This 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350 is one of 504 street production examples built for the model year during the first seven months of construction of Shelby American’s Mustang variant.
Chassis SFM5S459 was completed at Shelby’s Los Angeles facility on June 28, 1965.
Finished in Wimbledon White over black vinyl, the car is powered by a 289ci HiPo V8 mated to a Borg-Warner T10 four-speed manual transmission and a Detroit Locker differential.
Additional equipment includes a four-barrel Holley carburetor on a high-rise intake manifold, Kelsey-Hayes ventilated front disc brakes, Koni shock absorbers, rear overrider traction bars, dual side-exit exhaust, a front-mounted battery, a fiberglass rear package tray, and a dash-mounted tachometer.
Development of the GT350 model began in summer 1964 after Ford enlisted Carroll Shelby to create a variant of the Mustang to homologate for competition in the SCCA’s B Production class.
Incomplete K-code Mustang fastbacks were sent from Ford’s San Jose, California, plant to Shelby’s Venice facility for transformation into GT350 specification under the lead of project engineer Chuck Cantwell.
In early 1965, Shelby began shifting production from Venice to its facilities near Los Angeles International Airport.
All 1965 GT350s were finished in Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue rocker-panel stripes, and this example was delivered to original consignee Tasca Ford with optional blue Le Mans stripes.
Features include a steel-framed fiberglass hood with a functional scoop and quick-release pins, a mesh grille with an offset running-horse logo, sail-panel louvers, and a bullet-style driver-side mirror.
Cragar cast alloy wheels are wrapped with 7.75-15 Goodyear Blue Dot tires, as is a matching spare that is secured atop the fiberglass package shelf in the cargo area.
Kelsey-Hayes front disc brakes incorporate ventilated rotors while 2.5”-wide drums handle braking at the rear.
The cabin is trimmed in black vinyl over low-back bucket seats with color-keyed door panels, carpeting, and rubber floor mats.
Additional features of the 1965 GT350 model include 3” aircraft-style lap belts and a fiberglass rear shelf in lieu of the standard Mustang’s rear seats.
The wood-rimmed steering wheel features slotted spokes and sits ahead of a horizontal-sweep 120-mph speedometer flanked by gauges monitoring fuel level and coolant temperature.
A central two-gauge pod housing an oil-pressure gauge and a tachometer was among the equipment distinct to the Shelby-built Mustangs.
The tachometer was rebuilt in 2017.
The five-digit odometer shows 33k miles.
