Fresh from rescuing a rare Porsche 912 in Pennsylvania, Dennis Collins, Automotive YouTuber heads to New Jersey for another try at a 1969 Ford Shelby GT350. He tried to buy the vehicle eight weeks previously with no success. And now, the owner, Ted, is ready to part ways with a classic car he’s owned since 1974.
The biggest challenge for Collins is ensuring he’s leaving with everything he needs to piece this automotive treasure back together. During his last visit, Collins discovered a far-from-intact car. Fortunately, during the two-month gap, Ted loaded up the car with the essentials.
Collins only has to load the vehicle and the numbers-matching engine and transmission onto the trailer.
Don’t Judge This 1969 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 By Its Looks
At first glance, Ted’s dilapidated Shelby GT350 appears underwhelming, with rusting panels, inconsistent paint, and a non-existent interior. But the car’s sad and tired looks don’t discourage Collins. He knows how remarkable this Shelby really is.
Thanks to a unique configuration and a handy Marti report, Collins determines this car is like no other.
While 824 Shelby GT350 fastbacks got built for 1969, only 247 came with a four-speed transmission. Of those, 24 left the factory with Acapulco Blue paint. Narrowing things down further, only two had an 8-track player, and just one got air conditioning. Collins’ find is a one-of-one Shelby.
Hope For More Dennis Collins Shelby Rescues Ahead
The most exciting part of the video is what gets teased off-camera; Ted has two more Shelbys that Collins is trying to convince him to sell. There are few details other than we learn there’s a black Shelby that Ted has owned since 1988 and a red one.
Collins hopes to return to New Jersey to complete another deal. We’ll have to wait for a future episode to see if this happens.
More Dennis Collins Barn Find Updates
Collins wraps up the video with two interesting notes. Viewers get a glimpse at his self-proclaimed favorite car, a Ferrari 550 Maranello, but a slip of the tongue calls this sleek coupe a 1991 model. The car is actually from the 1999 model year (Ferrari only built the car from 1996 to 2001).
It’s the car Collins and Richard Rawlings used for a 31-hour, 59-minute record Cannonball Run – but, the end of the presentation offers something even more noteworthy, especially for Mustang Shelby hunters.
Collins is offering a $5,000 reward for the person that helps him locate and buy a specific Shelby GT350, car #9F02M48004.
Sources: YouTube/Dennis Collins, thedenniscollins.com
