Rare 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 worth a fortune found in abandoned home.

[SEIndSAM]

Rare 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 worth a fortune found in abandoned home

A classic car restorer has recovered a 1965 Ford Mustang GT350 from the garage of an abandoned home in Georgia where it had been stored for the past three decades. The historic performance car was one of just 526 built that year.

www.foxnews.com

Historic sports car could be worth more than $300,000​

You never know what you'll find in a fixer-upper, including another fixer-upper.

This 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 was found in an abandoned home in Georgia. (Matt Taylor)
Classic car hunter Matt Taylor told Fox News Autos the story of a rare American muscle car that his friend led him to in an abandoned home late last year.
Zach Taylor -- no relation -- saw an ad on Facebook for a 1966 Ford Mustang Shelby steering wheel and followed it up to discover a family had inherited the run-down house and belongings of a deceased relative who had a stash of cars and parts in the garage.

The GT350 was rusty, but all-original. (Matt Taylor)
Among them were a 1991 Ford Mustang convertible and an appealing 1965 Ford Mustang K-Code coupe, but the real treasure was hidden under a cover where it had been sitting for around three decades: a complete 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350, one of just 562 that were made that year.

The paint had some rust, thanks to the raccoons that had been living in the tarp and using it as a bathroom, and the trunk showed a fair amount of corrosion, but the interior and mechanical parts were in pretty good shape for a car that had been left untouched for so long.

HISTORIC 1965 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT350R SOLD FOR RECORD $4 MILLION

The interior was largely intact and just needed to be cleaned. (Matt Taylor)
Matt cut a deal with the family to buy the entire lot and brought the car back to his shop. He refurbished the 289 cubic-inch V8 and got it running pretty easily; he replaced the suspension, fuel tank, exhaust and a few other components with correct parts.

Matt Taylor was able to refurbish the 289 V8 and get it running again. (Matt Taylor)
The interior just needed to be cleaned and, for now, he's left the old paint and patina intact to help it tell its story when he brings it to car shows.

Matt Taylor brought the GT350 back to driving condition, but has left its corroded appearance. (Matt Taylor)
Despite its rarity, don't expect to see it on an auction site anytime soon. Matt said he plans to keep it, though it could be worth a pretty penny if he ever changes his mind.
According to the Hagerty Price Guide, a 1965 GT350 in decent shape is worth $300,000, while a show car-quality example could command $600,000 or more.
Gary Gastelu is FoxNews.com's Automotive Editor covering the car industry and racing @foxnewsautos

 

[KellyinAvon]

BARN-FIND SHELBY!!!

 

[Jaybird1980]

BARN-FIND SHELBY!!!

And a 65 K code.

That's a good find.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

And a 65 K code.

That's a good find.

I'd love to see Count's Kustoms get ahold of that for a full restore.

 

[Jaybird1980]

I'd love to see Count's Kustoms get ahold of that for a full restore.

I don't follow Counts Kustoms , but I hope someone brings back the glory and enjoys the out of it.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I don't follow Counts Kustoms , but I hope someone brings back the glory and enjoys the out of it.

I'm a big fan of the show "Counting Cars". They do some wicked cool stuff. Lots of talent there. And Danny Koker ("The Count") is a big Mustang fan. He'd be all over it.

 

[femurphy77]

Wonder if they treated the family fairly or took advantage of their naivete? Similar story from a couple of years ago; a guy went to look at "an old ford" that an elderly widow was trying to sell. Turns out it was a GT500KR. It was in similar condition as the one above. The guy brought in an appraiser and paid just under the appraised value.

 

[indyblue]

It might be worth leaving it as a survivor car.

 

[Super Bee]

I would not touch it any further.

What a sweet ride, in my top 10 to own.

I am just waiting for someone to step up with "The Blue Lady", Jim Morrisons 67 Shelby GT500. I could see it bringing crazy, stupid, pay off the national debt kind of money.

 

[JCSR]

Back around 1975 I passes on buying a Black w/ Gold Stripes 1966 Shelby for $500. I was convinced it was a fake having never heard of a Black/Gold Shelby. Well I was so wrong.

