A good portion of early Shelby Mustangs were destined to be Hertz variants in an effort to help increase the GT350’s public exposure. In 1966 alone, 42 percent of Shelby production was allocated as Hertz “rent-a-racers.” However, only five percent of the ’69s would be assigned, which totaled to only 152 Hertz GT350s. Such is the case with the Shelby Mustang presented here, which is perhaps the rarest of the rental Mustangs. The Hertz cars of 1969 can be identified by their serial numbers and DSO (number 842650), such as this car, which has been verified by the Shelby American World Registry and a Deluxe Marti Report.

This GT350 was delivered new to Bristol, Tennessee, and finished in one of Ford’s great colors, Black Jade. It was equipped similarly to the other Hertz cars for the year, festooned in trademark gold stripes, and it sports a 351 Cleveland V-8 and an FMX Cruise-O-Matic transmission (an option that nearly all Hertz GT350s received); power steering, power brakes, including the front discs, and Traction Lok; and Selectaire air conditioning, tinted glass, deluxe seat belts, a tilt-away wheel, an AM radio, a visibility group, a combination tachometer and trip meter, and a sport-deck rear seat. It also comes equipped with its correct space-saver spare tire, correct jack, and correct jack handle. This car arrived in the great state of Texas in 1997, in the custody of a previous owner, and it has resided in that state ever since. It must have been undoubtedly difficult for any horsepower junkie to give the keys of this well-equipped GT350 back to Hertz at the end of their vacation or weekend of spirited driving.

This 1969 Shelby GT350 H remains largely in original condition, with the exception of one known professional repaint, and close inspection will bring notice to its superb overall preservation and mileage, which is under 18,000 and believed to be original. Also of note is this car’s documented history, which is a considerable rarity for a former “rent-a-racer.”