…the first GT350 R-model ever to be produced and the second GT350 in general. This car was the beginning of Shelby’s dominance with Mustangs in the B-production racing world at the time. (he had already been VERY successfully racing Cobra’s prior to the Mustangs and also became extremely successful racing GT-40’s and later Trans-Am cars) Immortalized in everything from video games to artwork to famous photographs, to diecast cars, the famous number 98’s racing heritage is world renowned. After changing hands a couple times between independent racers, and winning the southwest national championships in B-production in 1967, 1968 and 1969, being left to die in a Mexican desert, and doing a stint in a U.S. private collection, it’s now on loan to the Shelby American Collection, a private museum in Boulder, Colorado, where it will stay until it begins its restoration to all its past glory.

Check out more pics of this cool Stang, plus a bunch more rare Shelbys that the NorthWest Auto Salon crew prepped for the Kirkland Concours d’Elegance, over at Luxury4Play

The NorthWest Auto Salon team put a total of 24 man hours into the car to get it as clean as possible. They spent two hours washing the car and prepping the door jambs and all the chrome trim, over eight hours on the chrome/brightwork, about two hours claybarring the surface to remove the 20 years of grime, and then about six hours buffing and polishing the lead-based enamel paint, de-molding the interior, cleaning and conditioned the vinyl, waxing the car and polishing the pitted mag wheels. Along the way they also removed several mice homes scattered through the interior. Blake said it was one of the biggest transformations he’s ever done. They didn’t get to the engine bay–that will have to wait til after the wedding!

So here’s a pic of what they started with. See the a ton more pics after the jump!

Car Wash!

That little tub of Swisswax costs $1,100!!!

So, while the car-wash rule is clearly out the window, there are still, dammit, things I would never let another person do on my car, at least not out of my sight. For example, I will never let anyone else change the oil on any of my cars–for such a simple task that most shops, even the good ones, relegate to only their most ham-handed flunky, there are just way too many ways to mess it up. And most of them are potentially catastrophic.

How about you? What is your single bottom line over-my-dead-body procedure for which you’d never entrust your vehicle to another person?

Oh and a big thanks to the entire NorthWest Auto Salon crew, you guys make the NW one of the safest places to drive your car year-round.

Aside from the great cars that were in the shop Blake told me that the shop has been staying super busy with their mobile detail work, and we’re not just talking in Seattle.  Scuderia details down in California, paint restoration down in Portland, and some supercar details in our own backyard.  Talk about a rough job.  Let’s see who can name every car pictured in this blog! More after the jump.

And a front office for any true detail shop. Blake, can we get some test products from you or what?

Check out more of the rides and action after the jump!

Photo Credits: Blake & Club411