If it's a early Shelby, then only AC Bristol bodies are. They provided running chassis with bodies to Carroll Shelby to finish in his plant in LA. AC existed until 1984, surviving longer than Shelby.
With that in mind, it can be said in point of fact that ALL Shelbys are kits, Mustangs included, just like Saleens or Yenkos. They weren't the first, and certainly not the last kit car. Of course, AC copied a 1950's Barchetta Ferrari. It's really ironic to claim "Mines REAL!" when it's an homage. It's a lame attempt at elitism to claim a position of social prestige.
Maybe the better answer to "Is it real?" might be, "Shelby bought unfinished kits from an English supplier, what does real mean?"
Frame the discussion on your terms.
