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Low production number or high....collectibility factor?


cobra2top

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I have been watching the recent cars on the web and thinking of making the plunge. The question is, if the cars were basically the same miles and condition, would you choose a low numbered car or high, or does it matter?

 

I ask because as I am reading the back post on this site, I see that some commented on getting a low numbered car. Is there some sort of collectors preference? One car is in the 100's , one in the 300's and another in the 400's.

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Hopefully soon driving a Shelby!!

 

Ken

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I have been watching the recent cars on the web and thinking of making the plunge. The question is, if the cars were basically the same miles and condition, would you choose a low numbered car or high, or does it matter?

 

I ask because as I am reading the back post on this site, I see that some commented on getting a low numbered car. Is there some sort of collectors preference? One car is in the 100's , one in the 300's and another in the 400's.

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Hopefully soon driving a Shelby!!

 

Ken

 

I don't know about high versus low for collectibility, but I'd also be curious to know whether the last few cars built had any adjustments or updates from the first ones (I'm thinking along the lines of the SGT scoop issues and SAI having some time and experience to fix the problem on the last ones).

 

I can now say, as an official GT-H owner, that you are crazy not to have one of these! I was a little worried about the whole rental car, trashed and / or crashed thing, but they are still under warranty and I hardly think that 10,000 or 15,000 miles on a modern vehicle should really be cause for concern. These things were built to run hard. I'd be more careful to get a car that has the cosmetics taken care of, because that isn't something Ford could control at the factory.

 

Let's also not forget that they did get a reasonable inspection after every renter had his or her kicks and I doubt Hertz would take a chance letting this things get beaten to hell when (1) they were still renting them out for the rest of the 12 month cycle and (2) they BOUGHT the cars from Ford and hence, they probably wanted to keep them in decent condition for when they had to SELL them to the public.

 

They would gain nothing from a $36,000 investment to recoup what . . . let's say $150 per day for five days per week on average (not including maintenance, advertising, and their other costs) . . . $750 per week . . . 52 weeks . . . wow, they just barely break even. I'd guess they were in business to make a little money besides get the publicity.

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I don't know about high versus low for collectibility, but I'd also be curious to know whether the last few cars built had any adjustments or updates from the first ones (I'm thinking along the lines of the SGT scoop issues and SAI having some time and experience to fix the problem on the last ones).

 

I can now say, as an official GT-H owner, that you are crazy not to have one of these! I was a little worried about the whole rental car, trashed and / or crashed thing, but they are still under warranty and I hardly think that 10,000 or 15,000 miles on a modern vehicle should really be cause for concern. These things were built to run hard. I'd be more careful to get a car that has the cosmetics taken care of, because that isn't something Ford could control at the factory.

 

Let's also not forget that they did get a reasonable inspection after every renter had his or her kicks and I doubt Hertz would take a chance letting this things get beaten to hell when (1) they were still renting them out for the rest of the 12 month cycle and (2) they BOUGHT the cars from Ford and hence, they probably wanted to keep them in decent condition for when they had to SELL them to the public.

 

They would gain nothing from a $36,000 investment to recoup what . . . let's say $150 per day for five days per week on average (not including maintenance, advertising, and their other costs) . . . $750 per week . . . 52 weeks . . . wow, they just barely break even. I'd guess they were in business to make a little money besides get the publicity.

 

I have always been told lower the number better the return. i owned a 1969 GT350 and got more for the low number and now I have a low number SGT and people are always asking about the low number.

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I think ultimately, it will be about condition and any oddball history associated with a given car. But I think the cars will continue to loose value for a little while, maybe 1 to 5 years, before leveling off for a few, and then climbing back up. A large percentage of these cars will probably be put into storage by speculators.

 

Buy the car for the fun of driving it, talking about it (and the 1966 GT-H's) with other car people, and owning a little bit of the Shelby legend.

 

If it does go up in value eventually, that's just another benefit.

 

Just my opinion...

 

Dan

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I think ultimately, it will be about condition and any oddball history associated with a given car. But I think the cars will continue to loose value for a little while, maybe 1 to 5 years, before leveling off for a few, and then climbing back up. A large percentage of these cars will probably be put into storage by speculators.

 

Buy the car for the fun of driving it, talking about it (and the 1966 GT-H's) with other car people, and owning a little bit of the Shelby legend.

