1966 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350

Pony car powered by Shelby-tuned Ford 289 cid V8.

1966 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350.jpg; reviewed as representative 1966 Shelby GT350 media, not proof of any individual car's originality.

Builder Shelby American conversion of Ford Mustang fastback

Engine 289 cid V8, commonly documented at 306 hp

Body style 2+2 fastback for regular production

Registry caution Individual-car authenticity should be checked against Shelby serial records

Story

1966 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350

The 1966 Shelby GT350 was Shelby American's independently converted version of the Ford Mustang 2+2 fastback, developed from the high-performance small-block Mustang into a more road-usable Shelby model. This page treats the car as a Shelby American build, not as a normal Ford trim package: Ford supplied the Mustang fastback base, while Shelby American performed the GT350 conversion and assigned Shelby identity records.

The consistently documented street specification centers on a Shelby-tuned 289 cubic-inch Ford V8 rated at 306 hp, with period references tying the package to a Holley four-barrel carburetor, aluminum/high-rise intake equipment, dual exhaust, and GT350 chassis changes. Sources also show that 1966 broadened the model from the more austere 1965 formula: a rear seat returned, an automatic transmission became available, exterior colors expanded beyond Wimbledon White, and the exterior gained 1966-specific cues such as quarter windows and side brake scoops.

Production and authenticity require extra caution. SAAC identifies the registry and factory-record trail as the authority for individual Shelby serial numbers, so this page does not infer authenticity from stripes, badges, captions, or auction descriptions. Public references support the broad production picture, including regular GT350 fastbacks, Hertz GT350H cars, prototypes, drag cars, and experimental convertibles, but any individual car should be resolved against Shelby serial records and supporting Ford VIN evidence before public identity claims are made.

**1966 Ford Shelby GT350 in Blue and White (53519783661).jpg; reviewed as representative 1966 Shelby GT350 media, not proof of any individual car's originality.**crudmucosa via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

A verified original price is not yet available for this car.

Market Observations

High bid $168,000

Apr 30, 2024 · Bring a Trailer
Documented street GT350 6S305, formerly a Ford executive company car, with Shelby American invoice, replacement 289 HiPo V8, four-speed, and a 1991 refurbishment · modified · unknown Reserve-not-met high bid. The car is classified as modified because the archive discloses a replacement engine, long-tube headers, glasspack mufflers, and side-exit exhaust; its Shelby invoice and company-car history support identity but do not make it an original-drivetrain benchmark.
1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 6S305 auction
Auction sale $162,400

Jan 17, 2020 · RM Sotheby's Arizona 2020
Candyapple Red street GT350 SFM6S1518 with SAAC documentation, matching-numbers K-code 289, factory four-speed, and a concours-quality restoration by Tony Conover · restored · concours Sold observation for a catalog-described concours-quality restoration by a marque specialist. SAAC documentation and the matching-numbers engine are reported by the auction archive rather than independently re-authenticated here.
1966 Shelby GT350 SFM6S1518, Arizona 2020 lot 171
Auction sale $187,000

Mar 28, 2015 · RM Sotheby's Fort Lauderdale 2015
Street GT350 SFM6S375 with approximately 40 years in one ownership, reported original engine and sheet metal, factory four-speed, air conditioning, radio, and original Shelby/Cragar wheels · survivor · unknown Sold observation classified as survivor because the catalog emphasizes long ownership, original engine and sheet metal, and approximately 34,000 original miles without describing a complete restoration. Originality remains the auction catalog's representation.
1966 Shelby GT350 SFM6S375, Fort Lauderdale 2015 lot 168

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Transmission

Factory transmission 4-speed manual
Factory transmission Ford C4 3-speed automatic

Options

Source-document visual for reviewed 1966 Shelby GT350 evidence that documents the Ford C4 three-speed automatic transmission path; not a gearbox photograph.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

GT350H Hertz GT350H rental-car program special_order · other · Hertz-specific GT350 variant; individual cars require Shelby serial/registry confirmation.
Paxton supercharger Paxton centrifugal supercharger optional · performance · Documented as a rare/special 1966 GT350-related option; do not infer presence without car-specific evidence.
Magnum 500 wheels Magnum 500 wheels optional · appearance · Referenced as a 1966 GT350 wheel choice and as standard on Hertz derivatives in some references.

Paint

**1966 Shelby GT350 (2).jpg; reviewed as representative 1966 Shelby GT350 media, not proof of any individual car's originality.**Sicnag via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

A Raven Black optional · solid
M Wimbledon White optional · solid
T Candyapple Red optional · solid
R Ivy Green Metallic optional · metallic
G Sapphire Blue Metallic optional · metallic

Appearance

1966 SHELBY MUSTANG GT-350 (14387143447).jpg; reviewed as representative 1966 Shelby GT350 media, not proof of any individual car's originality.big-ashb via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

GT350 side stripes standard · stripe
Contrasting over-body Le Mans/rally stripes optional · stripe
Shelby hood scoop standard · hood
Plexiglas sail-panel quarter windows standard · other
Functional quarter-panel brake scoops standard · other
Cobra/Shelby identification on GT350 exterior trim standard · badge

Authenticity

Shelby serial identity A Shelby-assigned serial record should exist for a real car · Shelby American/SAAC registry records and Shelby identification plate documentation · fraud detection
Base Ford body style Mustang 2+2 fastback for normal production 1966 GT350 cars · Ford VIN/body documentation and body inspection · trim correctness
Color code range Documented 1966 GT350 colors include A, M, T, R and G · Ford/Shelby paint documentation and physical paint evidence · trim correctness
Hertz GT350H identity GT350H requires Hertz-program/registry support, not merely black-and-gold paint · SAAC registry, Shelby serial records, rental-program documentation · fraud detection

Still Researching

transmission Available public sources document manual and automatic choices, but exact Shelby/Ford transmission code applicability by serial range was not verified from factory build sheets.
production Public totals are sufficient for broad staging but granular production by color, transmission, axle, and option was not confirmed from primary registry tables.

Codes & names