Beschreibung:

The GT350 had one purpose in life, to put the Ford Mustang in the winner’s circle in SCCA road racing. The initiative for the GT350 came from Ford which wisely recognized that the Mustang’s success with consumers could be enhanced with the performance image which came from racing. Shelby was the logical partner but was already busy building Cobras and supporting a busy racing effort including the Cobras, Ford GT40 Mk II and the USRRC/USAC King Cobras. So Ford made it easy, as well as lucrative, by doing most of the hard work itself. The first hurdle was SCCA’s requirement that 100 cars be built before the beginning of the year in which they would race. Ford agreed to supply Mustangs to Shelby’s specifications and Shelby picked through the Ford parts catalog to specify the basic package that would lend itself to road racing with fairly simple upgrades to be made in Shelby American shop, a project headed by Chuck Cantwell. The first year’s GT350s were barely disguised racing cars and even though Shelby built a separate racing model, the famous GT350R, none of the ’65s were very comfortable or enjoyable cars on the street. That changed in 1966. There were visible exterior changes, most notably the addition of clear plexiglas panels as quarter windows in the fastback’s C-pillars. Scoops and ducting were installed to help cool the rear brakes and add more exterior distinctiveness. The standard Mustang rear seat was left in when the cars were built and the suspensions were not as extensively modified. The Detroit Locker differential that was standard in 1965 was made an option for ’66. Production was 1,365 plus 13 prototypes and specials and 999 of the famous GT350H Hertz ‘rent-a-racers,’ in all nearly two and a half times the 562 Shelby Mustangs built in 1965. Each car came with the Shelby-prepared 306 horsepower 289 cubic inch Ford V-8 with Holley 715 4-barrel carb. The Borg-Warner T10 four-speed manual transmission was standard but an automatic was optional. Brakes were front disc and rear drum. The 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 fastback offered here has been modified for high-speed road events and occasional on-track contests. Originally Wimbledon White, it has been repainted in the current Ivy Green with white stripes and a black interior. Its history is documented in the Shelby American Automobile Club’s Registry. Delivered new through Dockery Ford in Morristown, New Jersey, its first owner was Gary Lazar of Monsey, New York. The next owner was Richard Thomas of Franklin Lakes, NJ and in May 1988 it was acquired by Wayne S. Timmerman of C.R.T. Motorsports of Chiefland, Florida. Timmerman then began an extensive restoration that included the thoughtful modifications for high-speed use. In June 2001 he sold it to David Ritter in Clearwater, Florida. The next owner, Richard Simek, acquired it in 2002 at auction, then sold it to the most recent owner in October 2004. Ritter located the underlying Ford VIN and corresponded with the SAAC ’66 GT350 Registrar who confirmed it was the correct Ford VIN for Shelby VIN SFM6S2296. This is a very well done and presented Shelby Mustang. Its equipment includes, according to a document prepared by Ritter, the original matching numbers engine built to race specifications, the original steel hood, a race-prepared Williams top-loader 4-speed, Earl’s oil cooler, large capacity aluminum oil pan, roll bar, ATL fuel cell, high performance clutch, Hurst shifter, 4-point racing harnesses for both front seats, MSD ignition, ceramic coated racing headers and 3.89:1 limited slip rear axle. All critical fluids flow through Earl’s hoses. Four American 5-spoke alloy wheels are fitted with very tidy blank plates over the center bores. Auto Meter gauges including a new speedometer are neatly fitted into an aluminum dashboard panel. A fire extinguisher is handily placed behind the driver. The battery has been relocated to the trunk to improve balance. A Shelby Mustang R-type nose is fitted to provide cooling air ac