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In Memoriam: Dave Mathews, 1967 RegistrarIt is with great sadness that we share the passing of Dave Mathews, our 1967 Registrar, on October 7, 2026, at the age of 78.
Dave served as our '67 Shelby Registrar since 1983, generously sharing his wealth of knowledge to protect the authenticity of these classic cars. Many of you worked with Dave, relied on his expertise, or simply enjoyed talking Shelbys with him, and his unwavering dedication and honesty will be deeply missed.
Dave is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy, and his family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. George Church, 33 Whitfield St, Guilford, CT, on Wednesday, October 14 at 10:00 am. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Committee for the Great Salt Pond (https://www.cgspblockisland.org/) or Forgotten Felines (https://www.forgottenfelinesct.org/).
Dave's full obituary is available here: https://www.guilfordfuneralhome.com/obituaries/David-P-Mathews?obId=49826311.
Please join us in keeping Nancy and Dave's family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
If you have a favorite memory of Dave, we invite you to share it below.
Quote from: computerworks on October 09, 2026, 03:34:12 PM(https://www.saac.com/forum/gallery/1-091026152622.png)
In Memoriam: Dave Mathews, 1967 Registrar
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Dave Mathews, our 1967 Registrar, on October 7, 2026, at the age of 78.
Dave served as our '67 Shelby Registrar since 1983, generously sharing his wealth of knowledge to protect the authenticity of these classic cars. Many of you worked with Dave, relied on his expertise, or simply enjoyed talking Shelbys with him, and his unwavering dedication and honesty will be deeply missed.
Dave is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy, and his family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. George Church, 33 Whitfield St, Guilford, CT, on Wednesday, October 14 at 10:00 am. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Committee for the Great Salt Pond (https://www.cgspblockisland.org/) or Forgotten Felines (https://www.forgottenfelinesct.org/).
Dave's full obituary is available here: https://www.guilfordfuneralhome.com/obituaries/David-P-Mathews?obId=49826311.
Please join us in keeping Nancy and Dave's family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
If you have a favorite memory of Dave, we invite you to share it below.
What a loss to the Shelby community. He was a giant in the field. Condolences to his family.He was always helpful and insightful. My favorite Memory was being on a question and answer talk with Dave and Chuck Cantwell at a convention some years ago. I felt like I had really accomplished something by being honored to be included with those two.
I am very saddened to hear of Dave's passing. He has been a tremendous resource over the years and he will be greatly missed. My best to his family.
I'm dumfounded!
My heart goes out to Nancy.
Dave was so involved in many aspects of the club for soo long, his regard for the cars, especially the '67's, and devout "protection" of the integrity of the VIN's to prevent fake and duplicate cars.
Can't believe we'll not have any more phone calls.
SAAC has lost a very key person.
Truly a loss to our community. Dave was always willing to share and defended the clubs interests
😢
Hmmm Wow. Lost for words.
Will certainly be missed and his passing will leave a void for decades to follow. In this time Nancy, his family and loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers.
Our condolences to his family and friends
Bill
We loved you Dave and we will miss you.
RIP my friend.
So glad we spoke 2 weeks ago.
I literally just spoke to him. I feel like I want to throw up. He was such a good guy, a rarity in this hobby. God Bless his wife Nancy. :'(
Sending my condolences to Dave's family. Rest easy Dave.
Wow. I am shocked and saddened. Dave was always the guy one could talk with when you wanted the straight story. We shared a lot of thoughts over the years, and the club will be missing a giant without his presence. Prayers and happy thoughts to Nancy and Dave's family. We'll miss you, Dave!
Quote from: Cobra Ned on October 09, 2026, 05:27:36 PMWow. I am shocked and saddened. Dave was always the guy one could talk with when you wanted the straight story. We shared a lot of thoughts over the years, and the club will be missing a giant without his presence. Prayers and happy thoughts to Nancy and Dave's family. We'll miss you, Dave!
Facts
He was always there since the begining. I guess I somehow thought he always would be like Superman?
He was a Super Hero to me.
I am crushed.
So, so sorry for everyone's loss but especially for your's Nancy.
This hits so hard, very shocked and saddened to hear. We were just at a cars and coffee a few weeks ago and Dave gave me a very special document for my GT350 that show what type of guy he is. Our hearts go out to Nancy and I will cherish our every other Sunday get togethers talking cars and Shelbys. Rest in peace my good friend
Just talked with Dave about a month ago while he was on his boat clamming. This comes as a shock. Condolences to Nancy, family and friends.
I met Dave back in 1979 when I purchased my 1967 Shelby. Dave was such a wealth of knowledge for the '67s. We have talked sooooo many times over the years with me giving him locations of cars that I knew were not in the registry that I came upon, also having questions for him on other cars and updating him on '67s we purchased.
Diana and I really enjoyed see him and Nancy in person at Shelby conventions and getting a change to catch up.
Dave will truly be missed by myself, Diana and surely the Club too.
Dominic (& Diana)
I am truly truly saddened by this news.
Much love and strength to his family, at our age we have all lost loved ones - it is never easy.
