Thursday, July 6, 2023

AUTOS: “Don’t Cry” over these legendary Mustangs



Long ago postcard from America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, WA Honouring the 50th Anniversary of the Ford Mustang. (The Tomaso Collection)

 

As these few FoMoco’ examples only continue the illustrious Pony Cars lore…

 

Tirelessly Hammerin’ out a nonstop time space continuum ‘O veritable word, comprising labouriously crafted stories here upon thee Isle of Nofendersville. This one like many, havs been baking in the sun, bleached in the tide pools, waylaid like countless pieces of driftwood Mateys…

 

Arse-sumedly the spark that sent me down this Wabbit’ Hole was thecolossal sell of Steve McQueen’s missing Bullitt Mustang for a whopping $3.7 million Wayback’ in January, 2020, Aye Karumba! Which got my internal gears Ah-Revvin’ over classic Mustangs, primarily of the Shelby versions.

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2020/04/retro-like-steve-mcqueen-absolutely.html

 

As sing it Mark Knofpler; what’s that about “Sunday Driver never took a Test, Only in the Wild, Wild West!”

 

Alas, once upon a time, Arse-sumedly some thirty years ago? Since naturally I cannot even remotely remember the last time I watched the video when I could actually see it! Presumably in the early 1990’s, since the song was released Wayback then.

 

As a total of 1,003 Shelby GT 350H’s (Hertz) models were produced in 1966. With reportedly some 800 in black with gold striping. Whilst apparently a limited number were painted in Wimbledon white, Sapphire blue, Candyapple Red and Ivy green. For which I’m guessing each of these four colours were limited to 50 cars each. Having read one Intrawoods’ (internet) thread claimimng only 50 Wimbledon white versions were built that year.

 

Whilst having previously known somebody that owned one of these Uber rare Sapphire blue with gold stripes model that He told me only 50 examples were made. And I still marvel over the fact that Roberto was audaciously generous enough to let me drive it once briefly! Telling me that He would shift it’s three speed automatic for Mwah, an that I just focus on the road…

 

As the song in Question is Guns ‘N roses Don’t Cry from September 1991. And in the subsequent video, a Wimbledon white with blue Le Mans stripes and blue side graphics with GT 350H is apparently crashed off a cliff and explodes into a fireball if memory serves me correctly?

 

And with IndyCar having recently returned to the Mean Streets of Downtown Detroit, once again I found myself thinking about the Myths of another legendous’ Rocker’s one and only car, being known as The Lizard King! Aka Jim Morrison of The Doors.

 

As perhaps Y’all have heard the story about the car He named the Blue Lady? That being Morrison’s Nightmist Blue 1967 Shelby GT 500, with a 428cid Big Block “Police Interceptor” dual carburetor V-8 four speed manual transmission Hot Rod.

 

But where the story gets weird, or interesting for Mwah. Is the part about the loose connection to a one Mr. Charles Manson! For which I just cannot understand how Manson was able to connect with such Rockers? Having previously scribbled here upon No Fenders about His encounter with the Beach Boys Dennis Wilson.

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2021/11/a-thanksgivings-automotive-dark-or.html

 

According to Hagerty.com, following The Doors Light My fire scoring Elektra Records it’s first No. 1 Hit. Elektra Founder Jac Holzman told the four Doors members He’d buy them anything they wanted! With Jim Morrison saying He wanted a car, but what to get?

 

Reportedly, Morrison’s Hairstylist Jay Sebring who was running round town in a Shelby GT350 became the impetus for what would become Morrison’s one and only car. Although Sebring upgraded it to the aforementioned 355bhp big block GT500 sibling instead. Which The Lizard King drove Hard! But I’m jumping ahead of myself…

 

Yeah, if that Sebring names sounds familiar, it’s because it’s that same legendous’ Sebring International Raceway in Florida. AS Thomas John Kummer was so enamored with the racetrack that He changed His last name to that, along with naming His Hair Salon business Sebring International!

 

As Messer Sebring became a celebrity Hair Stylist whose clients incuded the likes of Warren Beatty, Steve McQueen, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, along with The Doors Morrison. And after Jay’s marriage to actress Bonnie Lee Marple dissolved in 1963. Sebring was partners with actress Sharon Tate between 1964-1966.

 

Long story short, Sebring was one of those unfortunately murdered on August 9, 1969 by the Manson Family in what’s also referred to as the Tate-Labianca Murders. With Sebring being an innocent bystander in the wrong place at the wrong time! While McQueen gave His eulogy days later at Sebring’s funeral.

 

Yet Morrison apparently continued racing round in the Blue Lady which reportedly was constantly in the shop for cosmetic and mechanical repairs. With several rumours existing over the still unknonw fate of this prized Shelby some 50+ years after Morrison’s death in Paris in July, 1971.

 

As I love somebody adding in the requisite Muscle Car sounds into The Doors timeless classic L.A. Woman song! Which I included previously upon my No Fenders top “Driving” songs list…

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMiAQPABgHA

 

As here’s the aforementioned two part No Fenders summer Driving theme songs playlist I came up with two years ago. But it’s a Doozy Y’all, with a total of 26 selections!

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2021/07/top-10-veritable-bakers-dozens-plus-o.html