Lot 565: 1966 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 Coupé

Legendary Texan racing driver Carroll Shelby’s team had been campaigning Ford’s Mustang ‘pony car’ with considerable success in North America, winning the SCCA’s B-Production title three years running in the mid-1960s. Capitalising on his success, Shelby began manufacturing modified Mustangs, which were officially sanctioned and sold through selected Ford dealerships. The first Shelby Mustang - the GT350 - arrived in 1965 powered by a modified version of Ford’s 289ci (4.7-litre) small-block V8 producing 306bhp, with options of a 340-360bhp unit in competition trim or 400bhp supercharged. A four-speed Borg-Warner manual gearbox was the stock transmission on early Shelby Mustangs, though a heavy-duty, three-speed automatic soon became available as an option.
The running gear was appropriately up-rated to cope with the GT350’s increased performance, incorporating the optional Kelsey-Hayes front disc brakes, stronger Ford Galaxie rear axle, Koni adjustable shock absorbers and aluminium-alloy wheels. The first cars were supplied minus the rear seats, thereby qualifying the GT350 as a two-seat sports car! Outwardly there was little to distinguish Shelby’s GT350 from the standard product apart from a pair of broad ‘racing’ stripes down the body centreline. On the open road there was, of course, no comparison.
One of the great iconic musclecars of the 1960s, the Shelby Mustang continued to be based on the stock version, receiving the latter’s styling changes and mechanical improvements while retaining its own distinctive special features, until production ended in 1970.
One of only 1,438 standard road models made in 1966 (not counting those supplied to the Hertz rental company), this GT350 is documented on the Shelby World Register as correct. The car was previously owned by Kevin Wheatcroft (of the Donington Collection) who imported it from the USA in the mid-1990s, and was acquired by the vendor two years ago. Fully race prepared by recognised specialist John Young (who is willing to advise prospective purchasers) the car comes with a detailed listing of its mechanical specification. The latter’s highlights include an original Paxton supercharger (fitted circa 20 years ago), Hi-Performance cylinder heads, forged pistons, polished and shot-peened crankshaft, polished and balanced Boss 302 rods, Mallory dual-point ignition, four-speed manual transmission with competition shifter, limited-slip differential, competition suspension and welded-in roll cage. We are advised that the body has been restored/repainted by John Young, who has also looked after general maintenance, and that the car has been serviced by Rockswell Racing and fitted with a new clutch. Presented in excellent condition throughout, ‘PRP 150D’ displays a total of 54,000 miles on the odometer and is offered with MoT to February 2009, Swansea V5 registration document and a history file of bills and photographs.