This early-production 1965 Shelby GT350 Fastback, 5S192, is one of just 562 GT350s built in total during the first year of production and has undergone a professional, concours-quality restoration. Its history begins with its arrival at Shelby American on April 1, 1965; as if to illustrate the frenetic pace of early GT350 production, work began on the car on April 27 and was completed just three days later, on April 30. Originally shipped to Milo Brooke, Inc. in Chicago, Illinois, its history includes a number of California owners, as documented with a listing in the Shelby Registry.
Finished in Wimbledon White with Blue Le Mans striping and coveted Shelby Cragar 5-spoke wheels, its specifications include the Shelby-modified 289/306 HP “HiPo” V-8 engine with a Holley 715 CFM 4-barrel carburetor on a Cobra aluminum intake manifold, finned aluminum Cobra valve covers, Tri-Y headers and side exhaust, and a Borg Warner 4-speed manual transmission driving a narrowed Galaxie 9-inch rear end with 3.89 gears and Detroit Locker. Modified front suspension mounting points, front disc brakes, traction bars and Koni adjustable shock absorbers also contributed to the GT350’s SCCA B Production Championship-winning performance. The standard Black Mustang interior was also modified in service to the GT350’s mission, as demonstrated in this example’s wood-rimmed steering wheel, fiberglass rear floor with covered spare tire and the Black plastic dash pod housing a Delco-made 8,000 RPM tachometer with 6,500-RPM redline, and an oil pressure gauge – also made by Delco – both bearing “CS” logos. O
Of special interest to collectors is this GT350’s early-production all-fiberglass plenum hood, which was replaced by steel-reinforced units around serial number 300, and its rare Talbot Berlin sideview mirror. Another early production feature is the trunk-mounted Autolite battery; later production cars saw the battery relocated to its original position in the engine compartment. A California car for several decades, this 1965 Shelby GT350 is a stellar example of the car that introduced Carroll Shelby to his millions of admirers.
This vehicle is being sold at the Dallas 2020 as Lot No. S109.1.
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