Carroll Shelby and his merry band of designers, fabricators, and hot rodders gave the Mustang GT 2+2 a straightforward yet effective Cobra style makeover, which included more horsepower, recalibrated suspension, reduced weight, and fantastic performance. The 289 cubic inch solid lifter “Hi-Po” V-8 was upped from 271 to 306 horsepower. The factory hood was replaced with a lightweight unit, and the rear seats were cleverly removed so the car qualified as a two-seat sports car for SCCA competition. This is the story about iconic 1965 Shelby GT 350.
Shelby American produced only 562 of these rough-and-ready ’65 GT 350s. They are considered the most desirable and collectible among all Shelby Mustangs and the purest interpretation of Carroll Shelby’s original vision. Subsequent Shelby Mustangs became less racy and more about fast comfort, with smoother rides, larger engines, and available air conditioning and automatic transmissions, plus the addition of convertibles.
Such one specimen will be offered by Auctions America’s Fort Lauderdale 2016 Sale on Saturday, April 2, 2016. The car is estimated to bring $350,000 – $450,000.