Another '65 GT350 Heading to Auction

[sfm5]

Interesting story on this car heading to BJ.

https://youtu.be/FZfJ6mFWSlI

[98SVT - was 06GT]

I want it - Randy needs some competition at the Convention drags.
I don't think the 2 piece rear wheels are period.
Performance Associates was the go to place for drag race Fords in the 60s (which is why SA chose them to build their GT350 drag cars). Les Ritchey campaigned his own A/FX Mustang and prepped all the SoCal cars for Downtown Motors, Mel Burns and Russ Davis. He ran his car under the Mel Burns banner until he was killed at Fontana in 66.

[silverton_ford]

5S242

https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1965-FORD-SHELBY-GT350-251296

Description:
Lot #1395 - Shelby's GT350 was conceived for SCCA B-Production road racing, but it was also a potential "Corvette Killer" on the drag strip. In early 1965, Don McCain, Shelby's national sales director, conceived a drag-racing GT350, working with Ford racing expert Les Ritchey's Performance Associates. This 1965 Shelby GT350, SFM 5S242, was delivered to Mel Burns Ford in Long Beach and tagged as a showroom car and demonstrator at the urging of Shelby American and then sold on January 22, 1966, to San Jose racer Jerry Mendes, who immediately sent it to Performance Associates for the drag unit upgrades. Stamped "GT6" on the engine, transmission and rear end, 5S242 remained with Mendes until 2013. While eight GT350 drag cars were previously known, 5S242 is in fact the sixth drag racing Shelby GT350 built at Performance Associates. The parts and precision work added $1,494.63 to the GT350's cost; all original take-off items were returned to Mendes and remain with the car today. Mendes either drove or flat-towed the car to races at Sacramento, Fremont and Carlsbad, reaching 12.38 seconds at 110.83 mph and setting an NHRA class record. The car saw limited use after the NHRA combined Sport Stock and Super Stock classes for 1968, and it was stored at 6,455 miles from 1971 until 2013 when the consignor, a die-hard Shelby enthusiast and collector, purchased it directly from Mendes with the condition of keeping the car as raced. Never wet, at least since Mendes' purchase, 5S242 retains the original paint, plus factory overspray. While stored since 1971, Mendes kept the GT350 registered yearly, and the annual registration stickers and original CA title are included, plus the original invoices, documents and correspondence from Shelby, Mel Burns Ford and Performance Associates, along with the original owner's manual, racing trophies, awards and articles on GT350 drag cars in general - including a 2013-dated Mustang Monthly article on 5S242 specifically. Never restored, 5S242 is an amazing, four-wheeled document of Shelby history with showstopping, investment-grade originality, affirmed in Shelby circles by achievement of the SAAC-38 Premier Award and Concours Gold at SAAC-46.






I wish they started it in the video.  It sounds awesome!  Was lucky to get to see it this past summer at SAAC 46.

Bid to $500,000 last year, but didn't sell - https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0121-444956/1965-shelby-gt350-fastback/

[gt350hr]

    I too am wondering about the "modern" PS engineering rear wheels ( just like I have on 6S477) and the Coker REPRODUCTION rear tires that were not used in '65 and a concours gold award. The car IS a wonderful ''survivor" with TREMENDOUS documentation BUT with allot of owner ''updates". When Jerry brought it out of "hiding" twenty years ago it had Cragar "Super Trick" aluminum wheels and thirty year old ( not safe) Firestone slicks unlike what is on it now. It ran in the 13's at Sears Point when I raced against it. It did have more potential ( probably low 12's IF it would have has safer tires). On a modern track , it would probably break the aluminum T10 first , followed by the driver's side axle as they are still 28 spline. Remember too this was "sold" as a street car and Joe took it to immediately Les's shop for conversion , not "sold " as a "drag unit".
   If you want to see two "concours" drag unit restorations check out the ones at the Segerstrom Museum. THEY are correct in every detail including genuine Casler recap slicks like they were sold with.
      Randy - and this will be the unprecedented 48th year of continuous drag racing 6S477

[honker]

In reply #1, 2nd pic, Ritchey with his rides from a magazine, is that a Tiger between the two boats ? road race car or 1/4 miler ?

Mike

[gt350hr]

   YES Mike that is a Tiger. It was raced by then magazine writer Gordon Chittenden. Yes Les was not partial to any brand.
    Randy

[SCJSTU]

Was this car at the SAAC convention in Sonoma 2021?

[silverton_ford]

Was this car at the SAAC convention in Sonoma 2021?

Yes it was there.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

If you want to see two "concours" drag unit restorations check out the ones at the Segerstrom Museum. THEY are correct in every detail including genuine Casler recap slicks like they were sold with.

Here is their 66 - is the other a 65?

[sfm5]

I really like cars with well executed day 2 mods made "in period", but did not realize they are eligible to earn SAAC concours gold? Is it because those changes were made by Performance Associates upon being purchased?

[Bob Gaines]

I really like cars with well executed day 2 mods made "in period", but did not realize they are eligible to earn SAAC concours gold? Is it because those changes were made by Performance Associates upon being purchased?

http://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=111.msg141955#msg141955  read post 169. 

[sfm5]

Thanks Bob - I missed that thread.

[Karguy]

I had the honor to see this car and spend some time with the owner at SAAC 46. The originality and documentation of its history was incredible! I hope he does really well with it at auction.

[CharlesTurner]

I really like cars with well executed day 2 mods made "in period", but did not realize they are eligible to earn SAAC concours gold? Is it because those changes were made by Performance Associates upon being purchased?

We have a competition class that it was judged in, it wasn't entered in normal concours Div 1/2.

[sfm5]

I was not aware of that - thanks Charles!