Beschreibung
In the mid-1960s, fresh from the success of the Ford-powered Shelby Cobra, Henry Ford II told Carroll Shelby to make the economy-car-based Mustang into a road racer. He did. The 306-hp street car that resulted, the first Shelby Mustang, was dubbed GT350. To the untrained eye, the car was fluff, but Shelby was a salesman, and substance with a sheen of style was his thing. In an eyeblink, he and Ford sold America on the idea that "fast Mustang" and "Shelby" were the same concept. The idea wasn't original, but his cars are almost universally acknowledged as some of the best Fords ever built.
Like the history, the GT350's recipe is known by almost everybody. For the first two years, the cars were built by Ford but reengineered by Shelby—each one rolled out of Ford's San Jose plant as a so-called "K-code" fastback, with a solid-lifter 289, quick manual steering, a black interior, a T10 four-speed, and a Detroit Locker differential. Shelby's crew, led by engineer Phil Remington and project chief Chuck Cantwell, added traction bars, relocated front control arms, and the cockpit was treated to cockpit a wood-rimmed wheel and dash-mounted tach.
There was no radio or back seat for the 65 and 66 cars, but there were deafening side pipes. The now-ubiquitous top stripes were optional, and most cars did without. More evidence of Shelby's talent-spotting: Remington was the technical genius behind the Cobra and the Le Mans-winning Ford GT40; Cantwell, a former GM engineer, went on to be team manager for Roger Penske's Trans-Am Camaros. Even the stripes, a simple thing, were designed by Pete Brock, who later drew the jaw-dropping Cobra Daytona Coupe.
Two thousand, eight hundred eighty-nine street GT350s were built from 1965 to 1966. On top of that, 34 GT350R race cars were built, a decision that helped Shelby win the Sports Car Club of America's B-Production road-racing championship. The title ticked a box for Ford and gave the street cars endless credibility.
Chassis 1082 has a continual history from new with extensive invoices on file throughout its history in California coupled with the first purchase invoice and road tax receipts from 1970.
The official Shelby register notes 1082:
“1082. Red. Used as a company car by Bob Leaf of Shelby American. It was stolen 5/ 16/ 66 and recovered. Shipped to Hayward Motors (Hayward , CA) 7/ 26/ 66 as a demonstrator unit. Purchased by Rich Hughett (Pacific Grove, CA) painted red/ black stripes.”
Imported into the UK in 1998 by renowned collector and historic racer Grahame Bryant, the car was sent off for restoration and the brief to make the car fast road suitable for Tour Auto. The car has a roll cage but also interior and two front seats.
The car comes with two engines, one installed that is highly developed and what is believed to be the original engine. This car is immaculate and had only completed a few hundred miles since this restoration. It could be kept as a fast road car or with little modification an FIA race car.
As a race car it would be eligible for Goodwood Revival, Le Mans Classic, Motor Racing Legends, Masters, HRDC, Tour Auto, Modena Cento Ore and many other events.
This year the Goodwood Revival is celebrating Carroll Shelby.
