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*Please note this vehicle is titled as a Ford.
According to original sales documentation, this handsome GT 350 completed construction on April 8, 1967, equipped with a 289 cid Hi-Po engine, a four-speed top-loader transmission, and the extra cooling package, and it was finished in Wimbledon White paint with black bucket seats. This Shelby is believed to be one of 92 examples so equipped, and it remains authentically finished in the original color scheme.
Shipped almost one week later to Brondes Motor Sales of Toledo, Ohio, the GT 350 was sold on April 30th to its first owner, Lynn Becker, also of Toledo. Though little is currently known of the car’s interim history, by 1997 it was owned by James C. Westerdale of Sedalia, Missouri, as clarified by the Shelby Registry. Acquired in 2002 by Tom Fruith of Naples, Florida, the Shelby was sold in February 2007 to the consignor, a Florida collector.
At the time of purchase, the GT 350 benefitted from a recent restoration that featured a complete refurbishment of the drive train, as well as a premium refinish in the original color scheme. The consignor has since driven the car only sparingly, resulting in minimal mileage accrual since restoration.
This powerful and beautifully finished Shelby GT 350 shows great attention to detail, from the authentic Cobra badges to the factory-correct 10-spoke alloy wheels. Accompanied by an original window sticker, this car would be ideal for regional shows, muscle car gatherings, and SAAC events, or it can be enjoyed for the high-torque performance and one-of-kind styling that made 1967 such a special year.
The 1967 Shelby Fastback
By 1967, Carroll Shelby had been successfully modifying Ford Mustangs for two years. Though the earlier cars are often celebrated for their lightweight and race-prepared specifications, it was only in 1967 that the GT 350 and GT 500 fastbacks truly took on a unique, brand-specific presence.
Designer Chuck McHose consulted on body modifications that lent the 1967 examples an unprecedented singularity, further distinguishing them from Ford’s fastback Mustangs. An all-new aluminum hood that was 4” longer than the stock unit replaced the standard Ford bonnet. Numerous body tweaks were made, with the fastback slope now extending all the way to the spoiler edge of the trunk, and with rear air-scoops reminiscent of the GT 40 race car that Shelby had helped propel to stardom.
To this day, many enthusiasts regard the 1967 version of Shelby’s fastback as the purest combination of race-bred performance and cosmetic styling, more physically unique than the early Shelby Mustangs, yet not overwhelmed with the overtly luxurious features that were still to come.