6S406 - Bring A Trailer

[silverton_ford]

Link - https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1966-ford-mustang-587/



Description:
This 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 was delivered to new Herb Tousley Ford of White Bear, Minnesota, on November 30, 1965, and underwent a refurbishment that was completed in 2012 by Cobra Automotive of Wallingford, Connecticut. The car is finished in Wimbledon White with blue Le Mans stripes over black vinyl upholstery, and power comes from a 289ci HiPo V8 paired with a replacement Toploader four-speed manual transmission. Features include Koni shocks, front disc brakes, 15" Shelby/Cragar alloy wheels, a wood-rimmed steering wheel, a push-button AM radio, and a fold-down rear seat. This GT350 was acquired by the selling dealer in 2023 and is now offered in Yalesville, Connecticut, with a removed Borg Warner aluminum case T10M-1 four-speed manual transmission, copies of factory order sheets, SAAC correspondence, and a clean Texas title.

The car is said to have been refinished in Wimbledon White with blue Le Mans stripes during the aforementioned refurbishment. Features unique to Shelby Mustangs include a steel-framed fiberglass hood with a scoop and hood pins, a bullet-style side-view mirror, fixed plexiglass rear quarter windows, and fiberglass brake-cooling scoops on the rear fenders.

Polished 15″ Shelby/Cragar alloy wheels were optional on early 1966 Shelby Mustangs, and they are mounted with Goodyear "blue dot" bias-ply tires that were reportedly installed during the refurbishment. A matching spare wheel is stowed in the trunk. The car is said to feature a 1965-style GT350 suspension setup with Koni shocks and override traction bars as well as upper control arms with lower mounting points compared to later 1966 models. Kelsey-Hayes front disc brakes were standard equipment on GT350s, as were larger rear drum brakes than those used on standard Mustang models.

The cabin features bucket seats and an optional fold-down rear seat trimmed in black knit vinyl along with a color-coordinated dash pad, door panels, and carpets. Equipment includes a push-button AM radio, a heater, and black lap belts for all four occupants. A Carroll Shelby signature is present on the glovebox door.

The three-spoke wood-rimmed steering wheel was optional on 1966 Shelbys, and it was installed during the refurbishment. It frames a central 140-mph speedometer as well as gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, alternator charge, and coolant temperature. A Cobra-branded 9k-rpm tachometer is mounted to the top of the dashboard. The five-digit odometer shows 19k miles, approximately 100 of which were added following the 2012 refurbishment. Total mileage is unknown.

The 289ci HiPo V8 is said to have been rebuilt during the refurbishment and features a Holley four-barrel carburetor on a high-rise aluminum intake manifold as well as finned valve covers with open-letter Cobra logos. Output was factory rated at 306 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of torque. SAAC documentation regarding the engine stampings is provided in the gallery.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via a replacement Toploader four-speed manual transmission that was installed during the refurbishment.

A copy of the Shelby American order sheet indicates that the car was sold to Herb Tousley Ford and lists an optional rear seat as well as a total price of $3,667.

A Borg Warner aluminum case T10M-1 four-speed manual transmission that is said to have been removed from the car during the refurbishment is included in the sale, and it shows an August 27, 1965, casting date.

[Mikelj5S230]

Interesting, what do people think of Pardee's explanation of why the number do not match.....

[silverton_ford]

Interesting, what do people think of Pardee's explanation of why the number do not match.....

For quick reference.

[Mikelj5S230]

I bet Pete will love this.......

[Brant]

Interesting, what do people think of Pardee's explanation of why the number do not match.....

As mentioned, it's uncommon for the wrong prefix for the body style to be stamped in the engine block, but I am aware of at least one other car where this happened. On that particular car, it was not corrected. The six digit number matches the Ford VIN on the car, the 6RxxK part is there as well, the "09" was just incorrectly stamped "07".

[J_Speegle]

Looks (based on the picture) that its more than a prefix number thing. The third, fourth and sixth digits are double stamped also.  Hopefully the seller will post assembly and casting dates also




Hope those bidding, as always look closely at the pictures provided and make their choices after they are fully informed/educated.

[6s1640]

I looked at this car when it was a bare shell at COBRA Automotive.  The three inner fender stampings were without error, correctly stamped 6R09K12XXXX, no double stamping.  The matching set of the sequence numbers are there on the block.
Cory

[sfm5]

"The car is said to feature a 1965-style GT350 suspension setup with Koni shocks and override traction bars as well as upper control arms with lower mounting points compared to later 1966 models."

Given this, the car's stance appears to sit high with some rake. Most '65s I've seen (including my own) sit quite a bit lower with the tires inside the wheel wells and no appearance of rake. Can this be adjusted to owner preference?

[tesgt350]

The first part looks like the word Brock.

[KR500]

I have a 68 Metuchen built 289 C code Mustang coupe with the same kind of Vin stamping error on the engine block ( prefix wrong, numbers match. ). S!*h happens.

[Mikelj5S230]

Yes, mistakes can and do happen. But to believe this is the original engine for the car, you have to believe that it happened to this car, without evidence, and then when you sell it you have to get someone else to believe it, again without evidence.

[J_Speegle]

Given this, the car's stance appears to sit high with some rake. Most '65s I've seen (including my own) sit quite a bit lower with the tires inside the wheel wells and no appearance of rake. Can this be adjusted to owner preference?

Adjusted?  Not really but guess you could call it "adjusting". More modified things IMHO by replacing or modifying the springs or mounting points, coil over rear shocks and things like those. Or by the installation of new higher rate or worn or heated use springs.

[Bob Gaines]

Yes, mistakes can and do happen. But to believe this is the original engine for the car, you have to believe that it happened to this car, without evidence, and then when you sell it you have to get someone else to believe it, again without evidence.

The mistake and the belief that it is legitimate is not much of a stretch for a informed Shelby enthusiast given other examples kept track of and documented by the Shelby registry. At least not much of a stretch compared to other marques that are less scrutinized.

[6s1640]

Does the seller tell of the block casting and assembly date?  These should also be considered to support original block claim.

On the rear stance, it's likely the rear leaf springs were re-arced or replace.  I know Steve was looking for dated coded leaf springs, so I expect what's on the car is aftermarket.

Cory

[Mikelj5S230]

Yes, that casting and assembly date would be very helpful in this claim.  It will be interesting to see where the bid goes, maybe an informed Shelby enthusiast will buy it.