Description
Development of the GT350 began in the summer of 1964 when Ford tasked Carroll Shelby with creating a variant of the Mustang to homologate for competition in the SCCA’s B Production class. A total of 504 examples were built during the first seven months of production. The first 100—sometimes called “double-digit” cars—were assembled at Shelby’s Venice, California facility before production shifted to a plant near Los Angeles International Airport.
All 1965 GT350s were finished in Wimbledon White with…
Development of the GT350 began in the summer of 1964 when Ford tasked Carroll Shelby with creating a variant of the Mustang to homologate for competition in the SCCA’s B Production class. A total of 504 examples were built during the first seven months of production. The first 100—sometimes called “double-digit” cars—were assembled at Shelby’s Venice, California facility before production shifted to a plant near Los Angeles International Airport.
All 1965 GT350s were finished in Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue rocker-panel stripes with dealer-added center stripes on select cars. This example was repainted during a refurbishment in the late-1990s, and Guardsman Blue Le Mans stripes were added. Additional work included replacing the glass, seals, and bumpers with Ford new old stock components. Features include a steel-framed “porthole” fiberglass hood with a functional scoop and quick-release pins, a mesh grille with an offset running-horse logo, and sail-panel louvers.
Optional Cragar cast alloy wheels are wrapped with 7.75-15 Goodyear Blue Dot tires, as is a matching spare that is secured atop the fiberglass package shelf in the cargo area. The suspension is equipped with Koni adjustable shock absorbers, lowered front control arms, a 1” front sway bar, overrider rear traction bars anchored inside the cabin, and rear limiting cables. Braking is from Kelsey-Hayes front discs with ventilated rotors and 2.5”-wide rear drums.
The low-back bucket seats are retrimmed in black vinyl, and matching carpets were installed during the refurbishment. The 3″ Ray Brown aircraft-style lap belts were also re-webbed, and the cabin features radio block-off plates and Cobra-branded floor mats. Carroll Shelby’s signature is present on the glovebox door along with the car’s serial number.
The wood-rimmed steering wheel has been refurbished, and instrumentation includes a horizontal-sweep 120-mph speedometer flanked by gauges for fuel level and coolant temperature. Shelby-built mustangs were also equipped with an oil-pressure gauge and a tachometer mounted in a central pod. The five-digit odometer shows 49k miles, and the total chassis mileage is unknown.
Early-production GT350s were equipped with a trunk-mounted battery and this example has been fitted with a vintage-style Autolite unit.
The 289ci Windsor V8 was shared with K-code Mustangs and was topped with a four-barrel Holley 715-cfm carburetor and a cast-aluminum high-rise intake manifold to produce a factory-rated 306 horsepower in street versions of the GT350. Additional GT350-specific features include a finned aluminum “T” oil pan with hinged baffles, open-letter valve covers, and tri-Y exhaust headers leading to exhaust pipes exiting ahead of each rear wheel. In December 2022, Mostly Mustangs of Oakland, California resurfaced the cylinder heads, performed an oil change, adjusted the rocker arms, and replaced the head gaskets, exhaust valves, and head bolts. The seller has provided photos of the engine block stamping and the fender stamping, and the numbers match.
The four-speed Borg-Warner T10 manual transmission is equipped with an aluminum housing and close-ratio gears and sends power to the rear wheels via a 9” rear end with a Detroit Locker differential. The rear axle seal was replaced in December 2022. Additional photos of the underside are provided in the gallery.
The Shelby American invoice to Harr Motor Company is dated April 15, 1965, and lists $220 special alloy wheels and a total price of $3,969.90. Photos of additional Shelby American documentation are provided in the gallery.
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