 

If it does go up in value eventually, that's just another benefit.

 

Just my opinion...

 

Dan

 

 

 

Dan, you are right on with my thought process on this purchase. I bought a pretty rare car back in the 90's, kind of a lucky find at the time, a 1995 Mustang Cobra Convertible with the Hardtop. It was one of 499 made and at the time was suppose to a a option on all convertibles. Production problems forced Ford to cancel the program and the 499 they made were quietly pushed out the back door. Because of the rarity I drove that car only on nice days and put no more the 10K in 5 years. I ended up selling it, got good money for it but never really enjoyed the car. I was almost afraid to drive it! Now here I am 8 years older and hear how awesome the GH-H is. I am not going to make the same mistake I made with the Cobra, this car is going to be a driver. The way I look at it, it already has been rained on, raced, hitting the corners hard, etc. Since it is use to it I will just have to keep it up!! The bonus wil be the smiles on my face every time I do. I may not get good money for it if I ever sell it, but I should atleast get OK money since it is a Shelby and rare.

 

Still searching.....have found a few nice examples near my house here in NJ. Going to test dirve one a few miles from my house tomorrow if the weather clears.

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I have been watching the recent cars on the web and thinking of making the plunge. The question is, if the cars were basically the same miles and condition, would you choose a low numbered car or high, or does it matter?

 

I ask because as I am reading the back post on this site, I see that some commented on getting a low numbered car. Is there some sort of collectors preference? One car is in the 100's , one in the 300's and another in the 400's.

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Hopefully soon driving a Shelby!!

 

Ken

 

:)
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Got # 30,lowest i`ve seen. Owned from 3/29 in upstate NY.Had just over 10K,now 12 K.Not bad for renter,have just small stone dings and few door edge chips.LOTS of looks around here,plan to drive this baby and have some fun!!!....just have to wait for my pension ck. to fill`er up again.....fredies

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  • 1 month later...

Dan, you are right on with my thought process on this purchase. I bought a pretty rare car back in the 90's, kind of a lucky find at the time, a 1995 Mustang Cobra Convertible with the Hardtop. It was one of 499 made and at the time was suppose to a a option on all convertibles. Production problems forced Ford to cancel the program and the 499 they made were quietly pushed out the back door. Because of the rarity I drove that car only on nice days and put no more the 10K in 5 years. I ended up selling it, got good money for it but never really enjoyed the car. I was almost afraid to drive it! Now here I am 8 years older and hear how awesome the GH-H is. I am not going to make the same mistake I made with the Cobra, this car is going to be a driver. The way I look at it, it already has been rained on, raced, hitting the corners hard, etc. Since it is use to it I will just have to keep it up!! The bonus wil be the smiles on my face every time I do. I may not get good money for it if I ever sell it, but I should atleast get OK money since it is a Shelby and rare.

 

Still searching.....have found a few nice examples near my house here in NJ. Going to test dirve one a few miles from my house tomorrow if the weather clears.

 

 

well, I live in NJ and had to go elsewhere to find a good one. If you have not found one here yet-look in states close enought to drive to-it is worth it to find a car in better condition with less miles than to take a worse car beacuse it is close by!

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  • 1 month later...

If you want a really collectable GT-H, try to find one of the few Hertz Executives GT-H's. They are all 5 speeds, 18" polished aluminum wheels, no clip behind the TCS button, and Sirius built into the radio via visteon control unit. They were squeezed in line 1 by 1 as extras as the rentals were being done.

 

I believe there are around 10 of these nationwide including Mr. Shelbys. Most of the exec's live in Park Ridge, NJ so eye that newspaper!

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Rules of the road, First 5 and the very last one is the big money boys! Anything inbetween will be left entirely up to condition and how hungry the new buyer really is! Factors such as what famous person may have owned it plays in there somewhere.

Rusty

 

Having been into Shelbys since the 70's, I have certainly benefitted from the upside values. There is little doubt that these GT-H cars are going to run up in value over time. Speculate that within 5 years we will see significant increases. After all, there are only 500 of these in the world, no more. Adding to this are the efforts of SAI to discourage the making of "clones" and keep this line pure. The database of serial numbers in the registry, the engine to frame strap, the unique color/material on the stripes, the literature/material package, etc are all items that every owner will come to appreciate the value of.

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