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plished, they quickly disappeared

along with the two GT350R prototypes

(inexplicably painted red and yellow –

another example of turning their back

on history).

Before the 60-odd GT350s could be

dispersed, another photo opportunity

was seized. A pair of “GT350R2” cars,

tributes built last year on Mustang

fastback unibodies by former Shelby

American mechanic Jim Marietta and

other Shelby employees from the

Venice days, and built to Peter Brock’s

reimagined R-Model specifications,

were deftly parked up front, replacing

Ford’s prototypes. More photos were

taken, demonstrating that you never

want to waste a once-in-a-lifetime

photo op like this.

As the GT350s were being driven

off and heading back to the paddock or

parking corral, about a dozen owners

of cars with real 1960s racing history

were slow-walking and shuffling their

feet. They were determined to make a

statement, as futile is it might be at

this point, to gather these cars to-

gether for one final photograph which

would capture the essence of GT350

racing history fifty years later. Once a

few photos were taken they blended

back into this year’s Monterey Motor-

sports Reunion spectacle.

The SHELBY AMERICAN

Red and yellow? Seriously? Nowhere was it demonstrated that Ford lost sight of a his-

torical perspective than by the color choice of the R-Models they brought. They could

have specified any colors. Anyone ever heard of...white? With twin blue stripes?

Fall 2015 313