The story of Jim Martell’s 1969 Shelby GT500 is not necessarily a unique one, but the impact he and the car have had on the local Mustang scene will stand for years to come. Jim’s Shelby is a 1969 model that was built late in the production run. It has features that suggest it was one of the last 50 or so built. However, it must have sold before needing a conversion to 1970 specs. The Grabber Orange paint might have had something to do with that!
With a white interior and C6 automatic, it definitely stands out in the crowd. Jim walked into our shop one day and didn’t leave for years, haha. He would show up almost every morning, coffee in hand, and we knew it was time for a break that could last minutes or hours. He spent years collecting parts and knowledge in preparation for the full-blown restoration of his special car. Jim is known in the community for his knowledge of Carburetors, FEs, and 9″ Rears and, in his retirement, rebuilt many of those for local Ford enthusiasts. Needless to say, he took care of the drivetrain himself. The car turned out amazing and will win a first-place trophy at any show it is entered in.
In recent years Jim also restored a Black Jade 1969 Mustang Mach 1 with 428 SCJ for his wife Sharon. She deserved to be able to accompany him to shows and snag some awards of her own. After being bitten by ‘the resto bug’ he also finished a 57 Ford in a beautiful deep red with a hot 351W.
Sadly, Jim passed away in 2022 from complications arising from adult Leukemia. He will be sorely missed, and we consider him a true friend. The Shelby will stand as a memorial to a man who bled Ford Blue, and I hope his part in its history will be continually passed along wherever it is shown.
