1966 SHELBY MUSTANG GT-350 PAXTON COMP. "S" MODEL

Classic DREAMCARS Mount Dora, Fla. (352) 385-1945 www.classicdreamcars.com

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1966 SHELBY MUSTANG GT-350 PAXTON COMP. "S" MODEL

BEAUTIFUL OLDER RESTORATION OF AN ACTUAL RACE CAR IN WIMBLETON WHITE WITH GUARDSMAN BLUE RACING STRIPES AND BASIC BLACK BUCKET SEATS. THIS IS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL 11 PAXTON SUPERCHARGED CARS BUILT BY CARROLL SHELBY AS WRITYTEN IN THE SHELBY REGISTRY... RESTORED AND FULLY RACE EQUIPPED WITH AN ORIGINAL #'S MATCHING PAXTON SUPERCHARGER w/ "Cobra" BLOWER BOX, 24 GALLON FUEL CELL, PRO BUILT 289 V8 / 425+ H.P. BY DRAILLE ENGINEERING IN LOS ANGELES, FOUR-SPEED T-10 TOP LOADER TRANSMISSION, HEAVY DUTY CLUTCH PAK, CORRECT AMERICAN RACING MAGNESIUM WHEELS (NON-DRILLED), ROLLBAR, SIDE EXHAUST, ACTUAL WOOD COBRA STEERING WHEEL (2) , REAR-MOUNT BATTERY AND MORE. THIS IS A REAL S.A.A.C. REGISTRY DOCUMENTED (see page 485,and page 539) + LETTER FROM SHELBY AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE CLUB DOCUMENTING IT'S FORD VIN# AND SHELBY GT-350 NUMBER , AND THE ORIGINAL SHIPPING INVOICE / REPORT DOCUMENTING THIS CAR AS A REAL "PAX UNIT" CAR. THIS ORIGINAL SHELBY GT-350 CARRIES IT'S VINTAGE SPORTS CAR DRIVER ASSOCIATION I.D. #03-583, AS WELL AS, IT'S ORIGINAL V.A.R.A. (VINTAGE AUTO RACING ASSOCIATION) LOG BOOKS. SH'E 'READY TO RIP' IN VINTAGE RACING OR ON THE SHOW CIRCUIT. IT WON FIRST PLACE IN IT'S CLASS AT THE DETROIT 2003 AUTORAMA. IT HAILS ORIGINALLY FROM TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA SO, IT'S NOT YOUR TYPICAL NORTHERN RUST-BUCKET. THIS CAR PROUDLY REPLACES OUR RECENTLY SOLD '65 "R" MODEL FOR THE MUSEUM COLLECTION.

THE STORY:

Another piece of Automotive History from the Performance Hall of Fame by Carroll Shelby and Ford Motor Co. We acquired SFM6S2168, listed in the S.A.A.C. Registry, and documented as one of the 11 Paxton Supercharged Cars built by Carroll Shelby. That would make it one of the 2,380 Shelby GT-350 "S" Models made in Los Angeles, Ca. and one of the 1,438 made Non-Hertz "Rent-a-Racers". This car is documented w/ original delivery to the El Paso Auto Center in Texas and is one of the very first, real Paxton Supercharged cars. Sold to Grover Johnson in Fort Bliss, TX. the car then bounced around, over the last 38 years, from Arizona to California, from Bell Canyon to Canoga Park to Los Angeles, eventually ending up in a collection of cars in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1987, it was given a frame-off restoration by Zigler Coachworks. They rigged the car for 'Competition' but, it ended up being mostly 'shown', not raced ( Logbook shows 9 Exhibition Races over the last 17 years). It now carries the correct "R-Model" Plexiglas Rear and Side Windows, Rollbar, Fuel Cell, Updated Disc Brakes, Fish Mouth "R Code" Grille, Side Exhaust (no mufflers) Non-Drilled Magnesium Wheels, Wood Steering Wheel and current Racing Seats. It was delivered complete with Logbooks, Photo's of the Winning History, copy of the original Shelby Bill of Sale (confirming it's history & "Pax" status) and numerous restoration invoices totaling $41,951.

