1966 HERTZ SHELBY
THIS CUSTOM-MADE TRIBUTE IS DELIVERING A LOT OF FUN
This is something we got seven years ago. It was built for us from a bare shell and comes from Classic Speed. They did a build history for us and it came out well. I made a couple of little adjustments since it was delivered. “It’s running the 289 V8, rebuilt, a Weber 650, five-speed Tremec manual transmission and a nine-inch diff. The engine in particular has been built to replicate what Shelby did with them. It’s got Tri-Y headers and puts out about 306 horsepower, which is where they were. We’re running discs front and drum rear.
We’ve put a few little luxuries in it, such as power steering and air-conditioning.
I do like all old cars – not just Fords. The reason I picked this one is the size of it and it was made to go around corners – unlike a lot of the larger cars of the era. I really like the look of this one and I like the story behind the whole Hertz thing.
Michelle has driven it and comments that it’s a good thing to get out on a Sunday for a drive to lunch. Of course that’s only if they can find a parking spot where they can keep an eye on it!
It’s a fun thing to travel in and for an event like this (the Targa Tas Classic Rallye) it’s just a ball. It makes a bit of noise, like they did in the day, so on a trip like this where you get to stretch it a bit you don’t bother with the radio.
I’m not a professional driver and I haven’t got great tyres on it, but it goes really well. Again the tyres are right for the period, but I’d change them if I was doing this kind of classic rally more seriously. It gets along really well.