1967 Shelby GTs With SAI Completion Dates After August 3, 1967

The SRG's belief is that beginning in February, and continuing until the end of production, the Shelby completion process was split into two (2) distinct stages:

The first phase transformed the 'knockdown' Mustang (as-delivered from Ford's San Jose plant) into a Shelby GT. The 'Shelby Upgrades' included fiberglass, tail lights, head lights, roll-bar, gauge pod, anti-wind-up snubbers, and emblems.

The second phase took place after a dealer's order was received. When necessary, options would be changed (typically wheels and/or radio) required to fulfill the dealer's specific purchase order. This also might be when the vinyl side stripes were applied.

We theorize that the LAX production line (which handled the first phase) had been spun-down on approximately August 3, 1967.

After all regular employees were terminated, a small engineering team was relocated to Ionia. According to paperwork, the skeleton crew, departed Los Angeles between August 11th and August 18th, 1967. Engineering cars, tools, and furniture shipped out on August 18th. The airport facility was not assembling Shelby GT units after this time.

There appears to be a small group of completed cars still parked outside the west hanger, as of September 1967.

Former Shelby American hangars at LAX (September 1967)

September 1967: Arial view of Shelby American's former hangars at the Los Angeles airport. The blue arrow points to what appears to be a small group of completed GT cars parked to the west of the former race hangar.

Accepting this theory, cars recorded with a 'completed' date after August 3 are a bit misleading, but then again, it depends on how you define 'completed.'

This date found in the box titled [Date Completed] on a Production Order is, for all intents and purposes, the FINAL date associated with the completion of the vehicle. It's likely the date used by the accountants, and It is the date used by the SAAC '67 registry.

1967 Shelby GT Production Order - annotated for two completion dates

It is the SRG's belief that the Production Order's 'Completion Date' reflects when the second phase was performed.

This can be the same as or different from when the car actually was upgraded, VIN'd and technically became a Shelby GT.

Absent of the car being listed on a Daily Production Report (DPR), we believe that the circled date found in the upper-right corner of car Production Order can more accurate when it comes to determining which running chages the car received.

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