by Mike Gulett –
In 1964 Ford asked Carroll Shelby to transform the Ford Mustang from a “secretary’s car” into a race car. He did that and in 1965 the Shelby GT350 Mustang won the SCCA B/Production Class championship. There were 562 1965 GT 350s produced: 34 were the race version, 9 were drag racing models, 1 street prototype, 2 race prototypes and 516 street versions.
In 1966 there were 2,367 GT350s made. These have become highly collectable and have increased in value over the years. The GT350 was produced until 1970, however, the 1965 and 1966 models are the most desirable and valuable.
I especially like the 1965 “double digit” cars, these are the first 100 produced for homologation purposes. They were all made at the San Jose, California Ford factory and then sent to Shelby in Los Angeles for the Shelby feature upgrades. The former San Jose Ford factory was turned into a shopping mall. All 1965 GT350s were painted Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue rocker stripes. The blue Le Mans stripes were optional.
I saw these classic cars when they were new driving around Los Angeles when I was a kid. I had Cobra T-shirts, decals, posters and postcards directly from the Shelby factory. The only thing I have left is a Cobra 427 postcard and an original Shelby factory Cobra decal placed on my skateboard.
I never did get a Shelby Cobra nor a GT350 because I went off into the Iso Grifo, Bizzarrini, and Lamborghini Espada world. But I still have my dreams and oh, I do have an AC Cobra Mk IV.
The 1965 Shelby GT350 (No. SFM5S069) shown here is up for auction at Mecum Auctions May 14-19, 2019 in Indianapolis.
Mecum writes,
Engine: 289/306 HP
Trans: 4-Speed
Color: White
Interior: Black
ESTIMATE: Call for estimateHIGHLIGHTS
SFM5S069
Received by Shelby American on December 23, 1964Shipped to Ray Hunt Ford in Daytona Beach, Florida on March 8, 1965
Raced in the SCCA by original owner William Floyd
Took first place at the 1965 Regional Daytona Nationals and finished eighth overall
Went to take first place in B/P three times
Finished first in SCCA Southwest Region for 1965
Went on to win a SCCA National championship that year
Documented with copy of original invoice and racing history
Ownership detailed in the Shelby Registry
Comprehensive restoration
289/306 HP V-8 engine
High rise intake manifold
Welded tube headers and side exhaust
2 inch Glass Pack mufflers
Cast aluminum valve rocker covers
Cast aluminum oil sump
4-speed manual transmission
9 inch differential with 3.89 gears with Detroit Locker
Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue Lemans stripes
Fiberglass rear floor with spare mounted beneath rear glass
8,000 RPM tachometer
15 inch wood-rimmed steering wheel
Radio delete plate
Correct Blue Dot tires and factory Cragar wheels
Dash autographed by Carroll Shelby
Factory trunk-mounted battery
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
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All photos compliments of Mecum Auctions.
Fun cars to own and drive and every time you stop for gas, or whatever reason, people come by and tell stores about their neighbor that had one or how excited they are to see them being driven after all these years.
Not sold at a high bid of $450,000!