1965 Mustang

1965 Shelby Mustang

The Shelby Mustangs proved to be very fast and successful in competition. Like the exotic Shelby Cobras these extremely powerful sports cars were street legal and were sold commercially. Though the Shelby Mustangs remained rare, these cars had started off the "Muscle Car" era of the 1960's: awe-inspiring compact cars fitted with huge engines which accelerated like rockets and were the dream car of every American teenage boy. Unfortunately, the Shelby Mustang became a victim of it's own success: the tremendous amount of accidents with GT cars, the high insurance rates, the increase in gas prices and imported smaller cars, the cheaper less refined competition meant the end for the Shelby Mustang in 1970.

The first ever Shelby Mustang was introduced in 1965. They were all fastbacks without a rear seat and the spare tire was mounted under the rear windshield in the back. The 289 was hopped up to pump out 306 hp. All 1965 Shelby Mustangs were Wimbledon White fastbacks with black interior and Guardsman Blue stripes. They also featured rocker panel stripes with the GT350 name. The fuel door wore the pony & tribar Mustang emblem. The engine was a modified K-code 289 hp (216 kW) Windsor V8 with special "Cobra" valve covers, tri-Y headers, a special intake manifold and Holley carburetor increased power from 217 to 306 hp (162 to 228 kW).

The 1965 Shelby Mustang was actually a tuner sports car from the 1960s. It was a series of Ford Mustangs which were specially modified by Carroll Shelby's company and sold as a series. The program was factory-sponsored and production was eventually moved in-house. The spirit of the series continues today in the special Mustang Cobra models.

Unique Performance began making the 1965 Shelby G.T. 350 SR Mustangs in 2004. The cars were built using 1965 and 1966 fastbacks, but modern engine and suspension technology. The first unit produced sold at the 2004 Barrett-Jackson Auction for $151,200. Unique Performance also makes 1967 Shelby G.T.500 "Eleanor" replicas.