The Shelby Mustang is a high-performance variant of the Ford Mustang, built by Shelby American from 1965 to 1967 and by the Ford Motor Company from 1968 to 1970. In 2005 Ford revived the Shelby nameplate for a high-performance version of the fifth-generation Mustang.
Shelby Mustang at a glance
| Maker | Shelby American 1965–1967; Ford 1968–1970; Ford and Shelby from 2005 |
|---|---|
| First generation | 1965–1970 |
| Base car | Ford Mustang fastback |
| 1965 engine | 4.7 L (289 cu in) HiPo V8, 306 hp |
| 1965 production | 562 GT350 |
| 1966 production | 2,378, of which 1,003 for Hertz |
| 1967 addition | GT500 with the 7.0 L (428 cu in) V8 |
| Ford-built cars | 1968–1970, assembled at Ionia, Michigan |
| Revival | 2005, fifth-generation Mustang |
| 2007 GT500 | 5.4 L supercharged V8, 450–500 hp |
| 2013 GT500 | 5.8 L supercharged V8, 662 hp |
| Emblem | the Cobra snake, shared with the AC Cobra |
History of the Shelby Mustang
1965–1966: the GT350
The first Shelby Mustang appeared in 1965 as the GT350, based on the ‘sportsroof’ fastback of the first-generation Mustang. Work began at Shelby American while production of the AC Cobra was winding down, and the two cars shared the Cobra emblem and a similar paint scheme. All 1965–66 cars used the Windsor 289 HiPo V8, modified with a large four-barrel carburettor to give 306 hp. The 1965 car was built for the racetrack: only 562 were made, all in Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue rocker stripes, and the full-size spare tyre replaced the rear seat so the car qualified as a two-seat sports car. The 1966 model became more comfortable, adding a rear seat, optional colours and an optional automatic gearbox. Total 1966 production was 2,378, including 1,003 fastbacks bought by Hertz for its Rent-A-Racer programme.
1967–1970: bigger and plusher
The 1967 Shelby was redesigned from the ground up on the new Mustang, with Thunderbird tail lights, a flip-up spoiler and twin bonnet scoops. From 1967 the GT350 was joined by the GT500 with a 7.0-litre big-block V8. At the end of 1967 Shelby lost the lease on its Los Angeles airport factory, and from 1968 the cars were built under Ford control at Ionia, Michigan. By 1969 Carroll Shelby was no longer involved in the programme, and the GT350 and GT500 had become largely styling packages on a standard Mustang.
The revival
In 2005 Ford brought the Shelby name back for a high-performance version of the fifth-generation Mustang. The 2007 GT500 was shown at the New York International Auto Show with a 5.4-litre supercharged V8 of 450–500 hp and 610 N·m, a Tremec six-speed, a tuned chassis, 18-inch wheels and Brembo brakes. Output rose over the years: the 2009 GT500 reached 540 hp, and in 2013 a new 5.8-litre supercharged V8 pushed the figure to 662 hp, making it the most powerful production V8 of its time. Hertz returned to the Rent-A-Racer idea in 2016 for the fiftieth anniversary.
Design and features
- Cobra identity: the snake emblem, stripes and Cobra valve covers linked the Mustang to the AC Cobra.
- Ford V8s: from the 289 HiPo to the 428, 5.4 and 5.8-litre supercharged units.
- Shelby conversion: early cars were shipped from Ford to Shelby for engine, brake and chassis work.
- Racing pedigree: the 1965 GT350R won the SCCA B-Production championship three years running.
Shelby Mustang versions
- GT350 (1965–1966): the original small-block car.
- GT350R (1965): 34 race-specification cars.
- GT350H (1966): the Hertz Rent-A-Racer fastbacks.
- GT500 (1967 onwards): the big-block model, described separately.
- GT500 (2007 onwards): the revived supercharged car.
- Super Snake: the most powerful tuning version, revived in 2017.
The GT350 and GT500 have their own pages, Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT500. The car that started the line is in the Shelby Cobra article, and the rest of the range is in the Shelby collection.
Sources
- Shelby Mustang, English Wikipedia: GT350 history, production, racing
- Shelby Mustang, German Wikipedia: 1966 Hertz cars, 1967 design, modern models
