The 1967 Shelby is among the most coveted of American muscle cars. Solid, big and often loud, the car immediately makes you feel like a bad-ass ... and that's before you turn the key. Shelbys from '65-70 are a high performance variation of the Ford Mustang of the same time period.

The Ford Mustang first appeared in 1964 and was immediately popular for its sporty style and its capabilities. The largest engine offering of the time was the 289 V-8 K-code small block engine which was sufficient but enthusiasts wanted and demanded more power. The base engine was a six-cylinder power plant. The body style configurations included coupe, convertible and fastback. In its first year of production over 500,000 examples were produced.

Ford turned to SCCA racing to stir up even more publicity for the car and to prove its true potential. When SCCA didn't qualify The Mustang because it wasn't a two-seater Ford turned to Carroll Shelby who had aided them in securing a LeMans victory with their GT 40s. He was also well known for his Ford powered Shelby Cobras, which had already dominated the SCCA circuit for many years.

In 1967 the Mustang body style was altered which meant there was more room in the engine bay. In addition, there were other simple modifications that slightly changed the aesthetics of the car but improved its capabilities. Air-intake scoops were added to force air to the rear brake pads, which aided in keeping them cool. The rear seats could now be installed as optional equipment and were given the functionality and flexibility of folding down. This allowed them to continue to qualify for sports car racing in SCCA while providing versatility while not at the track. An automatic was also optional though it slightly took away from the appeal of the sports car.

Shelby lost the lease for their factory at Los Angeles International Airport near the close of 1967 so operations were moved the Ionia, Michigan under the control of the Ford Motor Company. When Shelby signed this particular car he mentioned these words, "This was the last year of the real Shelby's."

True to its history, this car felt very eager almost as if it was being held back when we were driving at law-abiding speeds. Greg, a manager at Specialty Sales told me that he thought certain cars were built to drive and others to show off. After going 90 miles per our and then slowing down, I got the feeling that the car wanted to throw us out in a fit of anger for going too slow.

- Victor Vargas