07-29-06: In what Ford characterized as “cementing the starting point for collector values“, the Shelby GT-H was auctioned off in Oshkosh, Wisconsin last week. With Barrett-Jackson’s Tom “Spanky” Sparks at the gavel the car sold at an astonishing $250,000.

Part of a continued trend of charity auctions of Ford’s specialty vehicles, the sale of the car benefited the annual “Gathering of Eagles” fundraiser at the EAA Air Venture show. Proceeds from the fundraiser and the auction benefits EAA’s aviation education initiatives, including Young Eagles the most successful youth aviation education program ever created with more than 1.2 million young people flown since 1992.

“Ford Motor Company’s support of EAA and its programs, in partnership with Hertz and Shelby Automobiles, is supplying a truly dazzling addition to this year’s Gathering of Eagles auction,” said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture chairman. “Aviation enthusiasts enjoy performance both in the air and on the ground, and the Shelby GT-H Mustang was a spectacular highlight of the evening.”

“Being the first to auction the new GT-H is history in the making and we felt this was an incredible opportunity for Ford and EAA AirVenture Oshkosh,” said Jill Fannon, manager of Ford Events. “Ford wanted to do something special to support EAA’s programs that build aviation’s future, and what better way than with the hottest Mustang on the street.”

This charity auction not unlike the Barrett-Jackson event in January where the right to the first GT-500 went for over $600,000, provides the Ford brand and its dealer network with a major publicity boost. Not only does it create a buzz in the news for the cars, but gives salesmen across the country some bragging rights in the showrooms.

It’s important to point out however that while these big prices get headlines, they don’t really have much impact on real world values for the cars in the collector sense. Because the money raised is based on a charity donation, these numbers really play more into the social and economic sphere of a heady group of collectors and philanthropists. Those dollars are less about the cars as they are about securing a trophy for the shelf of well heeled collectors. In many cases these sales are a fun and feel good vehicle for tax sheltering.

Don’t get us wrong, we are not complaining or bemoaning the enterprise. This new trend of specialty factory car charity auctions has been a win win for all involved. The car makers get great publicity out of the deal. We are talking about it aren’t we? The charity wins. The buyer gets a one of a kind car. All we are pointing out is that the 9000 or so 2007 Shelby GT-500’s that hit driveway’s this year will not be worth $600,000. While this sale will likely give Hertz some reason to be even more selective and protective of their Shelby GT-H rental fleet, the cars will surely not be fetching $250,000 next year when the used ones go on sale.

But, if and when you get the chance to rent a Shelby GT-H you can tell all your friends you got to drive a $250,000 car. We wont tell.

Tak our POLL on whether or not these sales affect real world values!