After initial production of the first 250 "Carryover Cars", only 1,188 Shelby GT-350's were delivered as traditional "Street" (Non-Hertz) Shelby's and, we are told, (despite published book versions) that Factory records and the S.A.A.C Registry show only ELEVEN** were actually fitted by Shelby with Paxton Supercharger Equipment. Since Shelby only sold 32 actual factory "R" Models in 1965 for Corporate / Public use, several of these 1966 models have been turned into "R" Code Race Cars ( at least 3 documented) for private use. History will tell us that it was Granatelli that approached Carroll Shelby with the idea of adding a Supercharger on the GT-350's as an option. Shelby lent Granatelli 5S425 as a test vehicle. The skeptical Shelby brought a 289 Cobra and the two met back of the Airport. When Granatelli 'walked away' from the Cobra, Shelby was convinced and added the Paxton Superchargers as an expensive 'option' in 1966.

By April,1966 Shelby-American made special arrangements with Paxton Products to install it's Superchargers on GT-350's, both 4-Spd. and Automatic, as a "Special Option". This included the Supercharger Drive Unit and Air Cleaner, 460cfm Autolite carb (ours carries a 750 cfm Holley), Cobra Cast Aluminum Carburetor Enclosure, Paxton Supercharger, Special Fuel Pump, Carbuetor Jets, and Ignition Points. The only other modification required was an air-inlet hole cut into the radiator bulkhead, on the driver's side. The compressor was mounted behind the hole and mated with a mesh grille. The Factory advised dealers this unit would add 46% more horsepower but, it came at a very high price in 1966: namely $670. This also included a Blower Pressure Gauge and Fuel Pressure Gauge mounted in a small chrome panel under the dash. Early Supercharger boxes were painted Black and got Red,White & Blue CS Shelby-American emblems re-attached to them. The first official 'factory' Supercharged car was 6S051 which was painted Green and given a special stripe designation "GT 350S". At that time Shelby was planning on producing Paxton equipped cars as 'special models'. However, it was later decided to instead offer the Supercharger as an option. Various road tests of the cars in 1966 placed the peak horsepower at 400. Some books vacillate on exact total production but, it is documented, our car was discounted and sold new as a Paxton Supercharged equipped street car to the dealer for $4,436.57 and it was shipped to El Paso June 1,1966.

The motor has since been 'heavily breathed on' by the wizard's at Draille Engineering and boasts 425+ h.p.. It carries a Competition Spring Package, Big Block Aluminum Radiator Conversion, Balanced and Blueprinted 289 Hi-Po Block, 351 "W" Race Port & Studded Heads with Ferroa Valves, Holly 750 Carb on a Edelbrock Aluminum Intake, Crane Cam w/ Solid Lifters, Center Force 10" Clutch, Ford Electronic Ignition w/ Rev Control, original early Paxton unit, a set of original Paxton Gauges, and DAH Custom headers. The engine features the correct (huge) Oil Breather stacks and over-sized Aviad Oil Pan. The gas tank was replaced by a 24 gallon fuel cell which is fed only by opening the trunk. Receipts total $41,971.76 spent on the chassis, drive train and body engineering. The glove-box is signed by "Carroll Shelby".... we have a complete set of original Showroom Brochures and the original equipment Racing Seats (one for skinny butts and one for fat arses).

There's a little doubt as to why even Carroll Shelby gave notice in 1965 to all Corvette's that ..."The only time a Vette would see Victory Circle was if a Shelby GT350 didn't show up". Another great Shelby car supporting his legend.

** Many Thanks to Craig Conley- Paradise Paxton for his help rebuilding the correct, serial numbered, early unit. Despite the early Shelby Books stating "fewer than 150 were sold". Conley tells us ONLY 11 were shipped by Shelby and the SAAC Registry backs him up.