The Shelby American (Fall 2021)

rototypes are interesting vehicles. They are chosen at random from the pro- duction line or specially hand-built as “pre-production” models before production actually begins. They are considered merely tools for testing and evaluating proposed equipment or styling cues and not as special vehicles deserving of any sig- nificant or distinctive status. In fact, after being used as test mules, they are either sent unceremoniously to the crusher (due to the legal liabilities of selling vehicles which do not meet ap- plicable production standards) or they are rebuilt to standard production specifications and sold as used cars. They are usually not regarded as note- worthy until years later, when enthu- siasts seek out vehicles that are un- usual or have unique histories and, therefore, are seen as more valuable. Prior to the beginning of 1968 Shelby production, five pre-production cars, sometimes referred to as “pilot cars” (00041, a GT500 fastback; 00056, a GT500 convertible; 00101 a GT500 fastback; 00301, a GT350 convertible; 00339, a GT350 fastback) were built at A.O. Smith (not necessarily in produc- tion order – for whatever reason these production numbers were chosen as prototypes, and certainly more than these five prototypes would eventually be built). These five cars (and there may have been a sixth) were assembled in Sep- tember, 1967 – months before regular Shelby production began. All were painted Sunlit Gold (referred to as “Bronze” in factory paperwork). The 1968 Mustang model year pro- duction began in August, 1967. The Mustang assembly lines were shut down for most of June and July so tool- ing for the new model year change could be installed. Production workers went on summer vacations during this time as plants required only skeleton crews. As bad luck would have it, the United Auto Workers went on strike in September, idling all three of Ford’s Mustang assembly plants (San Jose, California; Dearborn, Michigan; and Metuchen, New Jersey). By that time the five pilot cars had been built as 1968 Mustangs and sent to A.O. Smith in Ionia, Michigan to be used as mules to initiate Shelby production. The SHELBY AMERICAN Fall 2021 27 – Rick Kopec, with a lot of help from Pete Disher 8T02S113607-00101 P