A kinder, gentler GT350 came out for 1966, with subtle styling chang- es, color choices, rear-exit exhaust and a rear seat option. A unique partnership with Hertz resulted in a run of special GT350 H (for Hertz) cars exclusively for the rental car giant, which they rented to mem- bers of the “Hertz Sports Car Club.” Including 1,001 Hertz cars, a total of 2,378 1966 GT350s were produced.
In 1967, the Mustang received a body style change, and so did the Shelby Mustang. Even more chang- es differentiated it from the Ford version, including a new fiberglass nose, hood, decklid and taillight panel, along with four body side scoops and a roll bar with retract- able shoulder harnesses. But the big news was the introduction of the big-block 428-cid GT500. While it looked identical to the GT350, the GT500 had the edge with its dual- quad 428 FE engine, which literally stuffed the Mustang’s engine bay. Thanks to the GT500, and the sexy new look of the 1967 cars, sales jumped to 3,225.
Things really changed for the Shelby Mustangs in 1968. Shelby American turned production of
the Mustangs over to Ford, which in turn had A.O. Smith build the cars in Michigan. What began as a program to trim the fat from the Mustang and make it into a race car had now become a program to build an upscale performance- themed Mustang. Buyers wanted less bone-rattling and booming pipes and more comforts like air conditioning and automatic trans- missions, and Ford was happy to oblige. The 1968 cars combined Shelby style with upgraded suspen- sions and interiors and were aimed at more mature buyers who wanted some grand touring car with their performance. Also new for 1968 was the first production Shelby Mus- tang convertible. And by mid-year buyers could select the GT500 KR, for King of the Road. In place of the standard GT500’s 428 was Ford’s new 428 Cobra Jet engine with ram air, which the company had put into Mustangs to go drag racing. And thanks to the increased produc- tion capacity at A.O. Smith and the positive reaction to all the Shelby Mustangs, it was the best sales year, with 4,451 sold.
With a new Mustang body style, there were more changes for 1969.
Bigger in every dimension, the 1969 Shelby Mustangs again melded looks, luxury and performance. The GT350 now had a 351-cid engine, the GT500 came only with the 428 Cobra Jet and the GT500 KR was gone. At 2,361 units, sales for 1969 were lackluster, possibly because buyers were able to similarly equip a regular Mustang for less money, and the potent Boss 302 and Boss 429 engines were not available in the Shelby versions. Left with a surplus of unsold 1969 Shelby Mustangs, the remaining 789 cars were renumbered, given a modi- fied stripe design and sold as 1970 models. So while technically there was a 1970 model year for Shelby Mustangs, production really died in 1969. And that was it for Shelby.
Beyond Ford
Or was it? In an odd turn of events, Shelby signed on with Chrysler in the early 1980s to produce, yes, Shelby Dodges, but that’s another story (visit
hagerty.com/shelby- chrysler to learn more).
Not one simply to hang it up, Shelby began work in 1994 on his first clean-sheet car — the Series 1.
The original Shelby GT350 was a seriously fast car that was essentially a race-prepped Mustang for the street. Until recently, they were also reasonably accessible compared to a Cobra.
HAGERTY.COM 31
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