Hertz Rent-A-Racer is A Red Rarity, Now It Needs A New Home
Hertz Rent-A-Racer GT350H is one of the few that weren’t painted black. After 41 years of ownership, it’s looking for a new home.
With the recent return of the Hertz Rent-A-Racer program, it’s an excellent time to take a trip down memory lane. Revisiting the originals reminds you just how crazy this program was back in the day. Nowadays, renting a high-performance Mustang or other sports car is pretty commonplace. However, in the late 1960s, it was something entirely unheard of. That was until one Carroll Shelby partnered with Hertz to make a handful of Shelby Mustang GT350s available for public rental. After their stint in the rental fleet, Hertz sold the cars to the public. Now, they’re extremely rare. So, don’t miss this chance to own one.
Most of these cars are finished in black with iconic gold racing stripes. However, a select handful got a coat of Sapphire Blue, Wimbledon White, Ivery Green, or Candy Apple Red. The latter of which is the finish on this gorgeous GT350H example for sale on Bring a Trailer. No need to contact Hertz for the Rent-A-Racer special on this one. It can be yours. However, with over five days of bidding left and a current price of $85,000 at the time of writing, it’s sure to bring a heft final hammer figure.
This Rent-A-Racer Underwent A Full Restoration
The seller of this car bought it all the way back in 1980. Some 18 years after purchasing it, the seller gave the car an entire rotisserie restoration. It was no small feat, either. Evidently, this old Shelby had some damage. The BaT listing states that restoration included replacing the rear frame rail, rear quarter panel aprons, floor pan, trunk pan, and radiator support. Additionally, the restoration included repainting the body, rebuilding the engine and transmission, refreshing the suspension and braking system, and installing replacement carpet and headliner.
The car features an R-style front apron, a chrome rear bumper, a hood scoop, quarter windows, a tinted windshield, side scoops, reverse lamps, and a dual-outlet exhaust. Inside and out, this thing is as clean as the day it left the factory.
Fresh Engine, Legendary Heritage
Though the listing seems to imply that this isn’t the original engine from the car, it is authentic to its time period. The 289 cubic-inch Ford Windsor V8 features a Holley four-barrel carburetor and Cobra valve covers. Additionally, its got Tri-Y headers feeding the dual exit exhaust system.
Other equipment includes Koni shock absorbers, front disk brakes, and 14-inch Magnum-style wheels. Additionally, the notable hood and side air scoops really make this gorgeous car stand out.
Overall, this is a fantastically rare opportunity to own a significant part of Shelby history. Not just because it’s a classic restored Shelby, but because it’s an original Rent-A-Racer. It even comes with the original Hertz order sheet. It’s hard to get more heritage than that!
We’ll certainly be watching closely to see what this thing sells for! Hopefully, its next owner isn’t too afraid to take it out for a drive.
Photos: Bring A Trailer