Restoring a 1965 Shelby GT350 with factory-correct details

Ground up full restoration on a 1965 Shelby GT350 from the 2002 season of Dream Car Garage. Peter Klutt reveals factory-correct details you might miss when restoring a 1965 Shelby GT350.

1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350

Wimbledon White With Lemans Blue Stripes
Numbers Matching Hi-Po 289/306hp Engine
T-10 Aluminum Case 4 Speed Transmission
Factory Cragar Wheels And Correct Blue Dot Tires
One Of Only 562 Shelby GT350’s Built
Nut And Bolt Rotisserie Restoration By Legendary Motorcar


LMC is very proud to offer for sale this 1965 Shelby GT350

The 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 was offered in a single exterior paint option - Wimbledon White with optional blue LeMans stripes in Guardsman Blue that ran down the center of the body and with a functional hood scoop, the fiberglass hood of the car made it something of an icon on the road. In 1965 Ford had been spurned by the SCCA, the sanctioning body for amateur sports car racing in this country. The severely independent SCCA seemingly did not appreciate being muscled by a large corporation, so Ford turned to Carroll Shelby. The SCCA said in order for Carroll's cars to be sanctioned, there needed to be 100 of them.

The brand new 1965 GT350 was powered by a Ford 289-cubic inch V-8, but with some Kobra Kustom accessories bolted on. Shelby starts with the 271-hp “k” code “High-Performance” version of the 289 V-8 and adds a high-riser intake manifold, welded-tube headers and cast-aluminum valve-rocker covers which raises peak power to 306hp. Also, the pressed-steel stock oil sump is replaced with a large cast-aluminum sump, complete with cooling fins. It also featured a four-speed manual transmission and side-exhaust pipes fitted with two-inch Glasspak mufflers. A 9-inch differential fitted with 3.89 rear gears transferred the grunt of the 289 to the pavement. Most notably, the 1965 GT350 had no rear seat because SCCA B Production requirements only permitted two-seater cars. In its place was a fiberglass floor, with a spare tire mounted beneath the rear glass.

According to the Shelby American factory records, this chassis was received at the Shelby American Los Angeles CA. facility on June 10th, 1965. Work started on June 14th, 1965 and it was finished on August 20th, 1965. It was then shipped to Young Motor Co. in Charlotte, North Carolina and they were invoiced for $3,547. This special Shelby Mustang was delivered new with highly desirable optional Cragar Shelby wheels and Blue LeMans stripes.

The expert team here at LMC completely restored this example to concourse specifications for previous ownership. Unlike many others, this example’s body was in exceptional shape prior to starting the restoration. The body was taken down to bare metal, primed, block sanded until desired finish. Several coats of base and clear were applied and some texture was left in the paint replicating how it originally came from the factory. The interior was refinished with its correct dash mounted pod with 8,000 rpm tach and oil pressure, factory racing lap belts, 15" wood rimmed steering wheel and factory radio delete plate. Under the hood, the engine compartment was completely and fully detailed highlighting a numbers matching Hi-Po 289/306hp engine backed by the prerequisite aluminum case T-10 4-speed transmission and bulletproof Ford 9 inch rear end with Detroit locker. On a hoist you will discover the undercarriage to be in absolutely outstanding condition with floors finished in the correct factory style red oxide primer with body color overspray and blacked out pinch welds. The overall look and unmistakable sound of the car comes from the factory side exiting exhaust just in front of the correct Blue Dot tires mounted on the optional Cragar wheels.

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