To
Be
OFFERED
AT
AUCTION
at
RM
Sothebys'
Arizona
event,
22
January
2021.
Estimate:$350,000
-
$400,000
Desirable
early
Venice-built,
"double
digit"
GT350
-
#47Retains
many
unique
early
production
features
Originally
sold
through
Ray
Hunt
Ford
in
Daytona
Beach,
FloridaDocumented
by
the
SAAC
Registry
and
via
original
sales
invoicesOne
of
562
GT350s
built
in
1965
Starting
with
Ford's
already
exceptional
"K-code"
Mustang
fastback,
Carroll
Shelby
and
his
team
at
Shelby
American
loaded
the
GT350
with
numerous
suspension,
performance
upgrades
and
improved
safety
equipment
and
beefed
up
the
engine,
adding
approximately
35
horsepower
over
the
standard
"Hi-Po"
289
V-8.
The
result
was
a
production
class-racing
powerhouse
that
easily
met
the
challenge
from
other
cars
of
the
day,
including
the
Sunbeam
Tiger
and
Jaguar
E-Type,
as
well
as
Ford's
arch
nemesis,
the
Chevrolet
Corvette,
racing
in
the
high
profile
SCCA
B-Production
Class.
Shelby
American
produced
only
562
of
these
tough-and-ready
GT350s
in
1965,
and
they
are
considered
the
most
desirable
and
collectable
among
all
Shelby
Mustangs.The
earliest
batch
of
1965
GT350s
were
produced
for
the
express
purpose
of
SCCA
homologation
and
were
finished
in
Shelby
American's
famed
Venice
facility,
before
the
firm's
move
to
much
larger
facilities
at
the
LAX
airport.
This
small
shop
is
where
the
hot
rodders
and
fabricators
of
Shelby
American
would
produce
many
of
the
early
Cobras
and
GT40s
alongside
the
early
homologation
versions
of
the
GT350.
In
the
hierarchy
of
desirability,
these
Venice
built
GT350s
are
especially
coveted
by
Shelby
collectors
as
they
most
faithfully
represent
the
original
purpose
of
the
GT350
program.
According
to
the
SAAC
registry,
chassis
number
SFM
5S047
was
received
by
Shelby
American
in
Venice
on
23
December
1964.
The
crew
at
Shelby
American
began
working
on
the
car
in
early
February
of
1965
and
by
23
February
1965
the
car
was
completed.
The
GT350
was
shipped
to
Ray
Hunt
Ford
in
Daytona
Beach,
Florida
on
8
March
1965,
and
the
dealership
was
invoiced
$3,746.75.
It
was
sold
new
to
Robert
Mungall
of
Cocoa
Beach,
Florida
on
8
July
1965.
In
November
of
1965
Mr.
Mungall
had
the
hood
replaced
on
the
GT350
under
warranty,
a
repair
that
had
been
noted
when
he
purchased
the
car
new.
The
Shelby
would
have
three
subsequent
U.S.-based
owners
before
being
listed
in
Autoweek
on
30
November
1974
for
$2,500.
It
was
sold
to
a
gentleman
in
Canada,
remaining
in
the
country
through
three
subsequent
owners.
Today,
this
GT350
presents
beautifully,
having
benefitted
from
a
restoration
years
ago,
and
a
recent
cosmetic
refresh
in
2019.
It
retains
the
signature
unique
details
of
an
early
"two-digit"
GT350
including
the
larger
16-inch
wood
steering
wheel,
fiberglass
gauge
pod
with
original
oil
pressure
gauge
and
tachometer,
dash-mounted
horn
switch,
and
a
trunk-mounted
battery.
It
rides
on
15-inch
Shelby
Cragar
wheels
with
Goodyear
"blue
dot"
tires.
The
interior
prominently
features
Carroll
Shelby's
distinctive
signature
on
the
glovebox.
The
GT350
is
accompanied
by
copies
of
Shelby
American
Invoices
to
Ray
Hunt
Ford
and
as
well
as
Shelby
American
warranty
work
invoices
from
the
first
owner.
Additional
correspondence
is
included
between
a
prior
owner
and
SAAC
confirming
the
car's
Shelby
chassis
number
matches
up
with
its
Ford
internal
chassis
number.A
highly
desirable
Venice
built,
double
digit
example,
this
beautifully
restored
Shelby
GT350
is
sure
to
draw
attention
on
the
road
or
at
the
track.To
view
this
car
and
others
currently
consigned
to
this
auction,
please
visit
the
RM
website
at