Phoenix Restorations

1966 Shelby GT-350 Supercharged, number matching, fully sorted showroom quality with documented history from day 1.

1966 Shelby GT350

VIN # SFM6S1108

· Numbers-matching, original engine and drivetrain

· All numbers confirmed by SAAC

· Upgraded with period correct Paxton Supercharger

· Factory red

· Factory four-speed

· Factory documentation

· Listed in the Shelby Registry

· Also has an alternative full 5-Speed set-up in the trunk

Supercharged 289 CI HiPo V-8 advertised at 377 HP. Original four-speed manual transmission car, front coil springs and rear leaf spring suspension, power-assisted hydraulic front disc and rear drum brakes; wheelbase: 108"

When it debuted midyear in 1964, the Mustang created the "pony car", and it quickly became Ford's most successful model launch since the Model A. In order to make the affordable to the masses, Ford used the existing Falcon platform and borrowed common components already in production to keep the costs down. Despite its well received sporty appearance, performance was lacking, and when the first of the muscle cars began arriving on the scene, Ford wanted to create a package that would transform the Mustang into a proper sports car capable of competing with the Chevrolet Corvette at the race track.

Initially, Ford was rebuffed by the Sports Car Club of America – the sanctioning body for amateur sports car racing - as the Mustang was a 2+2 design and thus not a true sports car. Ford then turned to former racer and resident performance expert Carroll Shelby to rectify the situation. The result was the 1965 Shelby GT350 purpose-built to homologate the Ford Mustang for SCCA racing. The original GT350 exemplified Ford’s “Total Performance” campaign and conferred an unbeatable high-performance image that the "pony car" lacked. Starting with a standard production Ford Mustang GT built at the San Jose plant, the Shelby was transformed into essentially a racecar for the street at the Shelby American facility in Venice, California. After numerous performance modifications and subtle styling changes to visually distinguish it from the base Mustang, the GT350 was ready for the competition. On the track, the GT350 immediately accomplished its mission and dominated the opposition to secure three straight SCCA B-Production championships for Shelby and Ford from 1965 through 1967. Just 562 of these potent performers were built for 1965 in order to homologate the Shelby as a production sports car for SCCA competition.

Initially Ford viewed Carroll Shelby's operation as a specialty shop, and the success of the GT350 on the track and the favorable publicity it generated justified the expense in building a limited number of high performance sports car for competition use. However, the public response to the 1965 model convinced Ford's marketing managers that they could sell a lot more than a few hundred cars and the potential profits that would come with increased production. However, this would require making several changes in production thereby giving the car wider appeal and at the same time reducing production costs.

Aside from the elimination of a few Shelby-unique features, most of the changes for 1966 were cosmetic coupled with the addition of several new options including a choice of color. Most notably clear plexiglass rear quarter windows replaced the rear quarter vents and louvers, and functional side scoops were installed on the quarter panels in order to duct air to the rear brakes. The front grills were changed as well giving the GT350 a more distinctive look from the standard Mustang. The optional GT instrument cluster was installed, and for the first time Shelbys were available with an automatic transmission, a fold-down rear seat, and even an optional factory supercharger.

The GT350 offered here is one of 1,365 non-Hertz Shelby GT350s produced in 1966. It was assigned the Shelby number SFM6S1108. Upon completion at Shelby's LAX facility, the car was shipped to Reynolds Motors, Inc. in Syracuse, New York on March 22, 1966. A few months later, it was purchased by its first owner William S. Whitley of Endwell, New York for $4400 on June 29th of that same year. This Shelby is an original Candy Apple red car with factory white Le Mans stripes, and it was fitted with a fiberglass hood with a steel frame and 14" aluminum 10-spoke wheels as documented in the Shelby Registry. At the time of purchase, Mr. Whitley specified that the dealer install 15" steel wheels and an AM radio. The Shelby would remain in Whitley's ownership for the next 39 years until it was sold to James Clark in 2005 with just over 55,000 miles on the odometer. After his purchase, Mr. Clark commissioned a full rotisserie restoration of the car to exacting standards using NOS parts and a complete mechanical rebuild at which time a period correct Paxton supercharger was sourced and installed on the car. The Shelby was sold a few years later to Reid Jenson from whom Phoenix Restorations acquired the car.

SFM6S1108 retains its original numbers-matching 'Hi-Po' engine and Borg Warner T-10 transmission. The hidden Ford VIN stamps have been verified by Howard Pardee and SAAC as corresponding with the Shelby number on file, and it is listed in the Shelby Registry. Additionally, the Shelby is documented by copies of the dealer invoice and shipping order as well as paperwork from the original owner, and the original owner’s manual remain with the car. This fully restored 1966 Shelby GT350 is a very correct and original example worthy of the show field, but with the added power from the Paxton supercharger, acceleration is exhilarating and begs to be driven.

Speaking to provenance there are multiple receipts down through the years from various owners. Reid had the engine rebuilt and installed roller rockers and generally “explosion proofed” the engine with high end components while retaining the original block and heads. Multiple point of sale documents accompany the car. In 2019 the underside of the car was detailed to correct original factory paint specs with red oxide primer, detailed upper and lower a-arms and a detailed engine bay.