Super Rare Vintage 'Shelby GT Club' Item and Polaroid

[BGlover67]

One of the rarest pieces of vintage Shelby related literature, as many know, is the original 1965 Shelby GT350 owner's manual.  It is distinct  from reproductions in that the front and back covers fold out much like a centerfold...none of the reproductions had that feature.

On the back cover, the 'fold out' was perforated and was a Shelby GT Club sign up slip which was meant to be ripped off, filled out, and sent back to Shelby American after you had purchased your 1965 GT350 for inclusion into this club. 

Today when you find an original 1965 manual, more often than not the back cover has been ripped off and was most likely was sent into Shelby American.

The club was supposed to be run by Shelby American but to date, little to no information has ever surfaced about it.  It is unsure whether or not the club ever actually existed, though 'Shelby GT Club' decal squares have rarely on occasion turned up in collections.  This club is an interesting side note pertaining to these unique vehicles.

What we have here is a professionally produced (prototype?) name badge holder with the distinct older Shelby logo and the words 'Shelby GT Club' on it's front.  It measures 2.50 by 2.75 inches and is made of plastic with a metal alligator clip on the rear to attach it to someone's clothes.

It has the name and address of 'Western Plastic Products, 1701 Magnolia Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813.  Patent No. 2,364,870'  on the rear.  Interestingly, the font exactly matches most dealer information stamped onto other early Shelby American advertising brochures, suggesting it was fabricated by a well known printer used by Shelby American back in the day.

This is perhaps the only one in existence. 

It also comes with a polaroid picture of a 1965 Shelby GT350 most likely taken at a motor show.  On the rear are the words 1965 Ford GT written in pencil on the lower left hand corner.  It measures 5.00 by 3.38 inches.

Shelby American cars are as collectible as ever, and so is memorabilia pertaining to them.  It doesn't get much rarer than this. 

$3,250.00