On January 27, 1965, Carroll Shelby, the legendary racer and designer, launched the first Shelby GT350 based off of 1965 Ford Mustang fastbacks, and named after the designer and World War II aircraft.
Shelby had the stock vehicles shipped to Shelby American in Venice Beach, California, and later at Los Angeles International Airport, where they started working on the car. First the team stripped the cars of excess weight, Shelby then added performance upgrades, such as high-riser intake manifolds, a four barrel carburetor and custom exhaust headers, boosting horsepower to 306.
Carroll Shelby was a big name of this era. Born in Texas in 1923, he was a World War II flight instructor and a highly talented racer. Before his health forced him into retirement, he had achieved a historic victory at the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Times in 2003 quoted comedian Jay Leno, a car collector who has owned several Shelby cars, saying: “Carroll is sort of like the car world’s Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays… Unlike so many racers, he didn’t come from a rich family, so he signifies that everyman, common-sense ideal. When I was kid, American cars were big, clunky things, until Carroll used his ingenuity to make them compete with European cars. He was a populist, the kind of guy that other car buffs could emulate.”
Built for the Track
For 1965, all GT350s were Wimbledon White fastbacks with Guardsman Blue rocker stripes, featuring a long hood and short rear deck. Because these were intended for the track, they lacked many of the creature comforts found in standard Mustangs. However, as the car moved into 1966, Shelby introduced updates to appeal to a broader consumer base, adding optional rear seats, vent windows, and a range of new colors.
The launch of the GT350 was a vital moment in history. While the standard Ford Mustang was already a massive success, selling over 400,000 units in its first year, the Shelby version provided the performance that the Mustang needed to be taken seriously as a sports car.
Production of this first generation continued through 1971. Today, the original 1965 Shelby GT350 is a highly valuable collector’s item.
Carroll Shelby passed away in 2012 at the age of 89, but his name continues to live in the hearts of car enthusiasts everywhere.
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