Shelby G.T. 350′s 50th anniversary to be celebrated at 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Kurt Ernst By the fall of 1964, the Mustang had proven to be a sales hit for Ford, yet the automaker struggled to fit the car into its “Total Performance” image. For help, Ford turned to Shelby American, hoping the Cobra manufacturer could work its magic on the Mustang. The result was the Shelby G.T. 350 Mustang, which debuted in 1965 and went on to capture (in G.T. 350R form) consecutive SCCA B-Production championships in 1965, 1966 and 1967. Next year marks the G.T. 350′s 50th anniversary, and the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion will pay tribute to this milestone Mustang with a dedicated race group and special paddock displays. In late October 1964, Ford delivered three Mustang fastbacks equipped with 271-horsepower, 289-cu.in. V-8 engines and four-speed manual transmissions to Shelby American, for development of a racing variant. Ten weeks later, a team that included Cobra racer Ken Miles, designer Peter Brock and project engineer Chuck Cantwell delivered the first G.T. 350R, which reportedly produced between 350 and 375 horsepower in competition trim. Among its innovative features was a Brock-designed plastic rear window, which not only saved weight but added five MPH to the car’s top speed via an incorporated vent. The G.T. 350R’s racing success drove sales of both Ford Mustangs and Shelby street cars, which were slightly detuned compared to their racing brethren. Street-going G.T. 350s still produced a reported 306 horsepower, thanks to modifications like a high-rise intake manifold and low-restriction side-exit exhausts. To beef up the rear end, the Mustang’s original axles were replaced with stouter units from the Ford Galaxie, while larger rear drum brakes and Kelsey Hayes front disc brakes shortened stopping distances. To improve weight distribution, the battery was repositioned to the trunk, while the spare tire was mounted in the cabin, where the rear seat had previously been located. Largely unchanged between street cars and race cars was the suspension, as SCCA competition rules allowed for powertrain modifications or suspension modifications, but not both. The street-legal 1965 G.T. 350s were little more than (slightly) detuned race cars, with little thought given to occupant comfort. That began to change in 1966 with the introduction of such amenities as a broader color palate, an optional rear seat and an available three-speed automatic transmission. Each successive generation of Shelby G.T. 350 seemed to grow larger and plusher, but still retained a focus on performance and handling; Ford’s latest version of the Shelby GT350, due to debut in 2015, brings the model back to its track-centered roots. In addition to the planned race group of 1965-’72 Shelby G.T. 350 models, Ford will be on hand at the 2015 Monterey Motorsports Reunion to mark the car’s anniversary with a special paddock display that highlights the history of the car and its racing successes. Expect the new version to be prominently displayed, too; in the words of Jim Farley, Ford’s executive vice president of global marketing, sales and service, “We couldn’t be more excited to be able to share one of the most iconic performance Mustang nameplates – the Shelby GT350 Mustang – with all of the Shelby enthusiasts and race fans at next year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The new GT350 is a true testament to its heritage and builds on Carroll Shelby’s commitment to performance and racing, and we look forward to celebrating the car’s 50th anniversary and marking it with great racing next summer.” The 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion takes place on August 13-16 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. For additional details, visit MazdaRaceway. - See more at: blog.hemmings/index.php/2014/12/30/shelby-g-t-350s-50th-anniversary-to-be-celebrated-at-2015-rolex-monterey-motorsports-reunion/?refer=news#sthash.Y5j9nJyw.dpuf
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 14:31:26 +0000
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