1969 Shelby GT350 Prototype Boss 302 "THE BOSS SHELBY"

1969 Shelby GT

1969 SHELBY BOSS 302 GT350, PROTOTYPE VIN 9F02G482244 / ENGINE NO.C8FE-6015B Significant Highlights

Invited by Ford Motor Company to attend a “prototype” show in July 2014 where the car was displayed with fourteen other Ford Prototypes at Ford's Product Development Center.

In 2008 the present owner had a 30 minute personal phone conversation with Carroll Shelby, who stated he was part of Ford Motor Company by name only at that time and did not have any access in the special ordering of VINs. Mr. Shelby did endorse multiple documents and signed the car’s glove box “1 of 1.”

Specifications

302 cu.in. 8 cylinder H.O. Engine

Boss 302 Drive Train / suspension

780 Holley 4v Carburetor

Signal Key Locking System ( LEO )

Four speed close ratio Transmission

3:50 Trac-Loc rear differential

Provenance

A Ford Executive Draft board Design Engineer on the Shelby Line purchased the car from Ford. This car was not invoiced to be sold due to the “84” Home Office Reserve. The Engineer requested an invoice for 9F02G582244, which only changed the VIN by one number- "5" instead of "4," keeping it under the radar as a Shelby. “48” was the designation ID for a 69 Shelby. It remained under this VIN and in the same family for 15 years. The Ford Engineer died in 1976 and his only son kept the car until selling it in 1984, who later passed in 1996. The second owner had the VIN on the title changed back to 9F02G482244.

National Exhibition Shows

- Shelby-Boss National Reunion, August 2007, Indianapolis Ford Plant. (First debut)

- Mid- America Ford Show, June 2008, Tulsa, OK

- MCA National, June 2009, Indianapolis.

- SAAC 34, August 2009, Beaver Run PA

- MCACN, November 2010, Chicago, Il.

- Eyes on Design, July 2011, Edsel Ford's Estate

- Boss Nationals, August 2011, in Livonia, MI.

- Eyes on Design, June 2012, Edsel Ford's Estate

- Louisville Concourse, October 2013, KY

- MCA National, August 2013, Indianapolis, IN

- 500 World of Wheels, February 2014, Indianapolis, IN.

- French Lick Shelby Concourse, October 2014, French Lick, IN

- Ford Motor Co. Product Development Center (Prototype Show), July 2014, Dearborn, MI

- MCACN, November 2015, Chicago, IL

- 40th Mustang Club Anniversary, September 2016 Indianapolis, IN

- 500 World of Wheels, February 2018, Indianapolis, IN

- SAAC 42, June 2017, Indianapolis, IN

- Boss Nationals, August 2023, Moline, IL

- MCACN, November 2023, Chicago, IL

FEATURED MEDIA

Mustang Masterpiece Cars by Carroll Shelby; Jerry Heasley, 2008

Shelby Magazine; February 2009

Mustang Monthly "One of a kind 69 Boss 302 GT 350;" March 2008

Mustang Monthly; Donald Farr, April 2009

Mustang Times ( Pony Tales ); Donald Farr, October 2009

Mustang Magazine ( Flight of Fancy ); Curt Patterson / Tom Shaw, December 2009

Motor Trend.com (69GT350 Shelby-the Boss Shelby); by Jerry Heasley, 2006

Mustang Monthly (Rare Finds); Donald Far, December,2006

Boss 302 Registry, current

Muscle Car Review; April 2011

1001 Mustang Facts; Steve Magnantes, 2017

Shelby Mustang Fifty Years; Colin Comer April, 2014

Rare Finds; Jerry Heasley, 2012

Mustang Boss 302; Donald Farr, 2013

Shelby Mustang; Colin Comer, 2014

Mustang Milestones (GT 350); January 2015

YouTube (six videos) visit gcodeboss69shelby.com

1:18 scale die cast model; Auto World MCACN 69 Boss Shelby GT350) 50- years of Boss 302, 2019

Edsel B. Ford I, July 30,2007 endorsement, Carroll Shelby, May 23,2006 “The Only Shelby Produced with a Boss 302 Engine,

A TRUE "ONE of ONE"

In 1969, Shelby BOSS 302 GT350 prototype, serial number 9F02G482244 was ordered with the special order code of 9999, which was internal to Ford only. It was the prototype for the 1970 model year, ordered on April 21, 1969, three days after the BOSS 302s went into production.

