Shelby GT350 – 1966

The story begins in the USA

Produced in early May 1966, our example was used as a company car by Jim Riddle, a close associate of Carroll Shelby, before being sent to a Ford dealer in Huntington Beach, California.

Presented at two other Ford dealerships (Carter Auto Transport in Newark, New Jersey, then Paul Carey Ford in Decatur, Georgia), it was acquired and registered some time later by its first owner, Adolph Szewczyk.

From Georgia, where it resided for several years, it moved to neighboring Florida in March 1987, where it was registered in the name of a certain Michael Vacco Jr.

Imported to France and racing debut

Three years later, a French collector bought the car from Mustang Classics (Pompano Beach, Florida) for $33,000, and kept it for almost twenty years in the Paris region. On this occasion, it was registered for the first time in the Hauts-de-Seine region, and was prepared (roll bar, bucket seats, harness, circuit breaker, fire extinguisher, etc.) to compete in the French VEC Championship. Its original PTH is included in the historical file (date of issue: February 24, 1997).

In 2009, Claude Dubois, a well-known figure in the world of historic competition, former Le Mans 24 Hours driver and Shelby, De Tomaso and Chrysler importer for Belgium, authenticated the car after a thorough inspection. It will then change hands for the last time in January 2010.

More modification for a quieter future

Restored to its original configuration at the beginning of the year, our Shelby GT350 wears its traditional Wimbledon White color with two wide Guardsman Blue stripes. The bucket seats have been replaced by the original ones, along with the black rear bench that equipped the car when it left the factory in 1966.

A vestige of competition, it retains its FIA 100-liter fuel tank, side exhausts and superb American Racing 15-inch aluminum wheels (the original wheels will be delivered with the vehicle). A quick starter, this car is ready to take to the road or the track, depending on its future owner.