Bob Laman, of Lima, drove nine hours five years ago to Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, to pick up this 1967 Shelby Cobra Mustang GT.
Jim Krumel | For The Lima News
LIMA – With temperatures hovering around the freezing mark, Bob Laman did something last month that he’s rarely done while driving his 1967 Shelby Cobra Mustang GT 350.
He had the convertible top buttoned up.
“This may be the second time I have ever driven it without the top down,” said Laman, whose car was one of several vehicles on display during the Lima Noon Optimist Club Home Show.
Normally, the car stays behind the closed doors of a garage during the winter. Spring, summer and fall are a different story. When the weather is nice, he and his wife Ginny enjoy taking the grandchildren for rides.
Laman has owned the Cobra Mustang for five years.
He came across the car when searching eBay on the Internet. It was located in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, a town of 6,000 known for its executive style mansions outside of Philadelphia.
“It was originally a Palmolive gold color, but the owner had painted it red with a white stripe,” Laman said. Other than replacing some chrome and getting the car buffed out, it needed little work.
The Shelby GT 350 was produced for Ford from 1965 to 1970 by the legendary race car driver and entrepreneur, Carroll Shelby. He was known for introducing himself by saying, “My name is Carroll Shelby and performance is my business.”
His cars did not disappoint.
Laman says he’s always been partial to Mustangs.
“My sister had a Mustang when she was 15. I had my eye on that car, but she sold it before I was able to drive,” the 68-year-old Lima man said.
Then there was the toy race car set he had as a youth.
“It had a blue Mustang that was the fastest car on the track,” Laman recalled.
As they say, the older the man, the bigger his toys.
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