birthday! I have one in a few days- 72. We commented later in the day how much we enjoyed meeting you and listening to your experiences. What were the chances we would meet up at a small town 15 car cruise-in! Keep telling those stories!
Doug
Quote from: silverton_ford on May 24, 2021, 09:55:25 AM
Quote from: shelbydoug on May 24, 2021, 09:44:29 AM
...and 2052 is what? It can't be a '65 or a 427 Cobra, other then that it could be anything? :)
This is 2052.
http://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=14956.msg122631#msg122631 (http://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=14956.msg122631#msg122631)
According to his story, his was a 1967 Shelby. He bought it new and sold it in 2015 (48 Years).
Quote from: tesgt350 on May 24, 2021, 10:43:42 AM
Quote from: silverton_ford on May 24, 2021, 09:55:25 AM
Quote from: shelbydoug on May 24, 2021, 09:44:29 AM
...and 2052 is what? It can't be a '65 or a 427 Cobra, other then that it could be anything? :)
This is 2052.
http://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=14956.msg122631#msg122631 (http://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=14956.msg122631#msg122631)
According to his story, his was a 1967 Shelby. He bought it new and sold it in 2015 (48 Years).
Check out the comments made by "Hardtravelin" on the 6S2052 Bring A Trailer auction. - https://bringatrailer.com/member/hardtravelin/ (https://bringatrailer.com/member/hardtravelin/)
I know he said 1967 in the post above, but I believe that is the year he bought 6S2052, not the year of the car. Many more memories and history of this car in the auction comments. Last week when the car was up for auction it was a lot of fun to see what post was coming next. They are fun to read with amazing detail just like the first post above. Great history. :)
We need more threads on the forum like this. :)
Wow, what great story! I guess your pops and mine are chewing the same heavenly dirt up there. I bought my dad a 67 500 #3119. He was never really a car guy but really got to love the ride and attention it brought. Before he passed, he admitted it was his favorite car. He admitted he would show many people the tail lights and loved blowin em in the weeds!
It was the catalyst that held us close right up to his last day.
Thank you for sharing, brought a big smile to my ol face!
Would love to see pics. You must have a ton.
Cool story thanks for sharing
Thanks for the post and maybe I will share one in a few days.
Brad
Quote from: 6972boss on May 24, 2021, 12:51:04 PM
Wow, what great story! I guess your pops and mine are chewing the same heavenly dirt up there. I bought my dad a 67 500 #3119. He was never really a car guy but really got to love the ride and attention it brought. Before he passed, he admitted it was his favorite car. He admitted he would show many people the tail lights and loved blowin em in the weeds!
It was the catalyst that held us close right up to his last day.
Thank you for sharing, brought a big smile to my ol face!
Was this your Dad? Hopefully this gives you a smile.
My Dad was a Chevy guy!
Yes....my Dad.....true story.
He was an enthusiastic fan of Carroll Shelby.
This pic (if I can get it to post) is Dad in 1983 with 2052 .
Without Dad's encouragement and generosity, 2052 would never have been my ride.
A smile for sure.
Wowwwww, great picture! Thanks for sharing!
Great story. Thanks for letting us tag along. When the history on one of these cars end abruptly, we all miss out on what was yet to come!
In addition to restoring the car back to its former glory, I enjoy the research and listening to the stories that make these cars the legends they are.
Ron
Dad really liked the 1966 Shelby alloy wheels. I was a fan of Americans.
So we put 2052's original wheels & tires on Dad's work truck. He complained about the hard ride but he drove those Bluestreaks until bald. The alloys made their way back onto 2052 after the Ranchero rusted out so bad that the doors wouldn't close.
Pic is 1971.
(The picture only appears sporadically.....don't know why. The convenient attachment link seems to accept the pic ok but does not display it with regularity. Browser related?)
PS.
A different 2052 post/story has been zapped (I assume) for my use of the word s**t and for bluntly stating my Shelby legacy opinion. Before the disappearance I received some thoughtfully good advice and some hatefully lame insults.
Now seeking a forum with adult insulters.
All great stories to read. Thank you. Reading them really builds up my enthusiasm again for cars in general and particularly my red Hertz (the car that literally survived my three marriages). I can't let her go and will hold on as long as I can. My dad is 93 and still has a penchant for cars and wants to get his 65 Shelby clone out on the road again.
Best wishes, gentlemen.
Richard E.
Stories like THIS are the reason I'm into these cars and hope to enjoy with my son and leave to him when I'm gone.
Great Legacy
Glad you decided to show up here and share more stories. 😎