Photo History of the GT350
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Photo History of the GT350
PHOTO HISTORY OF THE GT350
In 1964, Lee Iacocca asked Carroll Shelby to turn the new Mustang into a sportscar.
Shelby famously said that it couldn't be done because Mustang was "a secretary's car".
The first Shelby Mustangs were built at the Shelby American facility at the Los Angeles airport.
Pictured is 1965 GT350 #1 and a secretary from Shelby's office, a wink to Shelby's description of the standard Mustang.
In 1966, the GT350 featured functional side scoops, and to increase rear visibility, windows replaced the quarter louvers.
Seating capacity was increased from two to four. Pictured is 1966 GT350 #2. The first was the prototype; this is the first production unit.
The convertible option added infinite rear visibility, but only six were built.
While all 1965 GT350s were Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue stripes, the 1966 edition
was also available in Candy Apple Red, Ivy Green, Raven Black, and this stunning Sapphire Blue.
Shelby partnered with Hertz in 1966 to offer Shelby Mustangs for rent. Most of the 1,001 GT350H Mustangs were black
with gold stripes, but about 50 each of Wimbledon White, Ivy Green, Candy Apple Red, and Sapphire Blue were also produced.
Shelby considered a new model for 1966, the GT350S, with the "S" indicating a Paxton supercharger was under the hood.
Just this one was produced, but the supercharger was added to the options list for all GT350 Mustangs.
The GT350 got its first redesign in 1967 but retained the 289.
The GT350 convertible saw mass production for the first time in 1968. The 289 was replaced with the 302 cubic inch 5.0L V8.
By 1969, Ford had assumed Shelby production from Shelby American.
The agreement between Shelby and Ford did not last into the 1970 model year. 1970 Shelby Mustangs were unsold 1969 models.
Under the close watch of the federal government, Ford added black hood stripes and a front air dam and replaced the VIN with a 1970 indication.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Mustang, Ford made a 20th Anniversary
G.T. 350 edition Turbo GT in both convertible and hatchback form.
More than 45 years after the first GT350 was built at Shelby American, the 2011 model debuts with all of the
authenticity and almost double the power of the original. Like the 1966 model, the 2011 model seats four, only
comes in white with blue stripes, is only available as a coupe, has quarter windows and is built at Shelby American.
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