Chance are if you're an automotive enthusiast, you know that the 1960s was the start of the muscle car
era
and beginning of the decade of rebellion. During this time, Ford pushed the envelope in terms of racing,
motorsports, automotive design, and making the boundaries on what is capable of an American automotive
manufacturer. These events and variables came to the development and inception of the superb sports
coupe in American history in the Ford
Mustang. Launched on April 17, 1964,
the Mustang was the
culmination of years of innovation off and on the racetrack while researching what baby boomer teenagers
were looking for in a first car. Thanks to icons like Lee Iacocca, Gale Halderman, and most especially
the legend himself, Carroll
Shelby they together created a segment of cars that would start a revolution!
Shelby is solely responsible for taking the criticized Mustang from mule to racehorse; he always
said: “you can't put a racehorse into a mule,” but luckily, he could do just that. Using years of racing
experience, engineering, and vehicle dynamics, he took the 1965 Mustang Fastback from automotive
journalists called a secretaries car to a complete turn-key track ready monster. By adding
chassis bracing, bigger brakes, upgrading the 289 cubic inch Ford V8 to over 300 horsepower, and
giving it stiffer suspension created the infamous Shelby GT350. This
pony turned venomous Cobra used the same infusion of
technology and innovation that Shelby had already put into the almighty 427 Cobra roadster.
For many years, it has been said if the Mustang never received the help from Carroll Shelby called on by
Lee Iacocca, it probably wouldn't have been the incredible legend and success it is today. Shelby knew
above the competition that it would take to put the Mustang ahead of the competition, including
Chevrolet and Mopar. Without the Mustang, there wouldn't be the Camaro and Challenger to compete within
the category. Hence why it is the original pony to start the entire segment for decades to come. This
knowledge, experience, and winning expertise from the success of the 1966 Ford
GT40 win at 24 Hours of
Le Mans pushed the boundaries and partnership between both Ford Motor Company and Shelby American for
decades to
come.
Throughout this article, you will get a complete breakdown of how the Shelby GT350 came to be, and every
model to be conceived!
Shortly after the Mustang shocked the world at the world's fair in New York City on April 17, 1964,
people everywhere were raving about the all-new pony to hit the streets. Only one
problem faced the Mustang it was deemed a secretaries car by automotive journalists. Of course, during
the
mid-1960s, you had Ford going to toe to toe with Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the legendary
GT40. Heading the charge of that was Carroll
Shelby, the man who became a
legendary racing driver throughout the United States and worldwide. Luckily, it became a no-brainer for
Lee Iacocca to call on
the man who led the charge to develop the GT40 to see if he could turn the so-called secretaries car
into a formidable racehorse.
Shelby always noted you couldn't make a racehorse out of a mule. With full backing from Lee Iacocca and
Ford Motor Company, Carroll went to work with quickly using his expertise, witt, and his talented team
at Shelby American. Using the base of a 1965 Mustang Fastback, team Shelby went to work to develop the
racehorse Ford had dreamed about from the getgo. Using similar methods as they did towards the GT40.
Team Shelby upgraded the standard '65 Mustang Fastback by upgrading components such as braking, springs,
suspension, chassis stiffness, engine intake, carburetor, and fuel to finally give the extra gear the
Mustang needed to go from mule to racehorse.
The unique thing about the 1965 Shelby
GT350 is painted in one color
scheme, Wimbledon white with painted
blue stripes. Shelby thought he would have something automotive enthusiasts would run to immediately if
he could give the GT350 a sense of style with the muscle, handling, and sophistication. Well Carroll
was right, from a historical standpoint, most automotive historians pay tribute to the success of the
Mustang due to three individuals Carroll Shelby,
Gale Halderman, and Lee
Iacocca. Shelby took the mule
out of the pony, turning into the racehorse, Halderman for the Mustang's original design, and Lee
Iacocca creating the vision for America's original pony car. From this point on, the American automotive
and racing industry would forever be changed in the name of performance.
1965 Shelby GT350R
If history tells us anything, Carroll Shelby was never satisfied with the
status quo of performance
throughout the automotive world. Shelby always said that his favorite car was still the next one to
ensure the GT350 would stay relevant in the eyes of Ford Motor Company and enthusiasts alike. He had to
make sure he went all out by creating a race version in the GT350R. This
street version of the already
potent GT350 had one purpose in mind go as fast around a racecourse as possible with minimal
restrictions. Team Shelby went to work to envision a racer with all the excellent characteristics of the
GT350 but amplified to eleven. They completely strip the GT350 of anything not needed, including the
back seat, radio, air conditioning, carpet, interior trim, and bucket seats.
