The Shelby American (Summer 2022)

The next obstacle was to determine the serial numbers of the Special Paint Shelbys, because not all of the cars had been discovered. The 1968 Shelby Registrar, Vincent Liska, was especially helpful here. Liska has been a valuable resource to thecobra- snake.com in fact-checking and shar- ing whatever he has, such as factory lists of serial numbers. To date, 157 out of the total of 159 Special Paint cars have surfaced. Over the past twenty years the Coralsnake website has accomplished the following: • The website has been updated quar- terly with over 100 updates since 2001. It contains over 100 links and hundreds of pages of reference mate- rial. • Has identified the total number of special paint cars and located 14/15 non-yellow special paint cars. • Researched the history of the only 1968 Hertz GT350 convertible. Ob- scure memos in SAAC’s archives were determined to belong to this special car. • Developed exclusive additional his- tory on the only maroon convertible built. This GT500KR was determined to be one of a kind. • Identified the 1968 Publicity/Press car. This blue GT500KR with a saddle interior has not resurfaced but the his- tory has been verified. • Found Col. Oliver North's original GT350. Col. North was interviewed in 2003 after his car was found. • Rediscovered the "lost" C8AE-AF carburetor information (some 1968 GT500s did come with Autolite carbu- retors). • The website has been acknowledged by the Shelby American Automobile Club, Kevin Marti and many others in their reference books. • Contributed over 1,000 photographs to the newest edition of the 1968 SAAC World Registry (no easy task there, but the website’s library is ex- tensive). • Identified the 1968 Paris "Showing" car. This car was the inspiration for the ACME diecast model cars. • The website was the first to compile the history of the SAAC concours elite Shelby show winners. • Was the first to discuss the docu- mentation on 1968 pre-production en- gineering vehicles. • Was the first to document 1969 Pilot Cars (Engineering Vehicles). • Was the first to document Shelby Dealerships, now with over three dozen exclusive articles. This was the website that made hubcaps and deal- ership emblems popular again. • Rediscovered the Conelec company information and saved the original archives. Became the first to build a Shelby with the Conelec EFI system in 50 years. • Assisted with the building of the only 1968 Shelby prototype coupe, the “Green Hornet,” by assisting in docu- menting and suppling original EFI components. • Was the first to publish information on the first 1968 Shelbys built. With the help of Kevin Marti, the website identified the first five 1968 Shelbys built. The website was the first to doc- ument these 1968 “pilot cars.” • Documented “survivor cars” and be- came a resource for others by provid- ing trusted information. • Keeps a historical record of all SAAC Concours Gold cars. • Maintains explanations of all 1968 Shelby recalls with specific informa- tion and photos. • A trusted source for concours infor- mation. As a former, SAAC National Head Judge, Disher is the source for accurate, peer-reviewed information about 1968 Shelbys, and he’s breaking into filling the void for 1969-1970 Shelby information. The results of newly researched in- formation are released periodically via the website. Here is a recent list of top- ics that were released recently (April 1, 2022). • A 1971 model was planned but never built. When the decision was made to end Shelby production in 1969, there were 788 unsold cars. Rather than leave Shelby dealers with year-old cars to sell, they were updated to 1970 models by giving them new vehicle identification numbers (under the watchful eye of the FBI). These cars were also given black painted hood panels and black plastic 1969 Boss 302 chin spoilers. But there was another aspect that has been overlooked (until picked up by the Coralsnake: a 1971 model Shelby was in the pipeline. As of 1969 it was only illustrations and design sketches of potential concept cars, but work on that came to a stop when the Shelby project was termi- nated. The Coralsnake reports on this. • A 1967 Shelby was apparently built into a 1968 GT500. Information has surfaced, provided by a former owner and it is being rigorously investigated as a potential Shelby Engineering car. • The 1968 Shelby dealer list has been updated and additional dealer infor- mation included. • Additional photos of 1968 Shelbys from “back in the day” provided by past owners have been posted. New information continues to be developed on 1968 Shelbys. It does not bubble to the surface all by itself but is the result of serious detective work and ongoing research. As soon as any- thing new is known, it appears on Coralsnake.com website. The SHELBY AMERICAN Summer 2022 76 Pete Disher: coralsnake68@hotmail.com http://www.thecoralsnake.com