Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this Shelby GT350 project, you know, the 1965 one. It’s been a wild ride, let me tell you.
First off, I got my hands on this “K” code fastback. Apparently, it’s pretty rare, only about 2000 of these babies were made back in ’65. That’s like less than half a percent of all the Mustangs they pumped out that year! Finding the original data and manual is not an easy task, but luckly I found it from my friend who is an old collector, even though it took me many times to persuade him. I started to research about it day by day.
Then, I dove deep into what makes this car so special. It’s not just any Mustang, this is the one Ford asked Shelby to soup up so it could go head-to-head with Corvettes on the track. We’re talking about a beast with a 289-cubic-inch V-8 and a four-speed transmission. Just the sound of that engine, man, it gives me goosebumps. It is not easy to find them in good condition, and I spent almost 2 months to get them from local car shops, and asked the mechanics there to help me install it into the frame.
Next, I started tinkering with the exterior. I mean, the ’65 GT350, it’s got those classic Mustang lines, but with some tweaks that scream “I’m faster than I look.” The most obvious change? They slapped a whole new hood on it. But it was not easy to find a perfect replica of the hood. I had to contact those online sellers who sell parts for old cars, and after comparing a dozen of samples, I finally picked one which was almost the same as the original one.
I also learned that they changed up the colors for the ’66 model, adding some cool options like Raven Black and Candy Apple Red. You know that I love the original color, so I decided to remain it and not do anything to the original paint. But there were some scratches on the body, so I carefully fixed them with the help of my old collector friend.
- I spent weeks verifying everything, making sure it was all legit.
- Then gathered all the parts I needed.
- And finally, I put the whole thing together, piece by piece.
It’s been a ton of work, no doubt. But seeing this beauty come to life? Totally worth it. I just wanted to share my little journey with you all. It’s not every day you get to rebuild a legend.