All of this was to ensure they could get maximum power to weight distribution front to rear so that the
289 cubic-inch Ford V8 could use all of its 350 horsepower to its benefit. The GT350R was purpose-built
to go racing against the likes of Chevrolet and Mopar. What makes the GT350R so incredible over the
standard GT350 is the addition of stiffer suspension, roll cage, free-flowing exhaust, Holley
four-barrel carburetor, and cylinder head valve work. These additions to the GT350R helped inject the
Shelby venom to which the automotive performance is very accustomed.
While the GT350R competed in races and sanctioning bodies, it became a force to be reckoned with among
its competitors. One of the most prominent racers that strapped into the vicious beast is Ken Miles.
Like Shelby, Miles became a distinguished name in racing due to the successes he built on tracks across
America. Most notably, the victory he accomplished was with Team Shelby in the legendary GT40 at the 24
Hours of Le Mans. Fast-forward to today; the 1965 Shelby GT350R is revered as the original Mustang that
started all the success on the racetrack.
1967 Shelby GT350
Moving forward towards the latter half of the 1960s, Ford, Shelby, and Mustang engineers continued to
push performance boundaries. After the unbelievable success and launch of the Mustang in 1964 and thanks
to Shelby's influence, the original pony car was full-fledged motorsports and performance. So heading
into 1967, Ford knew they would have to evolve the Mustang further, and once again, they called on
Carroll Shelby to answer the call. Developing on the Fastback profile, the '67 Mustang grew in length
with a longer wheelbase, hood, and even more distinctive fastback profile.
Like the original GT350, 1967 turned things up to another level of style, performance, and innovation.
Starting at $3,995 with a mandatory $250 list of options to come equipped. There was only one engine
option to go with the GT350 in a high output 289 cubic inch Ford V8, continuing the original Shelby's
legacy. Producing a whopping 306 horsepower at 6,000 RPM and 329 lb/ft of torque at 4,200 RPM, at this
time, it was a staggering amount of horsepower for a naturally aspirated engine to come straight out of
the factory. To transfer all this power to the ground, enthusiasts and customers had the choice of
choosing a C4 automatic transmission, which was the most popular option, or could choose their GT350
with a four-speed manual gearbox.
Putting it all together with the upgraded design made the '67 Shelby GT350
one of the most timeless
models to be had even to this day. As decades passed, enthusiasts said in the Mustang and Shelby
community that if it weren't for every GT350 model's progression and its big brother in the GT500,
American's original pony car might not be still in production for as long as it has been today!
1969-1970 Shelby GT350
Heading into the end of a decade of rebellion, triumph, revelation, and innovation, Ford and Shelby knew
they had to ensure the GT350 went off with a bang. Ever since the Mustang was introduced to the public,
it has grown in size and capability; the 1969 and 1970 aren't any different. The wheelbase, track width,
and the hood was the longest of any ponies preceding its forthcoming. To keep the tradition alive of
power, elegance, design, and sophistication. Unlike the past two GT350s, the mid-cycle refresh ensured
that the Mustang could compete against its competitors such as Camaro, Firebird, Challenger, and
Charger.
During this height of the original muscle car era, the big three American automotive manufacturers were
throwing punches left and right to see who could produce the most USA muscle possible. Luckily for
Shelby and Ford, they have had the edge for years due to the Mustang's innovation and racing legacy.
Using the legendary 351 Cubic Inch Windsor V8, Shelby was able to evolve the GT350 into the jack of all
trades, including the track, street, and a daily driver. With a completely refreshed look, stunning
bodywork, and the muscle to go with it, it became like all other GT350s, a revered image of what the two
icons in Ford and Shelby can do together.
Unfortunately, 1970 would be the very last year of the first generation Shelby GT350s to hit America's
tracks and streets. After this, both Ford and Shelby would go there separate ways for many years that
until 2007 when they finally reunited to bring back the infamous Shelby GT500 to dealers and enthusiasts
again.
