1966-Shelby American-GT350

Description

1966 Shelby American GT350
s/n SFM6S1905
White with Blue Stripes and Black Interior

When Ford wanted a genuinely high performance race ready variant of the already wildly successful Mustang, they knew who to ask. Carroll Shelby had already fashioned a name for himself in the motoring world with the outrageous and legendary Cobra, and by winning some sort of 24-hour race in France driving some foreign car called an Aston Martin. Shelby arranged with Ford`s San Jose, California plant to make nothing but partially complete white on black Mustang fastbacks with high performance 289 cid V8s and 4-speeds for two days straight, and then had the cars trucked to Shelby-American`s Los Angeles plant. Once there, the cars were fitted with special cams, larger intake manifolds and carburetors, tubular headers, and finned and baffled high capacity oil pans. Heavy duty brakes were fitted, along with a limited slip differential and shock tower brace, and the suspension substantially modified (including the fitment of larger front sway bar and Koni shocks). Numerous other modifications were performed, including the deletion of the +2 rear seats.

What Shelby created has become a legend, and in racing trim, went on to achieve great success. Produced for 1965 and 1966 only, the cars were popular, but fewer than 3000 were built, and are among the most iconic American cars ever built. This particular example has known history from new, with seven documented owners. Since 1982, the car has had two enthusiastic owners only, who have kept the car in very nice driver condition. The car was originally blue, but has now been refinished in the iconic white and with blue scheme that the car now wears.

The car is an extremely nice long time California car that has been tastefully and reversibly updated to make it a better car to drive. This included the fitment of a 5-speed transmission (the original 4-speed unit is boxed and included with the car). The unit is a `World Class` T5 unit with Hurst shifter, benefiting from hardened gears, short throw shifter, steel front bearing retainer, and tapered output shaft bearing. The driveshaft, clutch, and flywheel were also replaced when this work was completed in 2003. The car has, in addition to its original wheels, a very attractive set of Torq-Thrust type wheels wearing 225/60/15 tires. Other maintenance work completed since 2003 has included a complete brake system overhaul (including rotors, Porterfield carbon-kevlar pads, rebuilt calipers, rear wheel cylinders, racing rear brake shoes, dual cylinder master cylinder upgrade), resealed rear end, new hoses and thermostat, upper ball joints, Pertronix ignition, rebuilt carburetor, new Koni front shock absorbers, new carpet, and recored radiator. Long tube headers were also supplied and fitted, and the suspension carefully set up and slightly lowered. The camshaft was replaced as well, the intake plenum was port matched and blended, and countless other smaller jobs performed. In all, $23,702.90 was spent on the car since 2003 to bring it to its current superlative mechanical condition. Naturally, the receipts are included with the car, along with a second set of complete keys, the original manual, and various photographs from the work, and of Bob Bondurant driving the car.

The car is cosmetically attractive and very solid. The six digit blue California license plates are at testament to the car`s long time California history, indicating that the car has been in California since the 1970`s. Thus, it is very solid, with the only corrosion noted being a small bubble at the bottom of the right door. The body is very straight, and the paint is a high quality job that remains in very good condition. There are a handful of small chips about the body, many of which have been touched up, in addition to a few small stress marks. These add some patina to the car and are certainly not significant enough to require refinishing. The metal trim is excellent throughout, being both complete and in superb shape. Both sets of wheels are excellent, as are the glass and lights. The headlamps are Hella halogen items.

The interior is in excellent condition. The recently redone carpets are as new, and the seat upholstery, headliner, door panels, and rear shelf are superb. The dashboard is excellent as well, showing almost no signs of aging, aside from some deterioration to the chrome finish around the instruments. The entire interior has a feel of crispness that is usually reserved for time warp and freshly restored cars.

The engine compartment is extremely nice as well. It is tidy, spotlessly clean, and very well detailed. The chassis and inner panels are straight and the paint on all surfaces is in great shape. The trunk is very nice as well, with the original pattern material for the floor and jack bag, which also contains the jack. The underside is solid, tidy, and very clean, though not detailed for show.

This is a terrific opportunity to acquire an American icon. This car has been subtly but effectively upgraded to make it a superb road car to actually use and enjoy, and its cosmetic condition is a perfect compromise between stunning presence and usability. Indeed, almost everything about this car makes it an example to actually drive and enjoy. It comes with fastidious documentation from the current ownership period (including receipts), two sets of original keys, the extra wheels and gearbox, original owner`s booklet, and various photographs taken over the years.