shelby gt350 barnfind
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Rusty American Dream: Shelby GT 350

The iconic Ford Mustang It was presented in 1964, its production being launched with a view to the following year. It is a performance car and, as such, Ford and Carrol Shelby they reached an agreement to jointly offer their most radical version. From this collaboration the GT350, that it was little more than a Yankee SCCA championship race car put on the road.

Recall that Shelby He was a Texan driver with extensive experience in European motorsport; After winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959 at the wheel of the Aston Martin DBR1 (and in the company of Roy Salvadori), he dedicated himself to hybridizing the beautiful English AC Ace with Ford's V8 mechanics, which resulted in the legendary AC Shelby Cobra.

The fruitful relationship of the Dearborn brand and the Texan champion continued to give birth to such exciting things as the Ford Mustang Shelby GT 350. Its production began almost at the same time as that of the conventional Mustang and, over the years, it fell into its same vices, namely gentrification and the subsequent decline in performance.

shelby gt350 barnfind
Photos courtesy of Bonhams

What is the Shelby GT 350 discovered?

This specimen of Shelby 350GT retains the best of the first Mustang and takes it to the extreme. The mythical mechanics Ford V8 289 It rises from 279 to 310 hp thanks to a special intake manifold, while a Detroit Locker differential is added to the transmission, somewhat noisy but effective. The unmistakably sporty side exhaust also likes decibels, and the 15-inch wheels hide vitaminized brakes.

Carroll Shelby he asked his team for a preparation that was not too much 'rue', for ordinary people. Coming out of the racing world was difficult and in the end it was, at least for the first few years. Even the rear seats were lost due to pull bars and the spare wheel required as a condition to homologate the model for the SCCA; in addition, a very tough suspension was mounted by Koni.

Funny thing about this Shelby GT 350 is that it is a carry on car or, what is the same, a transition unit between the 1965 and 1966 versions, the latter being much more docile. It retains the characteristic original Wimbledon White and Guadsman Blue colors, but also features details such as the rear side windows to improve visibility or the speedometer located above the dashboard. Of course, Cobra anagrams they make an appearance in various places.

In its first year and a half of life, more than a million Ford Mustang, a whole record. However, of the GT 350 only about 550 units were marketed in 1965 and about 2.400 in 1966; of this only 252 correspond to carry on cars that we mentioned a moment ago.

shelby gt350 barnfind
The interiors contrast with the corrosion of the exterior

A single dream, 40 years sleeping

But let's get to what interests us: What parallel universe did this rusty Shelby GT 350 come from? Apparently it was the test car of a Ford dealership in Massachusetts (USA); later it was sold to its first and only owner who only raised the number of the account to 88.000 kilometers. Around 1975 he put it in a garage and, since then, nothing has been known about 6S163, it does not even appear in the official Shelby American record.

For fans of rust and discovery magic the multiple bites The bodywork and its attachments are a real treat to behold. Accompanied by corrosion on the exterior of the engine, they contrast with an interior in good condition. Frankly, it makes you want to do just the right thing, leave it unrestored. What would you do?

Un barn find -as the English say- in every rule that will be auctioned by Bonhams next June 5 in Connecticut, with an estimated price of between 70 and 110.000 euros.

What do you think?

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Written by javier romagosa

My name is Javier Romagosa. My father has always been passionate about historic vehicles and I have inherited his hobby, while growing up among classic cars and motorcycles. I have studied journalism and continue to do so as I want to become a university professor and change the world ... Read more

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