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The wheels look like the factory 15-inch five spokes that came on 1969 Shelbys, but these are one-of-a-kind 17-inch billet LW69s from Legendary Wheels. Custom machining created the factory appearance, with the rear wheels having been widened to 9.5 inches. Tires are modern high-performance radials with shaved sidewalls that have been re-lettered in a nod to the white-letter Goodyears that were original on 1969 Shelbys.
Back to body work
Once the body was painted, wet sanded and polished, George spent two weeks with the team at Brown’s Auto Body reassembling the car, then returned it to CDC for final detailing. The end result is a 1969 Shelby GT500 that looks original, but sports a wicked lowered stance with bigger wheels and a bit more muscle car attitude. CDC named the project “Re-Spec Your Elders,” a play on words for both “re-specification” and “respect” for older muscle cars, including the 1969 Shelby upon which his car is built upon.
While CDC’s bread and butter remains vintage-cue styling for new Mustangs, the 1969 Shelby GT500 shows that George Huisman and company can apply “reverse vintage” engineering to old Mustang muscle cars by adding a modern twist.
The lowered stance looks great on the 1969 Mustang's styling.
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One Shelby’s gravitational pull
I recently had the opportunity to ride shotgun in the 1969 Shelby GT500 “RESPEC” from the CDC facility in Milford to Ford World Headquarters (WHQ) in Dearborn, then to Hart Plaza in Detroit for the global debut of the 2024 Ford Mustang. George and I were fortunate to be part of the Mustang Stampede and were positioned 10th during the drive from WHQ to the Detroit venue. The ride was exceptional; George put the Shelby through the paces and as he went through the gears, the engine really came to life. The Holley EFI was very responsive and retained the factory 428 CJ engine sound. Truly music to the ears.
About an hour was spent at Ford WHQ for the cruise-in, and the “RESPEC” Shelby GT500 had enthusiasts taking it in the entire time. The same was true when we parked it with the other Mustangs from our Stampede grouping on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit. In observing spectators take in the Shelby, it’s common to see them catch sight of it from afar, then gravitate to it for a closer look. Once they take it all in, they are full of questions. Most people think it’s stock except for the wheels and tires. During the entire day and stops along the way, it was clear that people flat-out like it, myself included.
George Huisman has the utmost respect for Carroll Shelby and the automobiles and products bearing his name. At the onset, George made it his personal goal to build the ’69 GT500 he named “RESPEC” the way Carroll Shelby would have done it with the technology and resources available today.
“The name ‘RESPEC’ was given to the car, in part, with the intent to acknowledge and pay respect to one of the greatest automobile legends of our lifetime,” George said.
We think Shelby would agree with the finished product — an eye-catching 1969 Shelby transformed into an improved road warrior using modern performance enhancements for additional enjoyment on the open road. After all, that’s exactly what Shelby did with the tools available to him back in 1969.
Epilogue
On June 27, 2021, Chris Brown, owner of Brown’s Auto Body Services, unexpectedly passed away. He had a major role in the 1969 Shelby GT500 “RESPEC” project. Chris and his son, Hunter, and their team went beyond the norm to make the project a huge success. Chris also encouraged everyone involved in the project to “have fun,” no matter what the obstacles. Roadblocks were met with enthusiasm and laughter in the Chris Brown way. He’s sorely missed by the CDC team and everyone who knew him, especially his wife, Lisa, Hunter and the rest of the Brown family.
Hunter Brown has taken over ownership of Brown’s Auto Body Services. The hobby is supporting Hunter as he starts this new chapter in his life and continues the legacy of his father.
