R model ?

[pchmotoho]

Did the last batch of R models have 66 Ford vins?  I've read before that these had 66 Mustang grilles. Did the very end of 65 San Jose production use 66 Mustang grilles?

I was always under the assumption that the only 66 350s with 65 Ford vins were carryovers.

[shelbydoug]

Did the last batch of R models have 66 Ford vins?  I've read before that these had 66 Mustang grilles. Did the very end of 65 San Jose production use 66 Mustang grilles?

I was always under the assumption that the only 66 350s with 65 Ford vins were carryovers.

Wow! I think that you need to ask Howard but I'd think it would have had to do when the car was built by Ford and if it was technically a '65 or '66 Ford build?

Wouldn't SA just take a car from the lot and change it into an R model?

[6s1640]

Hi Pchmoho,

The 1965 GT350 Registry shows very late R-models SAI VIN's 5R530 and 5R531 and 5R533 all with the 66 grills.  I will also note the very late R-models got the thinner 66 GT350 side stripe.

The Registry says that 5R531 was built to 66 spec's, which would imply it came with the 66 grill.  The other two cars do not say  they were build to 66 spec's that I could find.  5R532 is also noted as built to 66 spec's, but the image in the registry is difficult to ID the grill, but I would assume a 66 grill.  So it would appear the four R-models by SAI VIN in a row all got the 66 grill.  Hope that helps.

While checking the registry, I think I found an error on page 19 with the listing of R-models by  VINs.  It would appear that 5R521 was list incorrectly and should be 5R531.  The registry shows 5S521 as a street model.


Cory

[gt350hr]

  The Ford vins are all '65 on Rmodels. No '66 chassis were used.

[6s1640]

  The Ford vins are all '65 on Rmodels. No '66 chassis were used.

+1

The San Jose build dates in the registry confirm they are all 5R09K chassis.

Images from the internet show 5R535 and 5R536 with a 66 grill. Assuming an accurate restorations, that will make 6 with a 66 grill.   In fact the last batch of 14 R-models all had San Jose start dates of 4-20-65, from 5R527 to 5R540.   Again from the registry 5R528 is also noted with a 66 grill and side strip.  Making seven confirmed 66 grills.   This would suggest all 14 R-models from 4-20-65 got the 66 grill and 66 side stripe.  At least half of them did.

Cory

[SBCARGUY]

5R534 Also had a 66 grille...

[Harris Speedster]

was there a yellow R model found in Ca?
maybe a 66, no sound deadening, no strip sealant, original yellow?
KO wheels, g meter, all R plastic correct, cage etc ?
John

[SFM66H]

The San Jose build dates in the registry confirm they are all 5R09K chassis.

Images from the internet show 5R535 and 5R536 with a 66 grill. Assuming an accurate restorations, that will make 6 with a 66 grill.   In fact the last batch of 14 R-models all had San Jose start dates of 4-20-65, from 5R527 to 5R540.   Again from the registry 5R528 is also noted with a 66 grill and side strip.  Making seven confirmed 66 grills.   This would suggest all 14 R-models from 4-20-65 got the 66 grill and 66 side stripe.  At least half of them did.

Cory

George Watters states that 5R528 definitely came with a '66 grill, as shown in this original photo at Waterford Hills:

[Shelby_r_b]

The San Jose build dates in the registry confirm they are all 5R09K chassis.

Images from the internet show 5R535 and 5R536 with a 66 grill. Assuming an accurate restorations, that will make 6 with a 66 grill.   In fact the last batch of 14 R-models all had San Jose start dates of 4-20-65, from 5R527 to 5R540.   Again from the registry 5R528 is also noted with a 66 grill and side strip.  Making seven confirmed 66 grills.   This would suggest all 14 R-models from 4-20-65 got the 66 grill and 66 side stripe.  At least half of them did.

Cory

George Watters states that 5R528 definitely came with a '66 grill, as shown in this original photo at Waterford Hills:

Great pic, Kieth - thanks!

[shelbydoug]

So then as a layman "R" model person, all of the R models were from one initial batch of cars specifically ordered from Ford with certain deletions and specifications that would compliment a dedicated race car?

My initial reaction, because 37 was an odd number to begin with, that I'd just take cars intended to be any GT350 and convert it to race specs?

Who picked 37 as an original order number? That seems strange and a shot in the dark? Why not 50 or a hundred and sell them as street cars if they couldn't be sold as race cars?

It is what it is but seems backwards?

[gt350hr]

    Doug, I don't think it was "one batch" Ford vin wise. Sales were not "brisk" in the day. A GT350 was almost twice that of a K code Mustang and the R model another $1,500 or more and more than a Corvette. That was allot of money when many of use were making $120 a week and a "rich" guy was making $400 a week. A house here in So CA was 18-20 grand "new". "36 month financing" was rare on a car , Most were 24 month financing.
    SAI expected selling one hundred of them. Notice they sold almost the same amount of coupes in '66 and '67. Hard for some to understand if you weren't "there".

[camp upshur]

At least shortly after the beginning, future R model Mustangs, were preordered, not just pulled from the line. At best it appeared to be then sporadic.

[CharlesTurner]

This may help with understanding how '65 R models went through the arrival/build process...

Note that 17 R models were completed during the '66 model year.  (Or, at least that's what the records indicate)

[6s1640]

So then as a layman "R" model person, all of the R models were from one initial batch of cars specifically ordered from Ford with certain deletions and specifications that would compliment a dedicated race car?

My initial reaction, because 37 was an odd number to begin with, that I'd just take cars intended to be any GT350 and convert it to race specs?

Who picked 37 as an original order number? That seems strange and a shot in the dark? Why not 50 or a hundred and sell them as street cars if they couldn't be sold as race cars?

It is what it is but seems backwards?

According to the 65 GT350 Registry, page 10, the competition models (AKA R-models) were special order from San Jose with the below deletions:

Competition models included the street GT350 deletions at the San Jose build.  They were:

  Hood
  Mustang emblems and their provision
  Exhaust and mufflers
  Radio

In addition, the competition cars required even more deletions during production.  They were built without:

  Sound deadening
  Carpeting
  Padding
  Headliner
  Interior Upholstery
  Dash pad and  metal structure that supported the pad
  Speedometer and gauges
  Heater, defrost ducts and controls
  Glove box
  Side windows and cranking mechanism
  Rear glass
  Quarter window louvers and vents
  Front and rear bumpers
  Front valance and rock deflector

Standard Mustang seats and steering wheel were retained to allow the cars to be driven off the assembly line and at Shelby American.

Hope that helps.  What did I miss?

The first production GT350 orders (110) included only 15 competition versions.  The balance of 95 cars was for street builds.  There was also an earlier order for the three prototypes.

Cory

[SFM6S087]

  The Ford vins are all '65 on Rmodels. No '66 chassis were used.

+1

I'll add that all the 1965 chassis cars that would become R-models were ordered before the carryovers were ordered. Why does that matter? Because when the carryovers were ordered they specifically left off the grilles at San Jose. Those would have been 1965 grilles. And the 1966 grilles were not available for installation at the time so the carryovers left San Jose without grilles. Ford later shipped 1966 grilles to S.A. to be installed in those cars.

If the 1966 grilles were not available to be installed at San Jose for the carryovers. Then they also would not have been available for the R-models which were produced at an earlier date. So I'd say it's a safe bet that any 1966 grille on an R-model was installed at Shelby American.

Steve