Franklin Mint 1968 Shelby

A car that every young kid could only dream about back in 1968, unless they were born with a silver spoon in their mouth was a '68 Shelby. My classmate at the time, Kevin, was one of the lucky few to own a brand new Shelby while still in high school. Kevin's family was well to-do, owning a large manufacturing company here in town. Therefore, plunking down the approximate $4,472 for a GT500KR fastback wasn't a big deal for mom or dad to do for their only son. Anything Kevin wanted he got, including a '68 Shelby. Now that I think about it, I really was envious of that lucky...

Kevin's Shelby was green with a black interior. From time to time I run into him and we reminisce about old times. I will have to ask him whatever became of his toy. For all I know it may be tucked away in a garage somewhere, I don't know. I have never seen it at any car shows; therefore I assume Kevin has long since sold it. But again I can't be sure, I am now curious, and will need to find out what became of that nasty green machine. I can then close a chapter of my life knowing the outcome of the car that terrorized Main Street 35 years ago.

Without beating around the bush, the first thing that catches your eye upon viewing the FM Shelby is its stance. Therefore, lets address that issue right off the bat. The model has what I will call an aggressive pose. Some collectors have commented about this look on our discussion boards. To be honest I also felt that the model sat rather high. However, after further research I conclude it is close to it's proper ride height based on images I obtained from the NVSAAC site.

I compared a few images from the NVSAAC site in an attempt to deduce the correct stance for this model. I overlaid them via CAD with the FM model. My overlaid image came surprisingly close to that of the original.

Personally, I like the aggressive stance of the FM Shelby. It boils down to what floats your boat, so to speak, your personal taste. For me this model works, however, I wish I could remove the antenna or at least change its pitch; it is incorrect by a mile.

As for fit and finish it is very good. Paint is glass like with no blemishes but lacks photo-etched scripts opting for decals instead. Side marker lights are also decals, which I found disheartening for a model of this caliber. Remember we are looking for bling, those eye-popping extras that make you want to scream wow, and they were AWOL, this model screamed for bling but no one listened.

Hood, doors and trunk all opened easily and functioned smoothly. The doors do have doglegs and the trunk lid would not stay open. Viewing the engine compartment you find a very nicely replicated 428 cubic inch engine wired and plumbed. A very clean looking engine compartment that looks good to the eye when open. No extra bling however to get you overly excited but acceptable.

Viewing the interior you will find a wood grain dash, folding front seatbacks and a simulated wood steering wheel. I rode in Kevin's' Shelby many years ago and I honestly cannot remember how close the interior of this model came to the original. I will say that the gauges in this model lacked dept of field and were applied haphazardly. Then again how many collectors worry about such minute detail anyway?

Flipping the model over reveals a sparse undercarriage lacking bling of any kind. No brake or fuel lines just the limited edition plate. The standard fair such as exhaust system, fuel tank and driveshaft are all there and that is pretty much it.

In conclusion I do like this model at the right price. This model can be purchased from independent dealers well below its suggested retail price, making it a steal. I like its fit, finish and color. I especially like its aggressive look. Every visitor that viewed this model in my collection seemed to be drawn to it like a magnet. That says something about the models' eye appeal. It may not be perfect but it isn't a paperweight either, for the right price it is definitely a buy.