US mechanic spends 75 days restoring a classic 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 before realizing it was all for nothing
Published on Nov 15, 2026 at 8:58 AM (UTC-5)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Nov 15, 2026 at 8:58 AM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Mason Jones
A classic American muscle car, the iconic Shelby Mustang GT500 was given an extensive makeover ahead of one of the country’s biggest collector car auctions.
The mechanic, who posts videos under the YouTube channel My Dirty Garage, initially expected a relatively simple detailing job.
Instead, the project turned into an almost complete restoration that pushed him to his limits.
But just when everything seemed to be going right, an unexpected accident threatened to undo all that hard work.
The Shelby Mustang needed much more work than originally expected
The mechanic was initially asked to prepare the 1967 Shelby GT500 car for the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction in October 2022.
He thought the job would take around 40 to 50 days, with the Shelby GT500 already looking reasonably presentable following an earlier restoration.
However, a closer inspection revealed numerous problems, including incorrect fasteners, worn components and missing finishing details.
After discussing the situation with the owner, they agreed that the car needed to be taken apart almost entirely.
The mechanic removed the interior, engine, transmission and rear end, before stripping down the engine and rebuilding its carburetors.
He also discovered that the paintwork was far from perfect, with three different shades of white visible under the workshop lighting.
This meant the entire car needed to be repainted, adding a considerable amount of work to an already demanding project.
Fortunately, a friend named Kevin stepped in to handle the paintwork while the mechanic concentrated on restoring the other components.
He explained: “From the time I started till the time it was finished was approximately 90 days. Almost a full restoration in 90 days.”
After accounting for the time he spent recovering from COVID-19, the mechanic estimated that he had spent around 75 days working on the car.
The restored Shelby was rear-ended before reaching the auction block
Despite the setbacks, the Mustang was eventually finished in time for its scheduled appearance at Barrett-Jackson.
The mechanic was particularly excited to watch the auction broadcast, knowing the car was supposed to be one of the evening’s featured vehicles.
But when the broadcast returned from a commercial break, the Shelby was nowhere to be seen.
After checking the auction docket online, he discovered that the car had been completely removed from the schedule.
He eventually learned that the Mustang had been rear-ended while waiting in the auction lanes.
A Chevrolet Corvette was parked in front of it, while a Chevrolet Camaro was positioned behind it.
According to the mechanic, the cars were traditionally left in gear or park with their keys removed to prevent them from moving.
However, the Camaro reportedly had a remote-start system that activated its engine, causing it to drive forward and crash into the back of the Shelby.
The mechanic recalled: “Here the car got rear-ended in the lanes.”
Photographs of the incident subsequently appeared on social media, showing the damage to the freshly restored classic.
Thankfully, the damage was not believed to be catastrophic, with the mechanic estimating that around a week’s worth of work would be needed to put things right.
The mechanic has vowed to avoid rushed restoration projects
The owner ultimately managed to sell the Mustang, although the final result was not quite what he had hoped for.
For the mechanic, however, the experience was a major disappointment after putting so much time and effort into the project.
He admitted: “I had hoped to the car doing really really well because then that makes me feel good because I know I did my job well.”
The experience also convinced him to stop accepting high-pressure restoration jobs with extremely tight deadlines.
As he put it: “I’m one guy. I can’t do all that work by myself in that short amount of time.”
After 75 days of painstaking work, the mechanic had certainly earned a break.
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Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
