1969 Shelby Boss GT350

A True “One of One”

The 1969 “G” Code Boss 302 Shelby GT 350 9F02G482244 with the order number 9999 – an internal Ford special order code. This was the pilot prototype for the year 1970. It was ordered on April 21, 1969, three days after the Boss 302s went into production.

At that time, #G111 was the program for a Trans-Am addition Boss 302 GT 350. However, the program was canceled less than two weeks after the G48 was built due to Carroll Shelby’s resignation from Ford Motor Company. His resignation was preceded by a conflict between him and the then-president of Ford, Bunkie Knudsen. 

In 2008, Carroll Shelby stated in a 34-minute phone conversation with G48’s present owner that when he left Ford, any or all programs with his name on them were vested with him. Shelby also stated that he spent very little time at Ford and was there by name only. 

Ford had five managers assigned to Shelby programs. Carroll spoke about those directors of his program at Ford and had nothing good to say about any of them except for Fred Goodell. “He was a straight shooter,” according to Shelby. 

His reason for leaving Ford was Bunkie Knudsen’s “The Boss” program. A direct quote from Shelby to the car’s present owner mentions: “Bunkie hated my God Damn guts and he was about to fire me because Ford didn’t need any in house competition. And the Boss program was Bunkie’s baby and I knew that I would loose so I resigned taking my name with me so that would have ended the program on your car.” (the Boss-Shelby). 

In 2014, Ford Motor Company stated to the present owner that this car was, in fact, the last program with Shelby and Ford. The Boss-Shelby was invited to be included in an exclusive 15-prototype show for the employees at the Ford Motor Company Headquarters in Dearborn. 

Shelby/Ford intended to build 200 Boss GT 350s for the 1970 model year. In early 1969, Shelby was racing two Boss 302 Trans-Am Mustangs, and both cars were totaled in a crash. 

What’s unique about this car is that it was ordered three days after the Boss 302s went into production on April 19, 1969. G48 was ordered on April 21, 1969. The production order number is one of a kind – 9999 – a very significant number. 

Ford Motor Company stated to the owner that only three or four members at the top of Ford would have had access to that special order number. Even Shelby did not have access to that number. The company confirmed that Edsel Ford II or Bunkie Knudsen would have been two possible executives who had access to that number and to place this order. It could have been a present to Carroll Shelby since he was racing the Boss 302 Shelby team cars. 

After G48 was ordered on April 21, 1969, the car was completed on May 6, fifteen days after placing the order. The delay in the build was to wait for the Shelby VIN 2244 sequence number to be available. Ford stated that the number ending in 44 was an in-house code for a project car.

This was also seen in the 1967 Shelby GT 500 Super Snake with VIN 0544. The Super Snake has a significant history and has been named one of one. However, its VIN 67402F4A00544 is one of the 2048 1967 GT 500s built. There is nothing in the VIN that states otherwise. GT 500 was pulled aside, modified with a 427 Holman Moody race motor, and used in a 500-mile tire test. 

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

The ’69 Boss 302 Shelby is significantly different, having the one and only VIN (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 a single key entry lock system was for law enforcement only.
4. The only ’69 Shelby without power steering.
5. The only Shelby with the DSO order number 9999.

The 1969 G Code Boss 302 Shelby has been endorsed in writing by Carroll Shelby, Ford Motor Company, Edsel B. Ford II, and even Marty Auto Works as the only 1969 Shelby built with a Boss 302 engine. All 1967, 1968, and 1969 Shelbys that Ford Motor Company manufactured had the status number X999. The G48 was BX999, signifying that it would be built as a Shelby but with a Boss 302 drive train as stated on the build sheet with an 84 DSO home office reserve number. It was a Boss 302 with a Shelby VIN.

G48 was not invoiced under the VIN 9F02G482244 and was not intended to be sold. An executive design engineer who worked on the 1968 and 1969 Shelby design lines was able to apply for an invoice under VIN 9F02G582244 from Ford Motor Company. Then, he could receive a title from Ray Whitfield Ford in Livonia, MI. This agreement was made to keep the car under Ford’s radar so it did not appear as a 1969 Shelby. 

The car was purchased from Ford under the VIN 9F02G582244 for $1,750.00 and was titled for 15 years in that family’s name under VIN G582244. When resold, the second owner changed the number back to its original VIN as 48.