SAAC Forum

The Cars => 1966 Shelby GT350/GT350H => Topic started by: deathsled on February 01, 2026, 06:02:25 PM

Title: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: deathsled on February 01, 2026, 06:02:25 PM

I hope this isn't a repost as I conducted a reasonable search to avoid duplicity.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: deathsled on February 01, 2026, 06:09:36 PM
Here is part two posted on YouTube four hours ago.

Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: Coralsnake on February 01, 2026, 06:11:03 PM
My advice: Use English grammar correctly. Use NOS parts when available, this car deserves it.

I'm not an English grammar teacher, but I agree with the commenters.

He is entertaining.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: CharlesTurner on February 01, 2026, 07:27:41 PM
Seems like a good metal guy, certainly has been there/done that.  Instead of going the full repro parts route, he could set a good example and show how to repair the car with original sheet metal from a SJ parts coupe/NOS pieces.  Done like that, nobody could knock him for the work.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: J_Speegle on February 02, 2026, 04:19:37 AM
Agree, excellent car to use a rust free donor car for from the same time period at San Jose. Real time saver also as far as the thousands of little correct parts, hardware, bolts and so much more you don't even think of at the beginning 

We will know more after this one gets stripped  so we can see what may be solid to hang the other panels on.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: 2008 GT-C on February 02, 2026, 07:13:13 AM
I had the opportunity to see this car in person at a car show CJ Pony parts had years ago. Always wondered what was going to happen to this car. Shame someone used it for target practice. Thank you for sharing I might not have come across this myself.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: jimhyc on February 02, 2026, 08:51:29 AM
Quote from: CharlesTurner on February 01, 2026, 07:27:41 PMSeems like a good metal guy, certainly has been there/done that.  Instead of going the full repro parts route, he could set a good example and show how to repair the car with original sheet metal from a SJ parts coupe/NOS pieces.  Done like that, nobody could knock him for the work.

Seeing that the car/restoraration is a marketing tool for a major Mustang parts company I bet they will use as much replacement parts as possible to showcase what they have to offer. Where most owners would go with original or NOS when possible.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: hertzz350 on February 02, 2026, 08:57:45 AM
Does any one know the shelby#?
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: S8MS-01904 on February 02, 2026, 11:42:29 AM
Boy, that car is rough...

Wound it be a bad idea to cut at the A-pillers and slide in a dynacorn body? Asking for a friend.  I think fabb'n the unique areas can be done to a fresh tub.
Title: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: Bill Collins on February 02, 2026, 12:06:12 PM
Quote from: hertzz350 on February 02, 2026, 08:57:45 AMDoes any one know the shelby#?

6S936. Local car from new, sold at Francis For Fords. I originally encountered it in the driveway of a house next to a truck stop just north of Harrisburg in Clarks Ferry, PA, probably in the 1980's or 90's. Repeated attempts to contact the owner were unsuccessful and the car eventually disappeared.

Fast forward to around 2001, when I received a call from Crede Stammel, the "C" in CJ Pony, inquiring about a value for a rough '66 GT350. From his description, I deduced it was the same car. A farmer in the area had acquired it and installed a 6 cylinder engine / automatic transmission and was using it as a field car. When he decided to sell it, he contacted CJ's as they were a known entity in the area for Mustang parts.

CJ's bought it and I expressed interest in purchasing it from them, but they decided to remove the 6 automatic and put the body "as found" into their showroom as an attraction. I saw it there in 2002 and took the attached photos. I recall Creed telling me the original aluminum T10 was still with it but the engine was long gone.

In February of 2003, Carroll Shelby made a personal appearance at the Atlantic City Classic Car Event in New Jersey. CJ's was a vendor there at the time, as was I and we were set up adjacent to each other. They took 6S936 to the event to show it to Shelby and have him autograph it. He got quite a hoot out of the fact that it had survived in such a condition. I have photos of him signing the roof, which I will attach to another post.

The back story on 936 as I recall is that it was a drag car for a while, hence the "Midnite Confession" lettering. The name likely comes from a 1968 hit song by the Grass Roots. At some point the owner reportedly became entangled in a three way love affair. The jilted party shotgunned the car and set fire to it. It was in this condition that I first saw it, sitting in that driveway with the windows blown out and the interior full of leaves.

You can't make this stuff up....




Title: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: Bill Collins on February 02, 2026, 12:13:37 PM
Shelby autographing 6S936 at the Atlantic City Classic Car Event on February 23, 2003. I am set up with the white KR next to the CJ Pony booth in the last photo.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: deathsled on February 02, 2026, 01:00:14 PM
Quote from: 2008 GT-C on February 02, 2026, 07:13:13 AMI had the opportunity to see this car in person at a car show CJ Pony parts had years ago. Always wondered what was going to happen to this car. Shame someone used it for target practice. Thank you for sharing I might not have come across this myself.

Most welcome.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: deathsled on February 02, 2026, 01:00:54 PM
Quote from: Bill Collins on February 02, 2026, 12:13:37 PMShelby autographing 6S936 at the Atlantic City Classic Car Event on February 23, 2003. I am set up with the white KR next to the CJ Pony booth in the last photo.
Great photos all of them. Thanks for posting.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: NC TRACKRAT on February 02, 2026, 01:12:08 PM
Bill Collins and I remember CJ's when they were operating out of a shed and a barn just outside of Harrisburg back in the late '80's early '90's. These were the days before AMK so I used to go out and pick through nuts, bolts and small hardware to clean up and refinish. Ah, "the good old days".
Title: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: Bill Collins on February 02, 2026, 02:29:19 PM
Quote from: NC TRACKRAT on February 02, 2026, 01:12:08 PMBill Collins and I remember CJ's when they were operating out of a shed and a barn just outside of Harrisburg back in the late '80's early '90's. These were the days before AMK so I used to go out and pick through nuts, bolts and small hardware to clean up and refinish. Ah, "the good old days".

