Wheels Galleries

Earl Lauer's 1969 Shelby GT 500, foreground, and his 1969 Mach 1 illustrate two approaches to high performance Mustangs during that model year. The Mach 1 came equipped with a strong 390 cubic inch V-8 and fastback styling. The Shelby, meanwhile received a much stouter 428 Cobra Jet engine and restyled front and rear end treatments.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

This view gives a better look at just how far the Shelby GT 500's styling departed from the factory Mustang's front end design. The Shelby's front fenders, hood and trunk lid were all made of fiberglass.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

The Mach 1's clean rear design was inspiration for the fifth generation of Mustangs, introduced in 2005.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

A blacked out hood panel and a crisply designed hood scoop bearing a 390 badge give a hint of the '69 Mach 1's performance potential.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

The Shelby GT 500's interior is all original, from the wood dash inserts and steering wheel, to the black vinyl bucket seats. The console houses a T-handle floor shifter that controls the heavy-duty automatic transmission.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Back when badges really meant something, the 428 Cobra Jet logo meant serious power. With upgrades made by the original owner, Lauer estimates the Shelby now has 450 horsepower on tap.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

The factory 15-inch Shelby wheels are retained, although they now mount white letter radial tires. The vivid jade green paint is tastefully accented by a full length white racing stripe.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

The Ford 390 big block V-8 is a tight fit between the shock towers of the '69 Mach 1's engine compartment.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

With upgraded heads, intake, cam and carb, the Shelby needs all the air it can pull through the functional hood scoop. The fiberglass hood is supported by a prop rod instead of springs, to keep the hood from bending in the hot summer sun.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

The Shelby's rear is distinguished by its set of horizontal sequential tail lights, the Shelby logo in the black-out accent panel and the twin rectangular exhaust extensions tucked into the middle of the back bumper.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Although the Mach 1 underwent an extensive restoration, the interior remains all original, with the exception of a new dash pad, carpeting and door sill plates.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

The Shelby coupe still wears its original sparkling Black Jade metallic paint job, highlighted here by the vaunted Shelby Cobra badging on the rear roof pillars.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Striking in Wimbleton White applied by Quality Body in Mulvane, the Mach 1 is now outfitted with a set of Cobra R 17-inch wheels and Kumho tires, for a more modern look. Otherwise, it remains basically stock.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Earl Lauer, right, and his son, Jay

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle