Unravel the Splendor of the Impeccably Restored 1968 Shelby Mustang GT350!


Introduced in 1964 as a rather mundane pony car, the Ford Mustang gained a high-performance version in 1965. That’s when Carroll Shelby stepped in a created the Shelby GT350. Originally a lightweight, track-prepped car, the GT350 morphed into a more streetable machine in 1966.

Joined by a more beefed-up GT500 version in 1967, the small-block muscle car remained in production until 1969 (though unsold examples were offered as 1970 models).

Come 2023, and the Shelby GT350 is, to many, the primordial high-performance Mustang. These cars are highly sought-after and, depending on model year and specs, rare and expensive (some are worth more than $1 million). The 1965 version is the most desirable. Not only Shelby made only 572 units but also built just 34 factory race cars and four dragsters.

1966 was the most popular model year, with 2,386 units sold, but Shelby still delivered 1,201 cars in 1967 and 1,664 examples in 1968. In its final year on the assembly line, the nameplate spawned 1,281 units.

Most of these cars were fastbacks, but Shelby also put together a few coupes and convertibles. And the drop-top is notably rarer than the fastback, with about 600 units made over five years.

Which GT350 Convertible is the rarest? Well, that would have to be the 1966 because Shelby made only four that year. But I’m here to talk about the 1968 drop-top, which is not as rare as the 1966 version but is still a hard-to-find gem.

Especially when talking about examples like the one you see here. Why? Well, it’s the finest first-gen GT350 I’ve seen in a long time. It’s a perfect 10!

As you might have already guessed, it’s a fully restored pony that comes with all the bells and whistles you can expect from a high-profile classic. And it’s finished in the perfect color combo, as far as I’m concerned.

Painted Candy Apple Red, one of the more iconic Mustang colors, it also boasts white stripes above the side skirts and a white soft top. I’m not particularly crazy about the all-black interior, but everything looks so lovely I could sleep in this Shelby for weeks.

And there’s an even bigger treat under the hood: a numbers-matching V8 with all the “Cobra” markings and high-performance add-on that make the 1968 GT350 a fast machine. Not only authentic, but this mill is so clean that you could eat right off the air filter.

This engine is also a one-year gem in the GT350. That’s because 1968 was the only year when Ford used a 302-cubic-inch (4.9-liter) powerplant in the beefed-up Mustang. Introduced as a replacement for the previous 289-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) V8, the 302 was swapped out for the bigger 351-cubic-inch (5.8-liter) Windsor in 1969.

There is a downside, however, as the 302 had fewer racing parts and generated only 250 horsepower, 56 below the 289.

Even so, it sounds fantastic and provides enough grunt to spin the rear tires off the line. Check it out in the video below, and make sure you crank up the volume when the 302 V8 fires up.

Related Posts

Own the Iconic 1966 Ford GT40 from Ford v Ferrari – A Unique Collector’s Dream!

It’s been quite some time since the Ford v Ferrari movie is no longer the hottest flick out there, but for some, the legacy it left behind…

A Shocking Discovery Of An Abandoned Scrap Yard With The Difference Between Plymouth Road Runner And Dodge Super Bee

This time on Roadkill’s Junkyard Gold, Steve Magnante is exploring a Mopar-only junkyard in rural New Hampshire. He’s there to answer one question: Which came first, the Bird or…

The desires of a vintage car aficionado were dashed when a driver collided the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle directly into a brick wall, marring its classic charm

A 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle is the dream of many vintage car enthusiasts. But one over-excited motorist ploughed his pristine vehicle into a brick wall in front of…

Gaining public notice, the 1960 Chevy Bel Air stood out for its custom construction, tailored to be an exceptionally charming cruiser

If you are familiar with the cars built by Timeless Kustoms, then you know these guys are more into radical big horsepower restomods. That is not the case…

The 1963 Ford Thunderbird, once a dream car for earlier generations, now languishes in a dismal scrap yard, forgotten and forsaken

When I pull together fragments of youthful memories, I seem to recall the classic Thunderbird being held in high regard. Whether it was my grandfather or a…

Among the prized possessions in his daring assortment, renowned renegade Nicholas Cage owned the rare and valuable 1959 FERRARI 250 GT, alongside other cherished treasures

Nicholas Cage is a well-known bad boy of the big screen. Off-screen, he has managed to accumulate a bad-boy collection of beautiful, rare, classic cars. He seems…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *