In the world of Mustangs, there are cars that have a great street presence. And then there are cars, like this exclusive 1965 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350SR Restomod. It’s a wicked manifestation of high octane and pure adrenaline! The first of 40 cars built to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Shelby’s storied GT350R and 427 Cobra. In addition, this magazine-featured pony could be the ultimate small block, Ford.
427 cubic inches of Shelby Performance V8 roars to life, shattering any thinly veiled delicacy. Custom suspension and a muscular Tremec 5-speed feed it modern performance poseurs plus the rare golden age classic. If you want a pedigreed metal that combines legendary heritage with new DNA, this is it.
MAKING EXCLUSIVITY MORE EXCLUSIVE
Like so many things modern-era Shelby, the story of this continuation GT350 is a bit of a convoluted tale. But, like so many things classic-era Shelby, that story’s part of what makes the car so cool and so collectible. Back in 2006, Shelby authorized Dallas’ Unique Performance to build 40 GT350SRs. This was done to commemorate the 40th anniversary of both the GT350R and the 427 Cobra.
Unfortunately, that was about the time Unique Performance collapsed under financial strain. That meant Shelby GT350SR 002 ended up being even more exclusive than originally planned. And today, this well-documented Ford rolls as one of the coolest, fastest, and most lust-worthy Mustangs on the planet!
Shelby’s GT range added power and aggressive styling cues to the muscle car market. Small parking lamps and dazzling Hella headlights flank the front of this Silva Silver coupe’s competition-style front.
Polished lanyards pin a fiberglass hood in front of fresh glass encased in polished trim. In addition, it has satin wipers, satin mirrors, and proper plexi quarter windows. Furthermore, pipes and color-keyed stripes frame forceful side scoops and satin-finish door handles. Lastly, satin-trimmed taillights spotlight a pinned decklid, custom cobra symbol, “G.T.350SR” badge, and color-keyed bumper.
351 ROUNDED TO 427 EQUALS 585
This pony’s bored and stroked Shelby Performance 351 combines big block power with tiny block merit. At the top of the all-aluminum mill, polished stacks convert air into 42 psi of high octane fossils using DC&O fuel injection, stainless Earl’s fluid lines, and a compact Auto Gage pressure gauge.
A resulting air/fuel mixture makes its way from a lightweight aluminum intake to aluminum Shelby heads, which ride under polished, Shelby-branded valve covers. However, when those heads flood the cylinders, a billet distributor sequences spark between an MSD Blaster HVC coil, MSD 6AL ignition, and thick Ford Racing plug wires. Spent gases roar through coated JBA headers.
A customized Be Cool radiator, mounted between an aluminum Ford water pump, a polished Canton expansion tank, and SPAL electric puller fans, provides the brutal engine’s cooling. However, a polished Powermaster alternator spins above cool air conditioning and convenient power steering thanks to a quality Concept One pulley. Moreover, the car’s textured engine bay’s exceptionally well done. Moreover, it features details like polished bracing, trick dipstick, and a fully finished hood.
1965 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350SR Restomod – MAKING ATHLETICISM MORE ATHLETIC
At the bottom of this Mustang, a freshened undercarriage reflects solid, undercoated floors that are bolted to a roster of top-notch components. Furthermore, behind the buff Windsor, a tough hydraulic clutch kicks a slick Tremec 5-speed. Opposite that gearbox, a proven Currie 9-inch hides a hot Truetrac differential and sporty 3.25 gears behind a Chassisworks FAB9 housing.
That axle pushes a full Unique Performance chassis that’s dampened by a quartet of QA-1 coil-over-shocks. Turns come courtesy of Chassisworks power rack-and-pinion steering. However, braking is equally class, with “SHELBY” branded Baer calipers and four drilled and slotted rotors benefitting from adjustable proportioning and beefy Shelby ductwork.
The aforementioned headers dump spent gases into large diameter pipes that employ an H-shaped crossover and rowdy SpinTech mufflers. Furthermore, torque shakes the ground through 17-inch Foose blades, which twist 255/40ZR17 Nitto NT05s in front of 315/35ZR17 Nitto NT05s. Moreover, everything from this coupe’s blow proof bell housing and Unique Performance subframe connectors to its Canton deep-sump oil pan contributes to an unforgettable driving experience.
1965 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350SR Restomod – SIGNED AND SEALED
Open the doors and you’ll find a striking blue cockpit that’s benefitted from a number of stylish and functional upgrades. However, front-and-center, Shelby-branded, hi-back buckets sit proudly under a 4-point roll bar and 4-point G-FORCE safety harnesses. In front of those seats, a padded, dual-cowl dash centers Shelby signature telemetry and MP3-capable Kenwood audio behind glossy silver trim and levers for modern climate control.
Below that dash, color-keyed carpet anchors themed floor mats between Shelby-branded pedals, a billet Shelby shifter, and layered door panels. In front of the driver, a polished and wood-rimmed steering wheel laps a polished, tilting column. And behind the passengers, a fifth Foose wheel fronts a clean trunk that hides a big fuel cell next to a powerful Optima battery.
Storied and equally seductive, this Mustang absolutely sets the bar for top-of-the-line pony cars. If you’re the kind of gearhead who demands the best, and understands that quality doesn’t compromise, you’re well aware of the bliss this Ford offers.
Related Questions
- What year is the best Shelby gt500?
The 2020 Shelby GT500 is the best-performing Mustang to ever exit a Ford assembly plant. - How much is a 1967 Shelby gt500 worth?
1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake – $1.3MThe aforementioned Eleanor GT500 topped the million-dollar mark, but this extraordinarily rare Shelby GT500 Super Snake went even further with a sold price of $1.3 million, making it the most expensive Mustang to ever sell at auction at the time. - What is the most expensive Mustang ever sold?
The Highland Green 1968 Ford Mustang GT featured in the film “Bullitt” was sold Friday at a Florida auction house for $3.74 million. The sale at Mecum Kissimmee marks the most expensive Mustang ever sold, surpassing a 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake that sold last year for $2.2 million, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
- What is the difference between 1965 and 1966 Mustang? Although 1965 and 1966 Mustangs are very similar in design, there are easy ways to tell the difference between the two. The first place to look is the Mustang’s grille. A 1965 Mustang will feature vertical grille bars. A 1966 Ford Mustang will feature the running horse without a vertical grille bar.