Dave had a huge impact on our hobby - and I know for me as a registrar he is a shining example of how to handle the position with grace and honesty.
- Phillip
I have fond memories of meeting Dave Mathews back at Lime Rock Park 1996 I think it was where he allowed me to sit in his R model Comstock car, allowing my dad to take a ton of pictures of the car, video and so on. Great times Condolences to his family.
Sorry to hear this
dave is a big reason why the forum exists .... damn i will miss this guy hugs to Nancy
It is just.....hard to think and believe. RIP and thank you for all your help over the years. Fran
Quote from: gt350shelb on October 09, 2026, 07:54:45 PMdave is a big reason why the forum exists .... damn i will miss this guy hugs to Nancy
Yes Brother.
Another great loss to the shelby community especially the 67 shelby guys will be at a lost as he dedicated alot of his time running 67 registry. RIP Dave M. you will be missed.
Condolences and i'm sad. RIP
My deepest condolences to his family and friends. I´m speechless and trying to find words to explain how much Dave and his wife helped me in the last 25 years. We both often written letters in the beginning and later then e-mails he was an awesome guy and he really loved his family and his hobby. His knowledge and helping hand is something I will absolutely miss and also just talking or writing with him about other things.
Godspeed Dave.
One more of the 'ol" road mates has vanished. Sorry to hear about his death and my condolences to his family. Seems to be an eternity since we exchanged the first mail to share information about potential Shelbys. I am glad I helped him a bit in 2005 by checking out a local 67 GT500 from a bavarian wrecking yard that he could buy and restore.
I became close with Dave after I bought 67 GT350 #165 and then the SAAC v Shelby legal matter arose. we joined forces in a grand effort to save SAAC! I had a vision-to create this forum. I reached out to Ron Richards and got him involved and Dave Mathews was our heavyweight to sell the idea to Kopec. Jay Talbot was also pulled into service.
This very forum would never exist today without his efforts. He and Nancy were great friends to My son Dalton and I ever since. they hosted us at their Home several times. He came and visited us. we shared knowledge back and forth for the last 20 years.
We are heartbroken at this sudden loss of a man who has been so crucial to our lives.
I will remember him as a guy who lived his life his way. He enjoyed his life with Nancy immensely.
they loved Sailing. enjoying their cars and friends. and of course their shared passion for the 1967 Shelby Mustang!
Godspeed to Dave Mathews!
Very sad news and shocking as well. This is a huge loss and all thoughts and prayers should be with Nancy and the family. Deepest condolences to all.
A friend of many,a gift to all, he will be forever missed by Nancy and the group that has joined us all. R.I.P. Dave
Anthony
Rest in peace Dave. Thank you for contributions to this great club.
QSS
God bless you Dave. Thank you for being so helpful when I bought my dream 67 Shelby. Their lives, histories, and stories have been forever preserved because of you.
Condolences to the family. What a treasure to us 67 owners. IF there was a 67 Shelby museum, a statue of Dave would be there at the entrance.
I'm bummed.....
Big loss to the Shelby community....I feel we are losing history every month now as folks age out of life.
Dave mission accomplished......carry on in Heaven
Huge loss, very saddened to hear this. Sincerest condolences to Dave's family.
Dave's passing has been a tough reality to come to terms with in the last 24 hours.
It is hard to put into words the positive influence that Dave had during my formative years in this hobby and business,... which carried through to the last time we spoke just a week ago. He was telling me about how he was in the middle of repainting his Nightmist 350 and how he was excited to make it perfect.
I cant believe he is gone.
Dave was so encouraging to me when I first got into the hobby, long before it became the way I make a living. Dave's enthusiasm for involving all of us in this hobby really stands out as I think back on my memories of Dave. Always positive, giving of an immense amount of his time to help us all, friendly, and willing to say the truth when it needed to be said.... he saved me from stepping in a hot steaming pile of sh#t more times than I care to admit. He went WAY out of his way on multiple occasions to have my back when there was potential trouble on the horizon.
I feel very grateful to have counted him as a great friend for so many years. My life has been significantly enriched by having a friendship with Dave.
Rest in peace Dave... we'll keep these ole cars going from here.
Vern
Dave made me the deal on my first 66 gt350, He worked with me to make it happen otherwise I may not own the cars I have today, I loved the rock at his house, wish I had taken a picture of it, that was 1983, seems like yesterday, they only made so many great guys and Dave was one of them PS-should have bought the 65 he had in 1983, hindsight is 20 20 RIP Dave
RIP my friend. Thanks for all your help over the past 40+ years.
Texas Swede
Dave's passing is devastating. Just a couple months ago I saw him pull in to a local cars & coffee in a 67. We had a great conversation about Shelbys and 69/70 mustangs. I will cherish all the great memories over the last 15 years. Dave was a kind, honest, and incredibly generous guy.
You will be missed my friend.
-Wes
Thinking about you Dave - happy motoring!
I have been away for close to two weeks and just found this out. What a loss to our community.Talked with Dave many times over the years, hard to believe he is gone. RIP and condolences to Nancy and his family.