Alright, let me tell you about my little adventure trying to track down a 1968 Shelby GT500. It wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, more like digging for treasure.
Starting the Hunt
It all kicked off a while back. I’ve always had a soft spot for classic American muscle, and the ’68 GT500? Man, that’s the stuff dreams are made of. So, I figured, why not see what’s out there? Just testing the waters, you know. First thing I did was fire up the computer. Spent a good few evenings just browsing the usual big car sites – you know the ones. Typed in “1968 Shelby GT500 for sale” and boom, pages and pages popped up.
At first, it felt easy. Saw a few listings that looked promising. Got pretty excited, thinking maybe this wouldn’t be so hard after all. But then reality started to sink in.
Sifting Through Listings
I quickly realized that finding a real, documented GT500 wasn’t as simple as clicking a button. Lots of clones out there, tributes, or cars with shady histories. So, I started getting more specific. I looked for sites that specialize in classic Fords or Shelby cars specifically. Joined a couple of forums too, just lurking mostly, trying to learn what to look for, what questions to ask.
My process became kind of routine:
- Scan new listings every morning with coffee.
- Look closely at the pictures. Does the VIN plate look right? Do the details match up with what a ’68 GT500 should have?
- Read the descriptions carefully. Words like “tribute” or “clone” were immediate red flags if I was looking for the real deal.
- If something looked potentially legit, I’d try to find more info. Sometimes I’d message the seller, asking for the VIN, maybe some history, or specific photos.
Dealing with Reality (and Sellers)
Let me tell you, prices are steep. Seriously steep. That was expected, but seeing the numbers still makes your eyes water a bit. Then there’s the condition. Finding one that hasn’t been messed with too much, or that’s been restored properly, is tough. Lots of project cars needing tons of work, or beautifully restored ones costing a fortune.
Contacting sellers was a mixed bag. Some guys were great, happy to chat, knew their cars inside out. Others… well, let’s just say communication wasn’t their strong suit. Sometimes you get vague answers, sometimes no answer at all. I learned pretty fast to be patient and persistent.
I spent a lot of time comparing listings, cross-referencing details, trying to verify authenticity as much as possible from afar. Looked into registry information where I could. It felt like being a detective sometimes.
Where I’m At Now
So, after all this searching, digging, and learning, have I bought one? Nope, not yet. I’ve seen a couple that were very tempting, got close on one, but it didn’t quite work out for various reasons – price negotiation fell through, or a closer inspection (via lots of photos and questions) revealed something not quite right.
But the search continues! I feel like I’ve got a much better handle on the market now. I know what to look for, the right questions to ask, and roughly what a fair price looks like depending on condition and history. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, finding the right ’68 GT500. For now, I’m still enjoying the process, learning more about these amazing cars every day. It’s a passion project, really. One day, the right one will pop up. I just gotta keep looking.
