1965 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 FIA Race Car - In current ow...

Estimate

£70,000 - £80,000

1965 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 FIA Race Car

- In current ownership since 2005
- Veteran of Goodwood and Spa
- Steve Warrior engine rebuild

“The minute you get in, turn the key, and get into gear, you know you’re in a living, fire-breathing machine, beyond doubt one of the most exciting and easiest driving cars that I ever handled. ” Carroll Shelby, in The Cobra Story of 1965.

Launched in 1965, the race-ready Shelby GT 350 could be ordered from Ford dealers and driven straight to the race track. At the time Ford chief Lee Iacocca asked Carroll Shelby what it would take to race the Mustang. Shelby replied simply, build 100 of them! And so the legendary GT 350 Shelby Mustang was born. Work started at Shelby American at a time when 289 AC Cobra sports car production was ending. Both the AC and the Shelby Mustang used the Cobra emblem, a similar paint scheme, and optional "Cobra" valve covers (as part of a marketing tie-in by Shelby). Powered by the Windsor 289 ci engine, modified with a large 4-barrel Holley carburettor to produce 306 bhp, driven through a 4-speed manual transmission with a 9-inch live rear axle, all cars were shipped to Shelby American where they received high-rise manifolds, Tri-Y headers, larger Ford Galaxie rear drum brakes and Kelsey-Hayes front discs.

All 1965 GT350s were painted in Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue rocker stripes, and optional Le Mans stripes running the length of the entire car. The 1965 GT350 was built for the race track, not for comfort or ease of driving. A total of 34 race-spec "GT350R" cars were built specifically for competition use under SCCA rules; the model became the B-Production champion for three straight years in the USA.

This very well prepared FIA car was built by Bob Pepper racing as a replica of the 350R model, with a brand new chassis built in the early 2000s, based on the correct jig pattern. Purchased in around 2005 by our vendor (at the time in unused and pristine condition), the car underwent an exacting process via the FIA to obtain the necessary and critical HTP Papers allowing it to race in the UK and further afield. A copy of the FIA HTP is supplied with the car, valid to the end of 2030.

Since being completed, this Mustang has had a long and continuous 20 year racing history with its current owner/driver. Notable events include an appearance at the 2014 Goodwood Revival in the Fordwater Trophy, and a successful record at the Spa 6 hours (finishing in the top 20 twice against a plethora of GT40s, Cobra and low-drag Jaguar E-Types).

Raced at all major UK circuits and the European tracks of Spa, Zandvoort and Dijon (amongst others), the Shelby has also entered into (and is eligible for) the Gentlemen Drivers at Masters Historic Racing, the GT & Sports Car Cup, Classic Sports Car Club and the Autumn Classic at Castle Combe. 

The Shelby has been professionally set up with endurance racing in mind, in particular being fitted for Spa with a 120 litre fuel tank (enabling 2 hours of continuous running). Built to a very high standard, the Mustang is fitted with a Steve Warrior engine (with only 3 hours since a complete refresh), a T10 racing gearbox, Helix clutch, Strange Engineering half shafts complete with big bearings, and Koni adjustable shocks. The Mustang is offered complete with two sets of American Racing Torq-Thrust wheels and tyres.

Professionally maintained both on- and off-track by Richard Doe at TripleR in Dorchester, this very well prepared GT350 is ready to race in earnest once more.