Mark Foster

About this 1966 Shelby GT 350, SFM6S2082

The GT 350 debuted on January 27, 1965.  It was developed from the popular Ford Mustang, which saw great early sales success, but lacked the performance image Ford Division General Manager Lee Iacocca had desired.  Carroll Shelby, known for his highly successful Shelby Cobra, was enlisted to transform the Mustang into a formidable racing competitor to the likes of the Chevrolet Corvette.  The result was the Shelby Mustang GT 350.  (“Mustang”-named after the famed World War II P-51 fighter plane - was dropped from the name in 1966, and the car was then simply marketed as the Shelby GT 350.)  

During 1965 and 1966, GT 350s were delivered from Ford’s assembly plant in San Jose for modification by Shelby American, Inc., originally in Venice, California and later at Los Angeles International Airport. The cars came from Ford equipped with a 289 cubic inch K-Code V8 engine, and were modified by Shelby to produce 306 horsepower. Other modifications were made to the brakes, exhaust and suspension. In all, 562 GT 350s were built in 1965, and 1,373 were built in 1966, with an additional purported 1,001 GT350 “H” models assembled as high performance rental cars for Hertz.  These were often referred to as “Rent-a-Racers” and could be leased for 17 dollars per day, plus 17 cents per mile.

This Shelby GT 350 was originally ordered from Shelby American by the dealer Hi-Performance Motors in El Segundo, California on 6/6/1966 for an invoice total of $3,728.75 (consumer sticker price was $4,428). It was soon purchased by its first owner, a Southern California Aerospace employee, who sold it to its second owner two years later. During the next ten years, it participated in various club track events.  It ran the quarter mile at San Fernando Raceway, Orange County International Raceway, and the famous Lion’s Drag Strip, and road courses at Ontario Motor Speedway and Willow Springs. Two subsequent ownerships led to a color change from Sapphire Blue to Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue Le Mans stripes, and to more track visits, including Laguna Seca Raceway.  Nowadays, this “original California Black Plate” GT 350 can be seen mostly on the street and at local Southern California car gatherings, but retains the DNA of a true race car.

Getting behind the wheel for The Distinguished Gentleman's Drive

On Sunday, September 24th 2023, I'll be driving my '66 Shelby GT350 in The Distinguished Gentleman's Drive. Together with thousands of classic car enthusiasts around the world, I will be raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men's mental health for the charity, Movember.

Before the dapper day, the organization is looking to raise as much as possible for the cause, to help men around the world live happier and healthier lives. With men's chances of developing prostate cancer later in life increasing, and one man dying every minute by suicide, we must do all we can to prevent more men from suffering.

Please give what you like.