From 1965 to 1969, the total production of Shelby Mustangs was 13,769. This car was the only one that carried its own VIN of (9F02G482244). At that time #G111 was the program for a trans-am edition BOSS 302 GT 350; however, the program was cancelled less than two weeks after it was built due to Carroll Shelby’s resignation from Ford Motor Company due to conflict with Ford President’s, Bunkie Knudsen. When Shelby cut ties with Ford, any program with his name on it went with him, so the Shelby / BOSS program was canceled, leaving this car abandoned at Ford. Ford intended to build 200 of the Boss GT 350s for the 1970 model year. In early 1969, Shelby was racing two Boss 302 trans-am mustangs, hence the name Boss Shelby. Both of which were totaled.

In 2014, Ford Motor Company stated to the present owner that this car was in fact the last program with Shelby. Ford then invited the car to be included in an exclusive prototype show for the employees at the Ford Motor Company’s Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan.

This car was ordered three days after the BOSS 302s went into production on April 19, 1969. The production order number, “9999” is a one of a kind. Ford Motor Company stated to the owner that only three or four members at the top of Ford’s leadership would have had access to “9999.” Shelby did not even have access to that number. Ford Motor Company confirmed that Edsel Ford II or Bunkie Knudsen would have been two of the possible executives that had access to place the order.

After the car was ordered on April 21, 1969, it was completed 15 days later on May 6. The delay in the build was due to the wait for the Shelby VIN sequence of 2244 to be available. Ford stated that the number ending in “44” was an in-house code for project cars, as in the 1967 Shelby GT 500 Super Snake’s VIN, which is 0544. Of note, The Super Snake was designated as a “one of one;” however, its VIN, 67402F4A00544 is one of 2048 GT 500s built in 1967. There is nothing in the VIN that states otherwise. It was pulled aside and modified with a 427 Holman Moody race motor and used in a 500-mile tire test.

Another special project was the 1970 Quarter Horse, VIN 0F02Z104687, which was a composite car program with a Z-Code BOSS 429 engine. There were only two Quarter Horse Mustangs that were built out of 500 BOSS 429s. The VIN does not identify or single out that only two were built.

The '69 Boss 302 Shelby is different having the one and only VIN of 9F02G482244 and five other “one of one” configurations:

1. The only '69 Shelby with these paint and trim codes.

2. The only one with this engine and transmission code.

3. The only one with single key entry lock system (for law enforcement only).

4. The only one without power steering.

5. The only one with the DSO order number of 9999.

This car was endorsed, in writing, by Carroll Shelby, Ford Motor Company, and Edsel B. Ford II as the only 1969 Shelby built with a Boss 302 engine. All 67-69 Shelby cars manufactured by Ford Motor Company had the status number of 84X999. "G48" was B84X999, signifying that it was to be built as a Shelby, except with a Boss 302 drive train as stated on the build sheet with an 84 DSO home office reserve number. Therefore, it was the only BOSS 302 with a Shelby VIN number. Built with 1969 unique only Boss 302 springs, engine and drive train.

This car was not invoiced under the VIN 9F02G482244 and was not intended to be sold. An executive design engineer that worked on the 1968 and 1969 Shelby design line was able to apply for an invoice under VIN 9F02G582244 from Ford Motor Company. Only then could he receive a title from Ray Whitfield Ford in Livonia, Michigan. This was to keep the car under Ford's radar so it did not show up as a 1969 Shelby. The car was then purchased from Ford under the VIN of 9F02G582244 for $1,750.00 and was titled for fifteen years in that family’s name under VIN G582244. When resold, the second owner had the number changed back to its original VIN as "48."

There are many endorsed documents that go along with this car, also display signs and other display items, also some die cast models. A large collection of photos, history and other documents that have been passed from owner to owner. Published books, magazines, prints and so much more.

This 1969 Prototype GT350 is the holy grail of the Shelby Cars.