Every classic car guy has heard a tail about an incredible barn find. Well, here’s another one! This time it was a rare 1969 428 Mustang Shelby GT500 hidden beneath 40 years of dust. Once the dust was cleared, this rare muscle car was found to be in mint condition. Some people have theorized that the dust actually helped keep the Shelby in show room condition!

With only 8,531 original miles, the GT500 has barely been driven, and its owner wanted to keep it that way. For fear of damaging the paint the paint, the auto connoisseur never drove in the rain, and never even washed the car. In fact, paperwork suggests that the only time the car was washed was before it was delivered to its now deceased owner, Larry Brown of Centre Hall, Pa.

Mr. Brown purchased the car for $5,245.97 on May 9, 1969, and records show that the only work ever done to the car was timely oil changes and a window glass adjustment. In fact, it looks like he hadn’t driven the car since 1973… as that’s when it was last registered. The Mustang maintains its original big block 428 motor, meshed seamlessly with its mated 4 speed transmission. The part numbers for the belts, hoses, blower, and even the spark plug wires read 1969 as the date of manufacture.

In its heyday, these 428 Cobra Jets were considered race ready from the factory. Pushing around 410 horsepower, this Mustang smoked the competition, shamelessly smacking down any Barracuda, Firebird, or Camaro that stood in the way. In fact many often said there was no competition when racing the Cobra Jet, it was simply a chance to chase it on the track.

With no living heirs, Mr. Brown’s Shelby will be sold at an estate sale later this month, on April 25th, along with his 1974 Econoline Custom and 1971 Ford Ranchero. It will be interesting to see what the 428 Shelby goes for because Shelby Cobras in less than mint condition, and with many more miles, have sold for over $100,000. With this being a very original specimen, it could go for tens of thousands more! For more details on the auction, check out the official auction page at Ron Gilligan Auctioneering.