This exceptional very early-build 1965 GT350 is presented with no missing or altered components from its build, with all of the rare Shelby unique parts from 1965 intact. Also of great importance is the rust- and damage-free original body shell that displays all of the Shelby American modifications performed in just the one year of 1965. Historical research, along with supporting documentation, reveals that SFM5S089 was completed at Shelby American Inc. in late1964 and then shipped to the Ford/Shelby dealership (Hayward Ford Motors) in Hayward, California for retail sale. This was an original California built and delivered car with black plates from new! The owner commissioned Tony Conover to complete a very comprehensive rotisserie and concourse-level restoration in the mid 2000’s, returning the car both cosmetically and mechanically to like-new. This outstanding GT350 has had a careful few miles since restoration, but is completely sorted to deliver a driving experience no different than it did in 1965. Goodyear Blue Dot tires, 4-speed manual transmission. Matching numbers car with Ford numbers verified. The car is a virtual time-capsule with only 29,283 miles, which are believed to be original.
The GT350 offered here, chassis no. SFM 5S089, is an outstanding example of a true automotive legend. Starting with Ford’s already exceptional “K-Code” Mustang fastback, Carroll Shelby and his team at Shelby American stocked the GT350 with numerous suspension upgrades, improved safety equipment, and provided the engine with approximately 35 more horsepower than the standard Ford “Hi-Po” 289 V-8. The end result was a production class-racing dynamo, which easily met the challenge from other cars of the day, including the Jaguar E-Type, Sunbeam Tiger, as well as arch rival Corvette. To this day, the GT350 remains an ever-popular choice for vintage racing and touring events around the world.
Chassis 5S089 is one of the earliest examples produced and known as a “two-digit” car. The early GT350s, numbers 015–113, were the group of cars produced for homologation for SCCA racing. Additionally, given the early production sequence, this example benefits from the trunk-mounted battery, which appears (approximately) on serial numbers 001–338. The battery relocation was found to be one of the more time-consuming modifications, and in the interest of saving time, the battery was left in the front of the car on later production examples. In addition to the relocated battery, the early production cars benefit from unique features, including their fiberglass hood design and construction.
Despite debuting more than 55 years ago, the 1965 GT350 remains a dramatic and visceral driving experience& a true blue-chip investment vehicle. There is nothing subtle about the car; it is designed to go fast, handle well, and of course to look good while doing both. GT350 5S053 is certainly no exception to this long-established rule. It presents in beautiful condition throughout and remains overwhelmingly original. It retains its correct engine block, heads, timing covers, transmission, carburetor, rear end,, as well as the proper date-coded GT350 sheet metal .
This car has spent the last decade and a half in a private, climate-controlled storage warehouse in northern California. The January-April 2019 edition of the NADA Classic, Collectible, Exotic and Muscle Car Appraisal Guide and Directory put this cars value at $553,500, making the ask price of $500,000 quite a good deal for a discerning collector or enthusiast. Pay close attention, as early 1965 GT 350’s do not come up for sale often -especially in this immaculate condition.
Extensively photo documented and comes with the following copies of original paperwork:
1. Handwritten invoice instruction dated 3/30/65.
2. Customer file invoice #A 73 dated 3/30/65 from Shelby American to Hayward Ford Motors.
3. Delivery receipt #36 dated 3/31/65 listing (4) GT350s shipped to Haryward Ford Motors by Hadley truck.
4. Letter dated 3/31/65 from Shelby's Sales Manager, Robert Copher, to Hayward Motors notifying them of the shipment of (4) GT350s.
5. Warranty and policy form #263 dated 6/29/65 for replacement of a defective gauge oil pressure gauge.
6. Credit memo #P 3057 undated for the work done in #5 above.
