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HOME
Charming
the Snake
By Scott W. Mead
Photos
by the author
(From www.Edmunds.COM )
When we began discussing
the "Giving Chase" story, our entire editorial staff
immediately thought of the same thing: We got to get one of the
movie production vehicles for photography and driving
impressions. After numerous phone calls, e-mails and faxes to
Disney, the movie's production house, their final answer was,
"We'll have to take a pass on this."
 
With the Mickey folks acting more like Goofy, we decided to go
one step further. Instead of using a beat-to-death wannabe
Shelby, why not drive the real thing? A single phone call to a
Shelbymanaic resulted in an e-mail from Walt Boeninger, who
graciously allowed us to photograph and drive his pristine 67
Shelby GT-500 (with a mere 77K on the clock). A bonafide Ford
nut, Boeninger's stable also includes an original 1971 Boss 351
Mustang and Jerry Titus' back-up coupe for the 1967 Trans Am
series.
With the revised body style for '67, Shelby took the already
aggressively good looks of the Mustang, and turned it into a
performance icon. Tossing the standard 390-cubic-inch motor
aside, Shelby stuffed the fender wells with a 428-cubic-inch Ford
big block putting out 335 horsepower and backed by the proven
four-speed Top Loader transmission. Almost overnight, the GT-500
ruled the streets and the drag strip.
Thirty years ago, horsepower was relatively cheap. The 1967
Shelby GT-500's base price was only $3,440.70, and a loaded
version slipped out the door for just under four grand. Today,
these same cars command a price of nearly 12 times the original.
Slipping behind the wheel of Boeninger's Night Mist Blue beauty,
we noted the classic wood wheel framing a large tach and speedo
that reside smack dab in front of the driver. The seating
position is dead center behind the wheel; however, the large wood
wheel impedes clutch operation, just like a modern-day Mazda
Miata.
Depressing the heavy clutch, we flicked the key and the big-block
Ford thundered to life. Despite the dual 600 Holley carbs, the
428 quickly settled down to a musical "blap-ba-do,
blap-ba-do, blap-ba-do" idle, ready to maul the pavement.
Releasing the clutch, and adding a touch of throttle, you'd think
you were driving Mom's grocery-getter to the store. The Shelby is
very docile around town and easy to drive. The power steering (a
$69.28 option) is over-boosted, but makes negotiating tight
parking lots a breeze.
Downshift to second, mash the throttle and the manhole-sized
secondaries flow large quantities of fuel and air into the
cylinders, thrusting the vehicle's occupants deep in the seats as
the exhaust note turns to a banshee yell of unbridled horsepower.
Pausing only a moment to select third gear and placing our right
foot to the floor repeats the process at a mind-bending pace.
The Shelby's front power disc/rear drum brakes are firm,
responsive and easy to modulate (a necessity, since ABS-assisted
brakes wouldn't be available for another dozen years). With a
solid pedal and excellent feel, we only wish that every new
vehicle had the same feel and responsiveness of the Shelby.
The interior is all business, with dual bucket seats up front and
a fiberglass tray in place of the normal rear seats. A 2 ½-inch
roll bar provides both rollover protection and a mounting point
for the factory-installed racing harnesses.
All too soon, we were back in Boeinger's driveway, the rumble of
the big block still guiding the pulse through our heart. Yeah,
we'd agree -- Shelby took the Mustang to fantastic heights, and
it's easy to see why Shelby has developed such a following for
his cars: They're no-nonsense, all business and meant to go fast.
The GT-500 does it all in spades.
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