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66 GT 350 Drag Package

Started by Escue, September 05, 2023, 08:05:13 PM

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Escue

Back in 66 I was at Fuller Ford in Cincinnati. If I remember correctly, there was a new candy apple red GT 350 and the window sticker indicated it had a drag package. I think the car was an automatic.
I never saw the car again after that day. Was this a car Shelby built or has my memory taken a reset?

J_Speegle

Like today dealers will make up names, packages and other things to move cars out and make the cars appear to be "special"

There were 66's built as drag cars but no automatics.  Plenty were drag raced and modified by first and second owners
Jeff Speegle- Mustang & Shelby detail collector, ConcoursMustang.com mentor :) and Judge

Escue

I'll admit I was wrong about the car having an automatic.

My question basically is: Did Shelby (not the dealership) make a drag package GT 350 in 66?

98SVT - was 06GT

#3
Quote from: Escue on September 06, 2023, 10:51:16 AMMy question basically is: Did Shelby (not the dealership) make a drag package GT 350 in 66?

Les Richey's Performance Associates in Glendora built the drag cars for Shelby American. He got killed in May of 66 when his AFX Mustang crashed at Fontana. It's probably not something that SA or HiPo Motors would have on the showroom floor and since PA building them was open knowledge a dealer may have said I'll take that Shelby and then make a deal with PA to convert the car. In the end I think 4 were converted as "factory spec drag cars" and all were carry over cars.
Previous owner 6S843 - GT350H & 68 GT500 Convert #135.
Mine: GT1 Mustang, 1998 SVT 32V, 1929 Model A Coupe, Wife's: 2004 Tbird
Member since 1975 - priceless

Prototype

Quote from: Escue on September 06, 2023, 10:51:16 AM
I'll admit I was wrong about the car having an automatic.

My question basically is: Did Shelby (not the dealership) make a drag package GT 350 in 66?

Like Jeff said,....yes

J_Speegle

#5
6S011 was the one of the four that, according to the registry, ended up at Fuller Ford in Cincinnati for the first year after it was ordered and then the order was canceled northeastern dealership. Car arrived in white and Fuller Ford added the blue stripes. The dealership kept and raced it for about a year then returned it to Shelby and to California. Good 3/4 of a page of information is listed in the latest registry

Car as it is today restored as raced by High Performance Motors. No record I could find that it had been raced in the 60's as  red car



Jeff Speegle- Mustang & Shelby detail collector, ConcoursMustang.com mentor :) and Judge

98SVT - was 06GT

Quote from: J_Speegle on September 06, 2023, 06:02:25 PMCar as it is today restored as raced by High Performance Motors. No record I could find that it had been read (RACED?) in the 60's

AHRA info on the net is scarce it went out of business in the late 60s. If you can find the early rule books they had the record holders listed. The GT350 was run in B/Sport.
Previous owner 6S843 - GT350H & 68 GT500 Convert #135.
Mine: GT1 Mustang, 1998 SVT 32V, 1929 Model A Coupe, Wife's: 2004 Tbird
Member since 1975 - priceless

TLea

465 and 466s, all carryovers were the factory, Shelby sanctioned cars. There was another 65 that was bought directly from high-performance motors and taken by the new owner to Les Richie. In my book not a factory drag car.

J_Speegle

Quote from: 98SVT - was 06GT on September 06, 2023, 08:02:02 PM
Quote from: J_Speegle on September 06, 2023, 06:02:25 PMCar as it is today restored as raced by High Performance Motors. No record I could find that it had been read (RACED?) in the 60's

AHRA info on the net is scarce it went out of business in the late 60s. If you can find the early rule books they had the record holders listed. The GT350 was run in B/Sport.

Yes more of a non- west coast organization and tracks. Reworded the post since I fully didn't include all that I wanted to include plus what I did did not read well  ::)
Jeff Speegle- Mustang & Shelby detail collector, ConcoursMustang.com mentor :) and Judge

98SVT - was 06GT

Quote from: TLea on September 06, 2023, 08:34:21 PM
... another 65 that was bought directly from high-performance motors and taken by the new owner to Les Richie. In my book not a factory drag car.
I agree this is the one I was thinking of. When it sold they still had the bill from Les' shop.
Notice how Les used the R Model type window frames on his and Gas Ronda's AFX cars (not legal for the stock class GT350s).
Previous owner 6S843 - GT350H & 68 GT500 Convert #135.
Mine: GT1 Mustang, 1998 SVT 32V, 1929 Model A Coupe, Wife's: 2004 Tbird
Member since 1975 - priceless

Escue

Thank you so much for information regarding Fuller Ford. At one time the dealership had a framed 8x10 photo of the white/blue stripe 66 that they raced. Not sure if the photo is still there.

Now is there any information about the red 66 GT350 that Fuller Ford had on the lot (new)?

shelbydoug

Quote from: TLea on September 06, 2023, 08:34:21 PM
465 and 466s, all carryovers were the factory, Shelby sanctioned cars. There was another 65 that was bought directly from high-performance motors and taken by the new owner to Les Richie. In my book not a factory drag car.

I'm just looking for clarification here, are 465 and 466 that you refer to, '65 GT350's or '66's?

The reason I ask is that 6s252 is the last '66 carryover isn't it? So I am confused on that comment, which I guess isn't unusual for me?
68 GT350 Lives Matter!

5s386

I believe was meant as "4 of the 1965's" and "4 of the 1966's".

shelbydoug

Ahh! That makes sense. Not all of us are well versed on such cars so the typo created some confusion to me.





68 GT350 Lives Matter!

TLea

Quote from: 5s386 on September 07, 2023, 04:46:31 PM
I believe was meant as "4 of the 1965's" and "4 of the 1966's".
Correct