You guys are talking about two different cars. The IRS car was not the 67/68 convertible at VOLO. The car at Volo is a one of one car. The Shelby Club says the car was never built as a 1967 Shelby convertible, but rather a test mule for the 1968 production year. Previously, the car was restored with the 1968 fiberglass installed. Currently the car is dressed as the one and only 1967 GT500 convertible. This was done by the Gram Brothers (the current owners) based on their research, independent of the Shelby Club. According to them they have offered the Carroll Shelby Heart Fund a donation of $15000 to dig up a photo of the car in 1967 trim. Either way the car is unique.
I did have some personal issues with the car, as a judge. First let me say it is beautiful as a 67 convertible Shelby. As a judge, I see some "fit and finish" issues. The rear quarters did not look stock and in their defense it is work "in progress". The side stripes were copied from "Little Red". The other 1967 prototype car. Strictly a guess. I would have went with the GT500. The wheel lip moldings from the 68 convertible were retained, as was the 68 rear fiberglass. It seems to me they used somewhat of a shopping cart approach in the restoration. Picking and choosing what they liked between the two years. This in no way diminishes the uniqueness of the car. If and when pictures of the car do get made public, I wonder if either side will admit they were wrong and respond in kind. Will they re-restore the car if it was never a 1967 Shelby? Will the club admit it is the one and only 1967 big block convertible? Would they do something like change the roll bar if it is found to be incorrect? Time will tell, hey, maybe Ol' Shelby will find a big box of pictures, that has to be easier than finding a wharehouse full of Cobra chassis...