Lane Collectibles 1:18 1967 Shelby G.T. 350- SAAC 30th Anniversary- Ltd Ed of 750

The 1967 Shelby GT350 offered a well balanced package of performance and luxury amenities with a look all its own. In prior models, Carroll Shelby had concentrated on performance enhancements for his Mustangs. However the interior was spartan, just raceworthy, and there were few exterior treatments to make the car the stand-out cruiser that, after disappointing sales numbers, it appears the public would have preferred.

For the '67 model the Mustangs were delivered to Shelby's plant, minus nose, hood and deck, to be outfitted with his own fiberglass panels, giving the Shelby its unique look. The hood featured a split intake scoop, the nose allowed the headlights to be more inset and the decklid for a beautiful integral spoiler that framed the rear panel. Other styling cues included inboard grill-mounted high beams, GT40-inspired upper and lower rear air-scoops, and Cougar taillights separated by a race-inspired Cobra-badged gas filler cap. Upgraded to 15" weels, the buyer had the option of Shelby's 10 spoked aluminum wheels or Kelsey-Hayes MagStars.

The interior featured Ford's deluxe Mustang option with 140mph speedometer and tach. Shelbys had oil pressure and ammeter gauges added, along with a wood rimmed steering wheel and functional roll bar with shoulder harnesses. The brushed aluminum inserts on the dash and door panels gave the look of a race-capable, but luxury, sports car, which was the niche Shelby felt he needed to fill if he was to sell his product in significant numbers. He was correct. The '67 Shelby was a huge success and the result was a car that would become a classic.

Lane has just released this Silver and Blue GT350 commissioned by the Shelby American Automibile Club to commemorate their 30th anniversary event at the California Speedway in Fontana, June 30-July 3, 2005. This limited edition of 750 is liveried in the event logos, as well as race livery as the "Official SAAC-30 Track Car" #30, and taped-over outboard headlamps. This release offers the absolutely spectacular Lane tooling of prior releases with four Kelsey-Hayes MagStars with chromed wheel trim, shod in white lettered Goodyears, (including a fifth in the trunk.)

This is a quality piece from stem to stern. Beautifully finished in silver with twin blue racing stripes, there are many fine touches of detail that make this a true precision replica. The chrome is nickel-lustrous and includes all hardware and the fine bezels on the four headlight assemblies. The use of metal and chrome continue into the interior with sculpted metal door sills, brushed aluminum panels, and fabulous hardware on the restraint system with tiny Cobra badging on the female buckles. The upholstery is soft, nicely embossed, and textured. The all-black material is set off by the chromed seat back trim. From the lush carpeting with molded mats to the finished headliner with twin visors, the interior is so realistic that you'd think Mr Shelby crawled in there and autographed the dash himself. (By the way, he left his hat in the trunk along his tool box.)

Opening the hood with unobtrusive, but inaccurate, arc hinges reveals a spectacular engine bay featuring the 306 hp 289 V8 with all the proper goodies from the chrome aircleaner, finned aluminum Cobra valve covers, cabled Autolite battery, ID plate, mounts for the inborn headlamps and all the wiring, plumbing, gas and brakelines that make you want to put a 1/18 key in the ignition and start'er up. You can follow these lines along the undercarriage as they connect to the gas tank and brakes respectively. Between the 4-speed manual transmission and the orange-painted rear end is a rotating driveshaft with the 3 ID stripes replicated. So much to see and admire on this model that I'm going to have to invoke the "A Picture's worth a Thousand Words" axiom and show you all some pictures. With a good number of these models going direct to SAAC members, there's a good chance if you want this commemorative edition, you may have to find it on the secondary market. Legacy has a few left, I'm told. Otherwise, happy hunting. I'd love to give this beauty 5 stars but I guess I have to deduct something for the hood hinges. Then again, getting Mr Shelby to crawl in there and autograph the dash has to be worth something extra, no

New News  ·  List & Reviews  ·  Legacy Motors  ·  Auctions  ·  Forums  ·  Polls  ·  Features  ·  Register  ·  FAQs  ·  Clubs

Copyright © 2008 Gennera Knab and Diecast Zone