In September of 1965, the General Manager of Shelby American, Peyton Cramer, and the Hertz Corporation came to a brilliant business agreement: They would offer the 1966 GT350-H as a rental car through the now-famous Hertz “Rent-a-Racer” Program. This deal created 1,000 Shelby Mustang GT350-Hs for use in the Hertz rental fleet, allowing customers to do more than just rent a standard rental vehicle for their needs.

Hertz Heritage: The Rise of the 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350-H

Discover the exciting history of this iconic car and its relationship with Hertz. Take a dive back into history with a lesson in Hertz Heritage.

www.hertz.com

 

[yeti rider]

I'd love to see Count's Kustoms get ahold of that for a full restore.

They'd dick it up. It needs a proper restoration. All original.

 

[BigRed]

Back around 1975 I passes on buying a Black w/ Gold Stripes 1966 Shelby for $500. I was convinced it was a fake having never heard of a Black/Gold Shelby. Well I was so wrong.

In September of 1965, the General Manager of Shelby American, Peyton Cramer, and the Hertz Corporation came to a brilliant business agreement: They would offer the 1966 GT350-H as a rental car through the now-famous Hertz “Rent-a-Racer” Program. This deal created 1,000 Shelby Mustang GT350-Hs for use in the Hertz rental fleet, allowing customers to do more than just rent a standard rental vehicle for their needs.

Hertz Heritage: The Rise of the 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350-H

Discover the exciting history of this iconic car and its relationship with Hertz. Take a dive back into history with a lesson in Hertz Heritage.

www.hertz.com

I've heard the "engine swap story" over the years.....would like to know how much is truth and how much is urban legend.

Back When Hertz Let You Rent a Racer: the Shelby Mustang GT350H

If you’ve ever rented a car you know how dreary they can be. They’re typically a forgettable sedan-based snooze fest...

www.gtplanet.net

 

[BigRed]

The '65 - '66 Mustang fastback is the best looking Mustang of all (IMO).

 

[KellyinAvon]

Back around 1975 I passes on buying a Black w/ Gold Stripes 1966 Shelby for $500. I was convinced it was a fake having never heard of a Black/Gold Shelby. Well I was so wrong.

In September of 1965, the General Manager of Shelby American, Peyton Cramer, and the Hertz Corporation came to a brilliant business agreement: They would offer the 1966 GT350-H as a rental car through the now-famous Hertz “Rent-a-Racer” Program. This deal created 1,000 Shelby Mustang GT350-Hs for use in the Hertz rental fleet, allowing customers to do more than just rent a standard rental vehicle for their needs.

Hertz Heritage: The Rise of the 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350-H

Discover the exciting history of this iconic car and its relationship with Hertz. Take a dive back into history with a lesson in Hertz Heritage.

www.hertz.com

GT350H!! IIRC they had to go with automatics because the clutches kept getting destroyed. People kept renting them and taking them to the drag strip. AWESOME!!!

 

[Drewski]

Pffft. I round an unrestored 1935 Ford car when I was rehabbing my old place in Chicago.





er..., card. 1935 Ford card, I mean.

 

[Tactically Fat]

That address is an apartment building now.

Right off the EL.

 

[Farmerjon]

My dad owned a Mobil Service station. Always was buying and selling cars. Remember a gold Torino, mom didn't like it so it was gone. He had a blue 65 Mustang Fastback, white interior, mom said nope, so it sold. She did keep the 68 Charger. Got hit by a Nova on drivers front corner, spun around and hit it on the drivers rear. Dad sold it.

 

[Lpherr]

I'd love to see Count's Kustoms get ahold of that for a full restore.

They did a GT500, but I wouldn't have them do a restore of any magnitude. I would allow them to build a custom, but with my paint scheme. I don't care for the '70's "vibe" they do.
I would like for Martin's Bros. to build me a car.

 

[femurphy77]

They'd dick it up. It needs a proper restoration. All original.

I agree with the dick it up part but I'd get a professional appraisal before I touched it. It may be more valuable as is especially knowing the history of it.

 

[femurphy77]

The '65 - '66 Mustang fastback is the best looking Mustang of all (IMO).

I like the clean lines of the 65-6 Shelby but prefer the 67-8 Mustang fastback.

Now it's your turn to get all indignant, organize a riot er I mean a protest, demand restitution and all of the rest of today's narrative as to how to handle someone that doesn't lockstep agree with you.