Car Collection Profile: 1966 Shelby Mustang GT-350H SFM6S475
My very first collectible automobile was the Shelby Mustang GT-350H Hertz Rent-A-Racer purchased in 2003. Here is a profile of my classic Mustang including meeting Carroll and Cleo Shelby in 2005.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Specifications: SFM6S475
Copy of Original Invoice Billed to First Owner-Hertz Corporation at San Francisco Airport
The first owner of SFM6S475 was the Hertz Corporation at San Franciso Airport for the Hertz Sports Car Club program. The cost was $3,865.34, equal to $29,700 today.
Christie's Collectors' Car Auction & Exhibition, June 5, 2003
The automobile was offered for sale at the Christy's 2003 auction at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan.
The program featured the Shelby Mustang in a two-page photo spread.
After winning the auction, I saw the automobile for the first time parked in Rockefeller Center.
Keith Martin Reviews
Sports Car Market Magazine, June 2003
Lime Rock Track, Lakeville, CT, September 5, 2005.
The car's sun visor was signed by Carroll Shelby in 2005.
From left to right: Roz Kroplick, Howard Kroplick, Carroll Shelby and Cleo Shelby.
The signed photo from Carroll Shelby reads:
"Thanks to you Howard& Roz, "God Bless You" Carroll Shelby
Comments
Good morning Howard,
What a Great Story! I have always read and heard about the legends of the Shelby Rent-A-Racer, now I hope to see your car someday at one of the local shows. I missed out on seeing your Black Beast the day you stopped by my home in Huntington to pick up the Ash Tray you got from me. I did manage to see your prototype 2 seater Mustang at the USMMA. I would love to see your Chrysler one day too. Keep up these wonderful newsletters as it is one of the few items I look forward to reading.
Have a Happy Sunday,
Artie and Patty Perkins
Nice !!!
I have a similar story from Lime Rock. I had a copy of Dennis Jenkinson’s book “The racing driver”. Dennis was Stirling Moss’s co-driver in the record setting Mille Miglia race in the Mercedes 300SL. Waiting in the 85 degree heat I finally got to meet Sir Stirling. His wife Lady Susie said ” You must be baking out there in this heat and then said oh look…he has Jenk’s old book! I told her as soon as he signed it I would head for my car for a cold beer. She asked if she could join me. I said of course! Great memories. Great story about Shelby and his Mustang. Regards. Mitch
I also own a white and gold GT350 H, #6S490, only 15 cars from yours!
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Howard Kroplick
Tom, very cool!!
CARROLL SHELBY ALSO SIGNED THE GLOVE BOX DOOR FROM MY 1967 SHELBY GT 500 NUMBER 1726, THIS WAS FROM WHEN I MET HIM AT ATLANTIC CITY NJ SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I ALSO HAVE A PICTURE OF HIM SHAKING MY HAND AS HE IS HANDING ME THE SIGNED GLOVE BOX DOOR. I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN OFF THE BRUSHED ALUMINUM DASH PANEL INSTEAD BECAUSE THE SIGNATURE ON TH GLOVE BOX DOOR IS HARD TO SEE. I HAVE OWNED THE SHELBY FOR 47 YEARS. IT HAS ABOUT 22,000 MILES ON IT NOW HAS NOT BEEN OUT OF STORAGE GARAGE FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW. I HOPE THE GOVERNMENT MANDATED FUEL HAS NOT DESTROYED THE CARBURETORS WHILE SITTING IN STORAGE. THE FUEL PUMP IS THE ORIGINAL MECHANICAL FUEL PUMP FROM 1966.
THE CURRENT GASOLINE ALSO RUINED MY TURBO CORVAIR ENGINE BY EATING UP THE FUEL PUMP. ALSO IT DAMAGED THE CARTER YH CARBURETOR ON THE ORIGINAL TURBOCHARGER. I GOT A KIT AND REBUILT THE CARBURETOR 2 YEARS AGO AND JUST HAD TO REBUILD IT AGAIN 2 WEEKS AGO. I GOT IT STARTED BUT IT STILL HAS A KNOCK WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE GASOLINE WASHING LUBRICATING OIL OUT OF THE BEARINGS. IN THE MEANTIME. N.Y.S D.M.V. HAS BEEN CHARGING US $30 A YEAR FOR METROPOLITAN SUPPLEMENTAL COMMUTATOR TAX ON EACH OF OUR COLLECTOR CARS EVEN IF THEY ARE IN STORAGE AND WE DO NOT COMMUTE WITH THEM.
SORRY FOR DIGRESSING FORM CARROLL SHELBY
MORE INFORMATION ON MY 1967 SHELBY. I BOUGHT IT AT A NYC POLICE DEPARTMENT AUCTION IN 1971. I FIRST SAW IT AT THE IMPOUND YARD IN WHITESTONE, NY AT THAT TIME IT WAS JUST CONSIDERED A FANCY MUSTANG. i WAS HIGH BIDDER AT $850. IF I HAD NOT BOUGHT IT IT MAY HAVE BEEN BOUGHT FOR SCRAP OR PARTING OUT. I HAVE THE MARTI REPORT AND IT SEEMS I AM THE SECOND OWNER IF YOU DO NOT COUNT THE NYC POLICE DEPARTMENT. I DO NOT KNOW HOW IT GOT TO THE IMPOUND YARD BUT I CAN ONLY ASSUME IT WAS STOLEN AND RECOVERED . PARTS THAT WERE MISSING WHEN I GOT IT WERE 2 OF THE ORIGIN AL MAGSTAR WHEELS BATTERY DISTRIBUTOR AND FACTORY OVAL AIR CLEANER. I WAS ABLE TO GET CORRECT SHELBY NUMBERED REPLACEMENT PARTS FROM A FRIEND WHO WAS THE PARTS MANAGER AT A LOCAL DEALER. I REBUILT THE CARBURETORS AND GOT IT RUNNING. I ALSO HAVE SEVERAL WORK REPAIR ORDERS FROM LARSON FORD WHERE IT WAS SOLD FROM THE DEALER TOUCHED UP SOME OF THE PAINT. ALSO THE HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED. THE ORIGINAL 4 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW. YEARS LATER AFTER BEING IN STORAGE, I TOOK THE TRANSMISSION APART AND FOUND THE “TECHNICIAN” WHO WORKED ON IT AT LARSEN FORD IN 1968 PUT THE TRANSMISSION TOGETHER WRONG, I CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE COUNTER-SHAFT WITH A NEW ONE. I DROVE IT VERY LITTLE AND THEN STORED IT FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS. LATELY I HAVE ONLY TAKEN IT OUT A FEW TIMES FOR SHOWING IT AND CLUB EVENTS. A FEW YEARS AGO I TOOK IT TO THE MUSTANG CLUB OF AMERICA SHOW HERE ON LONG ISLAND AND WAS ABLE TO WIN A GOLD , WHICH IS THE HIGHEST AWARD. CAR HAS NOW BEEN IN STORAGE FOR OVER 2 YEARS AND NYS DMV WILL NOT RENEW REGISTRATION ONLINE. THEY TELL ME I WILL HAVE TO GO TO DMV OFFICE PERSONALLY TO RENEW IT.
Gene, please don’t type in all CAPS - it makes what you right very hard to read - if anyone bothers. Ron