1965 Shelby GT350

There are some cars which are almost mythical in their allure and their rareness and a fine example of this the Ford Shelby Mustang. Seldom are these miraculous machines encountered and even rarer still is it possible to get your hands on one as sought after as this 1965 Shelby GT350 which is going under the hammer with luxury auction house, RM Sotheby’s. Excitement is understandably high around this lot and though it boasts a guide price to make a grown man weep, we’re in little doubt some luxury car collector will be adding it to their line up.

The 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 from RM Sotheby’s has the eye-watering price tag of between $375k and $425k so you’re going to need some serious readies if you want to add this majestic looking machine to your line up of vehicles. It is one of a mere 562 GT350s which were built in 1965 so it is an incredibly rare beast – a fact that merely serves to add to its appeal still further. Essentially the Holy Grail of classic cars, this one will be going under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction on the 6-7th March.

Once in a Lifetime Opportunity

It goes without saying that it is a pretty rare occurrence for a Ford Mustang Shelby to come onto the market, particularly one as rare as the 1965 GT350 which goes a long way to explaining why the new lucky owner may well be shelling out close to half a million dollars to make it theirs. Shelby American produced just 562 of these tough-and-ready GT350s in 1965, and they are widely considered to be the most desirable and collectable among all Shelby Mustangs ever made.

This 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 from RM Sotheby’s has remained in California for the majority of its life. It was first bought in 1971 by Don Burke of Northridge and under his ownership the car was campaigned in Solo I and autocross events. In 1980 it was purchased by Stephen Connor of Simi Valley, California where it was used at track events at Willow Springs, Riverside, Ontario, and Laguna Seca for the ensuing decade. In 1991 the GT350 underwent an extensive restoration by New Life Shelby & Mustang and would go on to win second place in the concours held at the SAAC-17 in Portland in July 1992.

Utterly mesmerising, the 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 presents wonderfully well and it is finished off in the traditional Wimbledon White with Blue Le Mans stripes. It boasts a driver’s-side Talbot mirror and rides on Shelby Cragar wheels wrapped in Goodyear “blue dot” tires. It is powered by a K-code 289 cu. in. V-8 engine which is backed up by a four-speed manual transmission. The battery has been relocated to the trunk, and power disc brakes bring the car to a safe stop.

Spectacular Inside and Out

It isn’t just the exterior of this 1965 Shelby that impresses – it’s got an awful lot going on inside as well. The interior comes equipped with comfortable bucket seats, three-inch lap belts, and the original fibreglass package tray that carries a covered full-size spare. In addition, it also has a wood-rimmed steering wheel, radio, and the Shelby tachometer and oil pressure pod. Rubber Shelby floor mats are included to protect the front and rear carpet.

First released over half a century ago, this 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 from RM Sotheby’s definitely isn’t going to come cheap but it will unquestionably be the cornerstone piece of any luxury car collector’s line up. It delivers a dramatic and visceral driving experience and, safe to say, there is nothing subtle about this car. It is designed to go fast, handle well, and look good while doing so. A real triple threat.