Footnotes

• Ford created a new class of car almost overnight with the introduction of the Mustang sports coupé part way through the 1964 season, catching the rest of the US auto industry off guard. Brainchild of Lee Iacocca - subsequent saviour of the Chrysler Corporation – the Mustang is one of the most remarkable automotive success stories of modern times and arguably the pinnacle of his long career with Ford. Aimed at the affluent young, for whom a car was as much a lifestyle statement as means of transport, the Mustang succeeded brilliantly, achieving sales in excess of a quarter million by the end of '64. This remarkable debut was followed by a staggering 524,791 sales in 1965, earning Ford a fortune.
  Legendary Texan racing driver Carroll Shelby's team had been campaigning Ford's Mustang 'pony car' with considerable success in North America, winning the SCCA's B-Production title three years running in the mid-1960s. Capitalising on his success, Shelby began manufacturing modified Mustangs, which were officially sanctioned and sold through selected Ford dealerships. The first Shelby Mustang - the GT350 - arrived in 1965 powered by a modified version of Ford's 289ci (4.7-litre) small-block V8 producing 306bhp, with options of a 340-360bhp unit in competition trim or 400bhp supercharged. A four-speed Borg-Warner manual gearbox was the stock transmission on early Shelby Mustangs, though a heavy-duty, three-speed automatic soon became available as an option.
  The running gear was up-rated appropriately to cope with the GT350's increased performance, though outwardly there was little to distinguish Shelby's GT350 from the standard product apart from a pair of broad 'racing' stripes down the body centreline. On the open road there was, of course, no comparison.
  One of the great iconic musclecars of the 1960s, the Shelby Mustang continued to be based on the stock version, receiving the latter's styling changes and mechanical improvements while retaining its own distinctive special features until production ended in 1970.
  A 1968 model manufactured in December 1967, this GT350 has Ford's 302ci (5.0-litre) V8 engine that was introduced in modified form for the model that year. The car comes with the all-important Marti Report confirming all numbers matching (chassis, engine and gearbox). Built at Ford's Metuchen plant and retailed via Yates Stevens Ford of Kirkwood, Missouri, it is the 233rd Shelby scheduled for production and was delivered finished in Wimbledon White, its present colour scheme. The Mustang was equipped with the C-4 automatic transmission and standard (3.5:1) axle ratio, and ordered with the following options: extra cooling package, visibility group, wheel well mouldings, sport deck rear seat, power steering, power front disc brakes, tilt-away steering column, AM radio, interior décor group, heavy duty battery, tachometer and trip odometer.
  Completely original apart from new paintwork, this GT350 has covered only 17,800 miles from new and is described by the vendor as in generally very good condition, having previously formed part of a private collection of American muscle cars. The car is offered with a copy of the aforementioned Mart Report, current MoT/tax and Swansea V5 registration document.

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Category: Motoring / Motor Cars

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