First owned by the late Piers Courage
1966 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 Competition Coupé

• Documented in the SCCA Shelby Register
• Known ownership history
• Present ownership since circa 1985
• Requires recommissioning

Legendary Texan racing driver Carroll Shelby's team had been campaigning Ford's Mustang 'pony car' with considerable success in North America, winning the SCCA's B-Production title three years running in the mid-1960s. Capitalising on his success, Shelby began manufacturing modified Mustangs, which were officially sanctioned and sold through selected Ford dealerships. The first Shelby Mustang - the GT350 - arrived in 1965 powered by a modified version of Ford's 289ci (4.7-litre) small-block V8 producing 306bhp, with options of a 340-360bhp unit in competition trim or 400bhp supercharged. The running gear was uprated appropriately to cope with the GT350's increased performance, though outwardly there was little to distinguish Shelby's GT350 from the standard product apart from a pair of broad 'racing' stripes down the body centreline. On the open road there was, of course, no comparison.

This Shelby GT350 comes with a photocopy of its original logbook listing the late Piers Raymond Courage as first owner from 15th December 1966. Piers Courage had been competing successfully in Formula 3 and Formula 2 races in 1966, earning promotion to F1 with BRM for '67. Courage would enjoy a somewhat chequered career in F1, and tragically met his death in an accident at Zandvoort in 1970. The logbook lists two further owners: J W Rochford Ltd (from 22nd December 1967) and Kenneth Oldham (date obscured).

The accompanying copy of this car's Shelby Register entry states that it was finished in white and shipped to Ford Advanced Vehicles in Slough on 30th December 1965. They were invoiced $3,200 plus $200 for Shelby wheels, $37 for rear seats, and $400 freight charges. This entry also states that Courage 'raced it with De Tomaso Racing during the 60s', which may be an error as Courage did not join the De Tomaso Formula 1 outfit until 1970, by which time the car had a new owner. It is most likely that the GT350 was the road car of Mr Courage

Further owners recorded therein are Palmer Hewardine of Huddersfield, who is said to have raced the Shelby extensively in sprints and hill climbs. When Palmer Hewardine acquired the car it was in its original colours of blue with white stripes. At some point he removed the original engine and gearbox (which it is understood he fitted in a Cobra replica later on) and fitted a GT40 spec race engine and front brakes that were salvaged from the remains of the Jackie Oliver/Martin Thomas '67 Mustang touring car. He raced the car in The Northern GT championship with sponsorship from Lep Freight Forwarding. Later the car was repainted in silver with black stripes and given a '70s style makeover of flares and spoilers. It was then campaigned in hillclimbs and sprints with the addition of a modified auto transmission. It was acquired by an Eric Walker and stripped for restoration before purchase by the current vendor circa 1985. During restoration over the next few years the flares were removed; an R-Model apron fitted; a top-loader manual gearbox installed; a roll cage added; and the car repainted white with blue stripes. The vendor ran with the GT40 engine for some time until a clutch explosion at Goodwood, when it was replaced with a 358cu in race engine. It was then raced in the UK until 1998, and has remained untouched in dry storage since its last race at Oulton Park 1998. It comes with miscellaneous spares including the original bonnet, glass side windows, wet weather tyres etc. Having not been used in recent years, this incredibly rare Shelby Mustang will require recommissioning before returning to the road or track.