Chassis No. SFM 5S398

One of the most brilliant American performance cars of all time, the GT350 of 1965 was the original 'Shelby Mustang.' It was equipped with a 289-cu. in. V-8, built to develop 306 horsepower, delivered through a Borg Warner T-10 four-speed aluminum gearbox and hefty tapered nine-inch rear axle on a chassis with Koni adjustable shocks, metallic-lined rear drum and front disc brakes, and cast aluminum wheels. The body was most frequently found finished with LeMans racing stripes, and equipped with a 'scooped' fiberglass hood and fiberglass rear package tray. Shelby intended his creation to win the SCCA National B/Production Championship, and, in typical fashion, it did.

Jim Taylor's GT350 was originally completed in July 1965 and shipped the following month to the original selling dealer, Bill Currie Ford of Tampa, Florida, as noted in the original invoice, a copy of which is included in the file. The SAAC Shelby Registry notes that the car was purchased by Jack Wilhelm of Troy, Ohio, then passed in 1977 to Stephen Knowles of nearby Maumee who sold it five years later to Wayne Conover of Hanover, Pennsylvania.

Around 1984 the GT350 was acquired by Douglas Jemal of Chevy Chase, Maryland, then passed through the hands of two owners in Florida before being acquired in 2000 by David Delainey of Calgary, Alberta. In Mr. Delainey's hands the GT350 won Best of Class at the Wooden Keel and Classic Wheels concours in Texas in 2002, and 1st in Class at the International Mustang Meet in Calgary in 2004. He sold the car in 2006, and the new owner had a complete restoration undertaken by the marque specialists Legendary Motorcar Company in Halton Hills, Ontario. Soon thereafter, in 2007, it was acquired by Mr. Taylor.

The car shows to have excellent 'bones,' including all of its solid original sheet metal, including the fiberglass hood with steel bracing, the original Shelby and Ford confidential numbers, and the original windshield. The original engine is under the hood, with the proper aluminum Borg-Warner T-10 aluminum transmission; the engine itself has correct hollow-letter Cobra valve covers, 21-number cylinder head castings, an original-style carburetor, and original S1MS intake manifold, tri-y headers, four-blade fan, pulley on alternator, and dual-point non-vacuum advance distributor. There is a Talbot-style side-view mirror, and the interior is equipped with the original oil pressure gauge, a reproduction tachometer, 15-inch wood steering wheel, and AM radio, as well as, naturally, Carroll Shelby's signature on the glove box. The original package tray is still in place, a wonderful thing to see. Shelby Cragar wheels are mounted, with new Goodyear Blue Dot tires. At the time of cataloging, the car recorded 7,408 miles.

This is an excellent, properly finished, very authentic example of the original, purest GT350, offered from one devoted Shelby enthusiast to another.