2015-2020 Shelby GT350
Precisely fifty years after the original GT350 launched into Ford showrooms, Mustang engineers knew they
had to bring back the iconic American automotive legend. Coming upon the 50th anniversary of the
legendary GT350, Ford made it a mission to bring back the track monster to the streets, road courses,
and America tracks. To make the S550 GT350 happen, it couldn't have happened without the all-new 2015
Mustang. Using the all-new chassis and independent rear suspension, Ford Performance engineers went to
work to develop the most sophisticated rest that had ever been designed for either a Mustang or Shelby.
Integrating racecar technology in the form of Magnaride technology into the shocks, dynamic vehicle
engineers could precisely take the GT350 to the next level without giving up daily functionality. The
key highlight to the 2015-2020 Shelby GT350 is the technological marvel in the 5.2L 'Voodoo" Flat Plane
Crank 32V Ti-VCT V8 that Ford
Performance engineered. This magnificent
engine was the first-ever Ford engine to implement a flat-plane
crankshaft, which helped the Shelby to rev out to 8,250 RPM. Unlike a conventional cross-plane crank, a
flat-plane crankshaft allows the engine to have a different firing order, which in turn allows the
engine to rev more freely than its Coyote 5.0L V8
counterpart. The Voodoo
engine produces a whopping 526
horsepower and 429 lb/ft of torque, propelling the GT350 to 60 MPH in only 4.1 seconds. To transmit all
this American muscle to the ground is the six-speed Tremec TR-3160,
which was the only transmission that could give an enthusiast total engagement while maintaining control
at all times.
Altogether, the S550 GT350 laid the foundation for all other Shelbys and Mustangs to follow. Ford
Performance committed to living up to the lineage of Carroll Shelby
himself. With the combination of
style, performance, ingenuity, and USA muscle, the 2015-2020 GT350 lived up the original 1965 and then
some.
Shelby GT350 Engine Specs
Measurement
Technical Specification
Configuration
Aluminum block and heads
Intake Manifold
Composite shell with scroll design and charge motion control valves
10 quarts 5W-50 full synthetic with filter (5,000-mile service interval, 3,000 for
heavy
use)
Redline
8,250 RPM
2016-2020 Shelby GT350R
Like the original 1965 "R," Ford Performance and Mustang engineers alike knew they had to push
the
boundaries on what a modern GT350R could evolve to become the most prolific factory-built Shelby
in
history. Starting with the foundation of the all-new S550 chassis, which incorporates a
lightweight
unibody
design integrating with a world-first since the legendary 2000 Cobra R was
introduced in the independent
rear suspension. Unlike previous modern Shelby's, equipped with a solid rear axle, the IRS (Independent
Rear Suspension) revolutionized the S550 Mustang and, most importantly, the 2016 GT350R.
Pushing the boundaries on the foundation on the base GT350, Ford
Performance engineers ensured to take
things past eleven. Using revolutionary technology such as carbon fiber wheels, which usually found on
hypercars such as the Koenigsegg Agera R, it was a first for a sub $100,000 sports car to use this
technology. Ford
Performance engineers knew that they had to pull as much
weight out of the venomous
snake as possible, whether rotational, chassis, or interior. Everything was meticulous looked over to
ensure form & function.
Unlike the standard GT350, the R comes equipped with heightened aerodynamics, including a
standard carbon fiber rear wing to increase downforce at speed while incorporating a larger front
splitter to keep the venomous Cobra on the ground while hitting the apexes on the road course. Even
further, engineers knew that hardcore racers and enthusiasts alike would need the " Voodoo" engine to
sing louder
to improve performance. To make this happen, drivetrain engineers deleted the mid-muffler
resonators to increase airflow while turning up the volume up to eleven. For reassurance,
components such as larger rotor, higher temp brake pads, rear differential cooler, oil
cooler, and transmission cooler are integrated to maintain cold temperatures out on the
track. Finally, to ensure the S550 GT350R stays stuck to the ground, each is equipped
standard with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, basically in plan jane terms street legal
slicks. Altogether, the 2016-2020 Shelby GT350Rs is the most potent naturally aspirated
track Mustang ever to hit the road or the track!
Shelby GT350R Engine Specs
Measurement
Technical Specification
Configuration
Aluminum block and heads
Intake Manifold
Composite shell with scroll design and charge motion control valves