Indeed. CJ Pony Parts was originally not far from their present location on a farmette owned, as I recall, by Jay Zeigler's family. They had a small Mustang salvage yard behind the main house. When they built the first modern building in 1999 along US Route 22 east of Harrisburg, there was a substantial salvage yard out back. They eventually stopped selling used parts and the yard was closed and cleared out.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: 98SVT - was 06GT on February 02, 2026, 03:08:30 PM
Quote from: jimhyc on February 02, 2026, 08:51:29 AMSeeing that the car/restoraration is a marketing tool for a major Mustang parts company I bet they will use as much replacement parts as possible to showcase what they have to offer.
Thank you - 110% correct. This whole exercise is about getting people thinking CJ when they look for parts. I'll wager they will not have the car judged at a Mustang or Shelby event beyond peoples choice.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: CharlesTurner on February 02, 2026, 03:33:39 PM
Quote from: 98SVT - was 06GT on February 02, 2026, 03:08:30 PMThank you - 110% correct. This whole exercise is about getting people thinking CJ when they look for parts. I'll wager they will not have the car judged at a Mustang or Shelby event beyond peoples choice.

Wishful thinking on my part to consider anything different.   :-\  :-\

Hope they at least use good original doors and preferably original fenders/hood.  Parts coupe is usually the best easy button, but the higher buy-in price seems too much for some... although it almost always ends up being the cheaper route and a better car when done.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: 6s1640 on February 02, 2026, 07:14:38 PM
My understanding is that the car has so much rust that more than 50% of the original metal could be replaced.  When does it become a re-body?  Makes me wonder, if restoring was the best idea.  By the time they remove all the bad metal, there won't be much original car left.  It definitely won't be the same car when it is done.  I hope they restore back to its Mid Nite Confession drag car configuration.  Restoring back to a stock GT350 would lose all its character and history. It might be closer to a clone, with some DNA from the original car.  Don't get me wrong, I think the car is cool and love the history.  I wish them luck.

Check out rust after roof was removed.  Where do you stop?

Cory
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: hertzz350 on February 03, 2026, 06:08:37 AM
Was this car an over ride or under ride car?
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: Bob Gaines on February 03, 2026, 09:35:34 AM
Quote from: hertzz350 on February 03, 2026, 06:08:37 AMWas this car an over ride or under ride car?
Given the Shelby VIN it is most likely a underide car.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: Coralsnake on February 03, 2026, 10:18:01 AM
I dont think there is a specific percentage of metal to qualify as a "rebodied" car?

Everyone has a different tolerance level of what is ok for them.

The big thing is transparency. When the cars change hands these things should be discussed. Thank goodness for the club
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: Shawn on February 03, 2026, 12:29:05 PM
Would look great unrestored but get it in driving condition
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: hertzz350 on February 04, 2026, 06:30:44 AM
I figured it was underide traction bars. I know they switched over sometime in the #900's.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: Road Reptile on February 04, 2026, 10:26:03 AM
Just sad to see a car used up as this has been. Now it is in rust heaven. This is really not a restoration, and maybe best titled as "recreation" as it is no longer a vehicle Ford assembled.
Agree with Pete. Nice that the club keeps records.
R.R.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: JD on February 04, 2026, 12:04:13 PM
Quote from: Road Reptile on February 04, 2026, 10:26:03 AMJust sad to see a car used up as this has been. Now it is in rust heaven. This is really not a restoration, and maybe best titled as "recreation" as it is no longer a vehicle Ford assembled.
Agree with Pete. Nice that the club keeps records.
R.R.
an after-market replacement panels re-body ?
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: 98SVT - was 06GT on February 04, 2026, 06:05:14 PM
I'd consider it a restoration. If they tossed that unibody away and started with a different one (or dynacorn) then I'd say rebody.
I do agree restore it to Day 2 - or most interesting era in it's history.
With the extensive repairs using repop parts it will never attain "as built" status or value.
Finally what are the credentials of the "restorer"? You need a lot of experience and knowledge of the details to get one right.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: deathsled on February 05, 2026, 09:49:05 PM
Part three just posted a few hours ago.  Here it is.  (Brace yourself:  It is a bit of a horror show.)
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: roddster on February 06, 2026, 12:31:40 PM
  Well, technically not a rebody, but man, that sure is close.  If you are doing this yourself, for yourself and keeping it a while, well OK.  But to pay somebody for that amount of work is pushing it.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: tomhawk on February 08, 2026, 05:40:30 PM
Hope they do not reuse the rear housing taken out of the car. Not a 66 Hipo. Also rear brakes are too narrow. Nice that the front aprons are still useable. No holes in the inner wheelhouses, and no welded front traction bar brackets indicate underride bars. As stated before nothing better than Ford sheet metal for a car like this. Just my opinion.
Title: Re: Restoration of the CJ Pony Parts Shelby display car is happening.
Post by: 98SVT - was 06GT on February 11, 2026, 05:06:45 PM
Quote from: S8MS-01904 on February 02, 2026, 11:42:29 AMWound it be a bad idea to cut at the A-pillers and slide in a dynacorn body?
Only if CJ doesn't sell Dymacorn bodies. This is an exercise in product placement not a true restoration.