1965-1966 Shelby Mustang GT-350

The production of the Shelby Mustang GT-350 models, later nicknamed the Cobra, were built and manufactured at the assembly plant in California. ¬The Shelby Mustang models were first introduced to the public on January 27, 1965 at Riverside Raceway among many fans and automotive enthusiasts. The models became an instant success for Ford Motor Company. Two individuals particularly involved in the total performance vehicle design package Mr. Lee Iacocca and the legendary, Mr. Carroll Shelby. Mr. Ken Miles, race car driver, was also part of the design team who helped develop and shape the Mustang Cobra. Other individuals part of the team included Chuck Cantwell, engineer, and Jerry Titus.

Two versions of the vehicle were planned from the beginning, a street car called S and a full bore R model racer. Both models were produced in Wimbledon white and as fastback vehicles. They were produced at the Ford San Jose assembly plant in California then shipped to Shelby-American Inc. As you can see in the photograph below, Mr. Carroll Shelby’s 1966 Shelby GT 350 models are lined up for installation of their new quarter window and side air-scoops.


Upon completion, the models received the familiar GT 350 rocker-panel striping and then were shipped to the Shelby American franchised dealers throughout the country. The 1966 Shelby GT 350 models had little change from the 1965 models. Quarter windows, rather than vents, along the functional rear-brakes and cooling ducts were the main differences that were added along with new color options.


Carroll Shelby's GT 350 models were powered by a high performance 289 with 271 factory-rated horsepower engine, allowing for super-fast performance. When Road & Track tested the Shelby Mustang GT 350 performance models they stated that it was “packed with praise”. “It was fun to drive, goes like mad, rumbles in a pleasing way, and you can steer the car with either end!”

Ford and Shelby sold every model that was produced. The Shelby models also won many races and national championships with four out of five regional championship wins. The same models continued to win more races and titles in 1966. The Ford Mustangs were strong and fast vintage road racers and were among the most popular and desirable automobiles built. By 1966, Mr. Carroll Shelby and the popular 1965-1966 Shelby Mustang GT-350 models were part of the Ford Motor Company's image for high-performance.



Back in the day, the price tag for the Shelby models ranged from $4547-$5950 dollars. Today, the Ford Mustang Shelby is sought out by many collectors and includes an expensive price tag. The Ford Mustang’s will always have a great place in automotive history because Ford hit nothing less than a homerun with the concept. For more information on 1965-1966 Shelby Mustang GT-350 models, please contact -The Mustang Club Of America at www.mustang.org or 850-438-0626.


A special thanks to Robert Tate, Automotive Historian and Researcher, for donating the story to the MotorCities Story of the Week program. Photographs are courtesy of the National Automotive History Collection. (Bibliography: Levine Leo. Carroll Shelby . Classic Automobile Register, April/May 1998. Girdler Allan. Twenty Years Of Carroll Shelby. Road & Track Magazine. Dammann H. George. Illustrated History Of Ford 1903-1970. Crestline Publishing. 1970.)

For further information on photos please visit http://www.detroitpubliclibrary.org/ or email nahc@detroitpubliclibrary.org. Please do not republish the story and/or photographs without permission of MotorCities National Heritage Area. For further information contact Robert Tate at btate@motorcities.org. If you have a story that you would like to donate to be featured as a MotorCities Story of the Week, email Lisa Ambriez at lambriez@motorcities.org.