Topic: Hertz Rent A Racer program

[ragtop]

I've been watching a show on the Velocity Channel called "Fast n' Loud" with an absolute tube steak as a host named Richard Rawlins.  He has identified two different red '68 Shelby GT 350s as one of those rare Hertz Rent A Racers, thereby justifying his desire to own them.  Both of the cars in question had gold Shelby stripes with "GT 350" on them.  I had always understood that the Hertz Rent A Racer program ceased after the '66 model year and every one I've ever seen, real or clone, always have "GT 350H" in the Shelby stripe on the rocker panel.  Am I wrong?  Were there Hertz cars after '66?  I'd like to be right because I despise that beer swilling cowboy Rawlins and it would justify my belief that he is a phony.

[67gta289]

Take a look at the post just before yours in the General Discussion section.  There is some history on the post dated "December 04, 2015, 09:04:13 AM"

The Hertz program was not limited to 1966.

This information, however, does not mean that Richard Rawlins is or isn't a phony tube steak.

[Bob Gaines]

I've been watching a show on the Velocity Channel called "Fast n' Loud" with an absolute tube steak as a host named Richard Rawlins.  He has identified two different red '68 Shelby GT 350s as one of those rare Hertz Rent A Racers, thereby justifying his desire to own them.  Both of the cars in question had gold Shelby stripes with "GT 350" on them.  I had always understood that the Hertz Rent A Racer program ceased after the '66 model year and every one I've ever seen, real or clone, always have "GT 350H" in the Shelby stripe on the rocker panel.  Am I wrong?  Were there Hertz cars after '66?  I'd like to be right because I despise that beer swilling cowboy Rawlins and it would justify my belief that he is a phony.

The largest fleet of Hertz Shelby's was 66 . There were much smaller numbers in 67,68,and 69.

[69GT350H]

I had no idea my 69 GT350 was a Hertz till I got my Marti report. When I got it in 82, there was nothing on it that indicated that it was a Hertz rental car when it was new.

[Mike_B_SVT]

Hertz also puchased Cougar Eliminators in 1969 and 1970 for the "Rent-A-Racer" program.

1969 = 101 Eliminators built for Hertz with the Power Operated Sunroof option.  All similarly equipped, with the exception of paint and interior colors.  351W-4V / FMX automatic, PS, PB, AC, Sports Console, AM Radio, Performance Tire / Handling Group, Tinted Windshield, Deluxe Seat & Front Shoulder Belts, Speedometer Gear.

1970 = 100 Eliminators built for Hertz with the Sunroof option.  All similarly equipped, with the exception of paint and interior colors, and Evaporative Emission Control for CA cars.  351C-4V / FMX automatic, PS, PB, AC, AM Radio, Competition Handling Package, Tinted Windshield, Speedometer Gear.

You would think they would have bought Boss 302 cars instead of 351's, to keep more with the "Racer" theme.  But then I guess they would have had to be 4-speed cars.

[69GT350H]

Resurrecting an older post...

My Data plate does have the DSO as: 842650, which is what was used for the 69 Hertz cars, and Marti Report also states that my car is equipped with: Hertz Rent-A-Racer.

Looking at my Marti Report window sticker, it shows that my 69 Hertz was sold to J D Ball Ford my local Ford Dealer, and not to Hertz. Just under the Sold To box, is the Ship To box. In that box it states:

J D Ball
For Hertz

Were the 69 Hertz cars actually sold to Hertz, or do we just not get to see that info with what we get from Keven Marti? From what I have read in the Registery, the 69 Hertz cars were returnd to Ford (the dealers?) and sold to the public through them, and not Hertz.

Not saying that this in any way does not make them Hertz Cars, just wondering who owned them?

[Rocket80501]

From what I understand, after the 66's the cars that went to Hertz had nothing different than regular Shelbys. It is only in the paper work that identifies them as going to Hertz. Ron

[69GT350H]

From what I understand, after the 66's the cars that went to Hertz had nothing different than regular Shelbys. It is only in the paper work that identifies them as going to Hertz. Ron

I can't say for any other year, but all 150 (151,152?) of the 1969 GT350 Rent-A-Racer cars were equipped the same, but varied in interior and exterior colors. So your statement is correct, as any 69 Shelby could have been ordered this way.

Automatic Transmission
Air Conditioning
3.00 Traction-LoK Axle
Sport Deck Rear Seat
Tilt-Away Steering Wheel
A.M. radio
Tinted Glass

[Bob Gaines]

I can't say for any other year, but all 150 (151,152?) of the 1969 GT350 Rent-A-Racer cars were equipped the same, but varied in interior and exterior colors. So your statement is correct, as any 69 Shelby could have been ordered this way.

Automatic Transmission
Air Conditioning
3.00 Traction-LoK Axle
Sport Deck Rear Seat
Tilt-Away Steering Wheel
A.M. radio
Tinted Glass

The 69 Hertz cars continued to use the E 70 15 black wall tires even after all of the other 69 Shelby's transitioned to the F 60 15 tires at the end of march/April 1969 according to factory paperwork the SAAC Registrar has. 

[RoyceP]

The car was shipped to a dealer near where Hertz would deploy the car. The car was leased to Hertz. When a certain mileage or time threshold was reached (we don't know the exact numbers but 12 months / 6000 miles is likely a good guess) the car would be returned. Some cars were returned early or late, again we don't know exactly why. The Mercury Cougar XR7-G was a Hertz / Shelby project for 1968. Hertz received 200 of the Shelby supervised XR7-G. We have a tremendous amount of documentation, some of which we got through contacts at SAAC.

Some have found little clear plastic envelopes under the trunk mat that contain a log of oil changes and other maintenance. The log sheet inside the envelope is just a lined piece of paper with columns for date, service, and notes.

Here's one of many documents related to the 1968 program:
 

Please note that Hertz we believe never used the term "Rent - A - Racer". They called it the Hertz Sports Car Club. As collectors we refer to the cars as "Rent - A Racers".

Resurrecting an older post...

My Data plate does have the DSO as: 842650, which is what was used for the 69 Hertz cars, and Marti Report also states that my car is equipped with: Hertz Rent-A-Racer.

Looking at my Marti Report window sticker, it shows that my 69 Hertz was sold to J D Ball Ford my local Ford Dealer, and not to Hertz. Just under the Sold To box, is the Ship To box. In that box it states:

J D Ball
For Hertz

Were the 69 Hertz cars actually sold to Hertz, or do we just not get to see that info with what we get from Keven Marti? From what I have read in the Registery, the 69 Hertz cars were returnd to Ford (the dealers?) and sold to the public through them, and not Hertz.

Not saying that this in any way does not make them Hertz Cars, just wondering who owned them?

[RoyceP]

Here's the typical magazine advertisement for Hertz Sports Car Club in 1968 showing the two choices that year.