1965 Shelby Mustang GT350 Hardtop

A total of 562 Shelby Mustang GT350 models were built in 1965 and the earliest examples are commonly referred to as 'double digit' cars. They were among the 100 cars needed to satisfy homologation requirements. The Shelby tuned Mustang won the B/Production Championship outright thanks, in part, to the 35 horsepower increase over the standard 'K-Code' Hi-Po 289 V8, courtesy of a Holley carburetor and high-rise manifold, suspension modifications, larger rear drum brakes, front Kelsey-Hayes discs, Tri-Y headers, and more.

This Shelby GT350 is an early example and is known as one of the 'double-digit' serial-number cars. It is one of the first 100 produced (numbers 015-113) for homologation purposes to qualify for SCCA racing. It has a trunk-mounted battery, which appears (approximately) on serial numbers 001–338. Later production cars had the battery in the front. Another unique feature of the early cars included the fiberglass hood design and construction.

This particular example is without the usual twin racing stripes, but has the steel wheels. This GT350 was completed at Shelby American in late March 1965 and then shipped to the Ford Shelby dealership (Hayward Ford Motors) in Hayward, California, where it was sold new to a local owner.

In 2010 the car was given a professional, comprehensive restoration that returned it to its Shelby-correct, as-delivered specification. Since the work was completed, only a few miles have been added to the odometer. It has the correct Goodyear Blue Dot tires, steel wheels, is finished in Wimbledon White without stripes, and a four-speed T-10 aluminum-case manual transmission.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2019