Shelby Paxton Supercharger

[OldMil]

I have, what I believe to be a NOS Paxton Supercharger, blonde in color (68?).  Who could help me with verification? Thanks, Jack 

[TA Coupe]

Contact Craig Conley at Paradise Wheels

Paradise Wheels https://share.google/lo2IFU3znNYmQbWO7

      Roy

[OldMil]

Thanks Roy!

[OldMil]

Ok, a little more research and some help from friends, the serial number would indicate this to be an October 1967 pump.  This would make it available, probably over the counter, for the 68 model year.  Thanks!  Jack
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ziqFZ2gMomeExBbM8

[Bob Gaines]

Ok, a little more research and some help from friends, the serial number would indicate this to be an October 1967 pump.  This would make it available, probably over the counter, for the 68 model year.  Thanks!  Jack
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ziqFZ2gMomeExBbM8

Cool part for a day 2 modification. Of course you know that there were no factory regular production 68 GT350's.

[Vernon Estes]

Neat blower! Incredible condition and fun to look at! Cool to see that it looks to be painted more of a Wimbledon white instead of the stark white that a lot of them get painted.

FYI to those reading, a common misconception is that white blowers were only sold in the catalog or over the counter. To the contrary, there was at least one factory supercharged 67 which had a white blower. Pictures in a foreign magazine article of it and there's a video floating around out there somewhere of it running I believe.

The car is 1075 from memory, used as an engineering/PR car.

All that said, it was a factory-use car. Eventually sold off as a production car at a dealership. Also of note the blower was a "C" serial blower (which were generally always blue) and has the earlier decal. So lots of "unusual" to go around.. but still a cool footnote.

[Vernon Estes]

More on the article

[pbf777]

Neat blower! Incredible condition and fun to look at! Cool to see that it looks to be painted more of a Wimbledon white instead of the stark white that a lot of them get painted.

      Yes, looks as "N.O.S." as one could hope for!   

      But other than establishing the fact of having been painted "white", I'm not so sure we can readily determine what particular "shade" of white it might have been originally?  Paints, particularly older industrial types were very porous, a popular filler material was simply clay, and as over the decades on being exposed to oils and their absorption, this "could" have started out "bright" white, but may have turned somewhat due to the oil intrusion and then it's oxidation.   

      Scott.

[JohnB]

More on the article

Need a translation? 😉

[Vernon Estes]

More on the article

Need a translation? 😉

Here is the translation using ChatGPT 

Here is an English translation and partial reconstruction of the article titled "Biten av en Cobra" ("Bitten by a Cobra"), originally written in Swedish by Kenneth Olausson:

Bitten by a Cobra

Text: Kenneth Olausson
Photos: Per Cewrien, Shelby Inc., others

Page 1–2 Summary:

After graduation and a visit to the Indy 500 in Indianapolis, a great adventure awaited me in Los Angeles. At 18 years old, I got to borrow a supercharged Shelby GT350 with a potent 450 horsepower under the hood. I had the exclusive press car for three weeks and made the acquaintance of the Highway Patrol, who fined me about a month's salary. I was young, life was exciting, and the journey was still a win. But let's start with the background and the story of the first Cobra in Sweden.

Sweden's first Cobra was imported by racer and entrepreneur Harald Krookgård, and the car was exclusively photographed by Per Cewrien.

It all began when American star Carroll Shelby aimed to build the ultimate sports car in the early 1960s. Instead of developing something from scratch, he turned to AC Cars in England, where a lightweight roadster was being manufactured. Shelby's vision led to collaboration with Ford, which supplied the engines. This partnership birthed the Shelby Cobra, followed later by the Shelby Mustang.

In Sweden, the Shelby buzz started in the mid-60s with Harald Krookgård's import of the first Cobra. The car was delivered via Behrens' dealership in Stockholm and shown in races and car shows. It was a turning point that would ignite a long-standing Shelby legacy in Sweden.

Page 3–4 Summary:

After Indy, the author flew to Los Angeles and was hosted by journalist Lynn Wineland in Pasadena. Wineland, with connections to Shelby American Inc., helped arrange the GT350 loan. The particular car was one of only 25 factory-supercharged models by Paxton—a very rare variant.

"My car was equipped with a supercharger from Paxton, which turned out to be extremely rare – only 25 units were produced."

He visited Shelby American Inc., located on 6501 West Imperial Highway in Venice, and got to witness the transformation of ordinary Mustangs into Shelby GT models. The factory was busy turning out high-performance versions like the GT500 with a 7-liter big-block engine.

Page 5–6 Summary:

The article details how in 1966, Shelby expanded the model line and began producing the GT500 alongside the GT350. Fiberglass panels were installed to reduce weight, and major mechanical upgrades transformed the Mustangs into serious performance machines. The "Biggest Snake," the 428-powered GT500, packed serious muscle.

A quote from Motor Trend sums it up:

"Many sports cars don't have this kind of power – this is pure 427 Cobra performance."

Page 7–8 Summary:

A collection of photos from the Shelby factory showcases production and assembly. A moment is recounted where PR woman Sharon asked:

"Are you interested in buying a Cobra?"

Though the author wasn't ready to buy that day, the impact of the visit was lasting. He reflects on how the Shelby GT500, originally sold for just $4,195, now commands prices more than 20 times that. The legacy of Shelby's cars—built for performance, showmanship, and rarity—lives on, especially among collectors and fans.

[Hipo-Fred]

Thanks Vern ... great pics and an interesting story.

Fred