Flash! A-Ah! He Shifts Into Another Gear!

Tuckerfan · Mar 8, 2021

Buster Crabbe (and GTFOH if you don't know who he was) owned a Shelby GT 500 Mustang and it's for sale.

Find of the Day: Flash Gordon's 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby G.T. 500

The 1968 model year was an interesting one for the Shelby lineup. Ford took increasing control in all aspects of the cars’ design, production, and marketing. Notably, production shifted from Shelby’s Los Angeles facility to a specialty factory run by A.O. Smith, in Ionia, Michigan — the same company tasked with producing the cars’ unique fiberglass body components. Additionally, Shelby opened an office in one of Motown’s industrial suburbs.

It was also the second year for the big-block-powered G.T. 500, with its Police Interceptor-based 428 engine. And while the original Shelby models were stripped-down, track-focused performers, the later Sixties saw an evolution of them into more luxurious muscle cars, like this 1968 G.T. 500 four-speed convertible, in Candy Apple Red, that’s offered on Hemmings Auctions. Along with its lid-lowering option, a Marti Report indicates it’s one of only four such convertibles ordered with factory air conditioning.

That makes it one rare Shelby, but according to the seller, the original owner was also a former Olympian and Hollywood action star: Buster Crabbe. After winning a gold medal in swimming at the 1932 Olympics, he went on to portray Tarzan, Buck Rogers, and Flash Gordon in popular film serials of the 1930s and 1940s. When his acting career began to slow, he became the public face of a New Jersey swimming pool manufacturer and it’s the Garden State where he apparently purchased this G.T. 500.

The car has reportedly undergone some restoration work, including a repaint and replacement of the convertible top four years ago, while some details still require addressing to return it to factory-correct condition. But the bottom line is it remains a very-rare G.T. 500 convertible with a four-speed and factory A/C — and one that has an apparent history with an early Hollywood action star. We couldn’t think of a more appropriate muscle car for Flash Gordon himself.

Take a look at this 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby G.T. 500 over at Hemmings Auctions and let us know what you think.

From the listing: Buster Crabbe won a gold medal in swimming at the 1932 Olympics, which helped propel his career, was one of the first action heroes of the movies. In the Thirties and Forties. He portrayed Tarzan, Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers on the Silver Screen. He later pivoted to a business career, eventually leaving Hollywood for New Jersey and becoming the vice president of sales and the public face for the Cascade Industrie’s swimming pools. It was during that time that he apparently bought this 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, from a dealer in Watchung, New Jersey.

Offered by a private seller located only about 40 miles from that original selling dealer, the celebrity Shelby is one of 402 convertibles and, per a copy of a Marti Report on the car, one of just four equipped with air conditioning from the factory. According to the seller, the Candyapple Red paint was redone four years ago and the white convertible top has also been recently replaced. It bears Shelby serial number 02975 and its options in addition to the air conditioning include power front disc brakes, power steering, shoulder harnesses, AM radio, tinted glass and the Tilt-Away steering wheel.
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spot261 · Mar 9, 2021

Who's Buster Crabbe?

NAHTMMM · Mar 9, 2021

Johnny Weismuller's pen name for his gritty detective novels.

Tuckerfan · Mar 9, 2021

spot261 said: ↑

Who's Buster Crabbe?
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You're a furriner, so I'll allow it. This guy:

steve2^4 · Mar 11, 2021

I prefer this one:

oldfella1962 · Mar 11, 2021

I'm a Buster Bloodvessel fan myself!

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Flash! A-Ah! He Shifts Into Another Gear!

Tuckerfan BMF

spot261 I don't want the game to end

NAHTMMM Perpetually sondering

Tuckerfan BMF

steve2^4 Aged Meat

oldfella1962 the only real finish line

Log in or Sign up

Flash! A-Ah! He Shifts Into Another Gear!

Tuckerfan BMF

spot261 I don't want the game to end

NAHTMMM Perpetually sondering

Tuckerfan BMF

steve2^4 Aged Meat

oldfella1962 the only real finish line

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