Leif Jönsson in Olofström waited 47 years to own a Shelby convertible.
Finally, it appeared on Bilweb Auctions – and he was able to win it.
“It’s a dream from my youth that I never thought would come true,” he says.
The year was 1977. Leif was in high school, and his cousin owned a Shelby, a blue GT500 convertible from 1969.
“That was the coolest car I had ever seen; I was completely blown away,” Leif recalls.
The thought of the Shelby stayed with him throughout his life, but one never came along. Perhaps not so surprising, considering that only a very few convertibles were manufactured – just 139 GT350 models in 1969. His cousin’s car had been scrapped after an accident, so it was out of the picture.
But then, suddenly, it happened.
When Bilweb Auctions published their auction list on November 8 last year, a Shelby GT350 convertible was included. Moreover, it was painted in Grabber Blue, the same color as his cousin’s GT500.
“There were very few GT350 convertibles from 1969 in that color,” says Leif.
He got in his car and drove to the Bilweb Auctions depot outside Borås, where the car was shown to him by inspector Shawn Major.
“I probably would have bought even a restoration project, but this one was in good original condition with all the specific Shelby details intact. Moreover, it was possible to trace the car’s history back in time, all the way to its first owner in the U.S., thanks to the documents that came with it. That was more or less decisive for me daring to buy it.”
Leif decided to bid on the car, even though he had never participated in an online auction before.
“But the site was very easy to use, and the bidding process was simple to understand. Still, it was incredibly nerve-wracking. I was terrified that the computer would crash or the internet connection would fail. It was now or never – I realized there was a big risk that I wouldn’t get another chance in life to own a Shelby.”
And when the auction was over, Leif’s 47-year-long dream had finally come true.
“The rest of the buying process was straightforward, with payment and everything else around it.”
Now, Leif and the light blue Shelby are waiting together for spring to arrive.
“I’ll improve it gradually, not do a complete restoration, but take it easy. It’s a car I won’t part with, so I can think long-term.”
