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A Rare Find: 1965 Shelby Mustang GT 350

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This is definitely one of those very special and rare finds. It isn’t exactly a barn find, it’s more of a garage find, but that’s alright given what it is! It’s the amazing story of a fully documented, truly original, first-year Shelby GT 350.

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I’m just going to hit on the important parts of this story, as it is really worth your time to read the whole thing. You can find the story from our friends at Hot Rod Magazine,

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The story of the Shelby Mustang starts with Lee Iacocca’s desire to build a low-cost Corvette beating performance car. He asked Cobra creator Carroll Shelby to make it happen. He started with a lightweight, modestly equipped Mustang GT 2+2 fastback, increased output by about 35 hp, took out the back seat, modified suspension to improve handling, added some unique pieces like steering wheel and mags, and thus the Shelby GT 350 was born. Original versions came with four speed transmissions only and no A/C.

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Corvette-beating performance? Yes!

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High volume dealer, Galpin Ford in San Fernando, California signed on to be among the first Shelby dealers. One of the cars that passed through their lot was chassis 5S492. HRM described it as “the quintessential 1965 Shelby,” painted in Wimbledon White with the now-classic blue Shelby stripes, Shelby specific Cragar mag wheels, side-exit exhaust pipes, and importantly, “the 306hp Hi-Po 289 with all the Shelby goodies, including the rare optional finned aluminum oil pan.”

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This car was actually sold by a different dealer, and was used by its original owner for drag racing and Mustang rally events throughout Southern California until 1974, when, with about 44,000 miles, its engine was removed for freshening and then never driven again. The owner finally sold the car in 2009 and the new owner put it through the Barrett-Jackson auction in 2012.

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What happened next is very cool. Barrett-Jackson owners recognized this “as-found” car was too special to restore. So they gathered all its original parts and pieces, reassembled and serviced the Mustang, making sure not to remove any original parts. Then they ran the car through their auction, at no reserve.

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The buyer ended up being Beau Boeckmann (son of Galpin’s Bert and president of the Galpin Auto Collection), who bought this very special Shelby for $385,000, and who has carefully maintained the car to remain as original as possible, with no plans to ever restore it.

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What a great story this is! Even if you are not into Mustangs or its Shelby variants, this is one cool car. This museum is now definitely on my bucket list to visit, with this Mustang as the jewel in the crown. And I am glad to learn that Boeckmann will make sure his Shelby is continued to be driven, as he takes it every August to the Monterey Car Week as well as to other So Cal events, where people get to enjoy seeing it in use. And it’s very cool that Beau Boeckmann appreciates and maintains its originality too. Have any of our readers seen this car?

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All photos courtesy of Hot Rod Magazine.

Comments

  1. Avatar erikj

    you should ask him about the 73 454 gmc muscle truckI just sold ,I believe to him a few months ago

    Like 0
  2. Avatar piper62j

    This one is a jewel.. I’m a fan of Carol Shelby and what he has done for the industry.. Especially enjoyed his return to Ford.
    He’s gone now, but his legacy will go on for quite a while.. You can see how innovative he was in the beginning with this car.. His most heard quote was “more horsepower”. Gotta love it..
    Great find.. Fantastic car..

    Like 0
  3. Avatar Fred W.

    Now I’m wondering if I lived around the corner from one of these as a kid. My friend’s dad had one, definitely had a GT350 stripe and hood stripes, but I remember all the striping being black, and not sure about the scoop. But his was a ’67. I always assumed it was just a Mustang fastback. Maybe there was a ’67 model made to resemble the Shelby? His dad also had a ’67 SS396, the two cars qualifying him as the coolest dad in town. Mine had an LTD four door sedan with no air.

    Like 0
  4. Avatar Luke Fitzgerald

    House money for a flash falcon

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Roger

    When my oldest brother came home from Viet Nam, he went to purchase a car. There was a 1966 Chevy Impala Convertible setting next to a ’66 GT350 with plexiglass in place of the rear vents. My brother wanted to impress the ladies so he bought the convertible. But…… he told his best friend about the GT. His friend immediately went and bought it. And he only paid $1500 for it. Of course those were 1969 dollars. Yes, I did get to ride in it and yes it would RUN. What a fantastic little pony car, a real horse if you know what I mean. I only wish I could find out what happen to the car after I left home for the war….. Best to all who Served, then and now…..

    Like 0
  6. Avatar RoughDiamond

    As a friend of mine used to say “Them that ‘gots’ (lots of expendable income) gets”.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Mike Williams

    You have to wonder why Shelby didn’t use the round 140 speedometer that was available about the same time as these came out.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Mike

      The round speedo was a 66 thing.

      Like 0
      • Avatar Mike Williams

        they used it on the ’65 GT and delux’s starting in early 65

        Like 0
  8. Avatar Shayne Jenkins

    Remember seeing this car at Barrett Jackson when it sold. Way too cool. Would take this over a restored one any day. Beautiful car.

    Like 0

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