THE GREEN AND THE GOLD: This spectacular 1966 Shelby GT350-H has that little something extra

May 19, 2017
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Statham

This rare green and gold 1966 Shelby GT350-H (Lot #665.1) will be crossing the Barrett-Jackson auction block in Connecticut.

Shelby Mustangs have earned every bit of their fame and adoration, but even the most partisan Shelby fans would have to admit that a certain sameness tends to surround the early cars. Much of that was by design, of course, and the rest of it was due to the economics of building limited-production specialty cars. As a result, today’s classic Shelby show fields tend to be uniformly colored in Wimbledon White and blue LeMans stripes, with a few smatterings of black and gold over in the GT350-H corner.

Finding a way to stand out in that crowd of champions isn’t easy, but every now and then a Shelby muscles its way to the head of the pack and says, “Hey, look at me!”

At Barrett-Jackson’s Northeast Auction at Mohegan Sun, that car will be SFM6S1025 (Lot #665.1).

One of only 59 1966 Shelby GT350H Mustangs built in Ivy Green with the Hertz Gold stripes, this Shelby also stands out for its documentation and quality of its restoration, not to mention the number of original parts retained. It’s fully documented in the SAAC Shelby Registry, and was recently verified by Howard C. Pardee, the 1965-66 Shelby registrar. The car’s ownership trail through Illinois, Pennsylvania, Canada and Wisconsin is well-sourced.

For those who’ve never immersed themselves in Shelby lore, in late 1965 the Hertz Corporation ordered 1,000 special Shelby GT350 Mustangs for use in the company’s rental car fleet for members of the Hertz Sports Car Club. Members had to be at least 25 years old, and had to pass a driving test. Most of these GT350-H cars were black with gold stripes, although small numbers, like this one, were shipped in other colors. Some early cars were equipped with 4-speed transmissions, but most carried automatics. The Shelby’s competition brakes were a startling surprise to many early customers, and the brakes were later retro-fitted with more streetable pads and shoes.

All of these Shelbys have a story ‒ and with the Hertz cars, the tall tales are more entertaining than most ‒ and this one’s begins when the car was shipped from Shelby’s California facility to Jack Loftus Ford in Hinsdale, Illinois, on February 21, 1966. It was ordered with Hertz special wheels, radio and brake booster, and carried an MSRP of $3762.84. The GT350-H served its rental duty at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago before heading out on its private ownership odyssey.

The last owner purchased the car in 2004. It could be classified as a survivor at that point, but this owner saw a brighter future. In 2010, he had the Mustang restored by noted Shelby authority Jim Cowles. It was rebuilt using as many OEM and Ford NOS parts as possible. The car retains almost all of its original sheet metal and has a framed fiberglass hood. The glass is original Ford Carlite. The original Hertz wheels, including the spare, were restored and are fitted with correct Goodyear Polyglas tires.

Except for the carpet and some minor items, the black interior is original. The original Cobra tachometer was restored and tracks the engine’s revs like it’s still 1966.

The attention to detail carries on underhood. The matching-numbers Hi-Po 289 was rebuilt by Don Mattie and has the correct oil pan, Buddy Bar valve covers, Holley carburetor, Hi-Riser Cobra intake manifold, headers, oil filter and Autolite parts. The distinctive Shelby rumble echoes through a concours dual exhaust system. The C4 automatic transmission and rear end are also believed to be original to the car, and both were completely rebuilt.

Like the rest of the car, the undercarriage is show-quality, finished in red oxide with correct overspray. The gas tank has its correct dates and stamps.

The documentation on this 72,401-mile Shelby is excellent, with letters from previous owners and SAAC documentation. During the restoration, both the Ford VIN and Shelby serial number were verified with photos, which are included. Three different service invoice copies from the car’s Hertz days are provided. The car comes with a binder with records, SAAC registry book, owner’s manuals, Hertz brochure, key chain and model cars.

This Shelby, from the MS Classic Cars Collection, has been recently serviced and detailed (also documented with an invoice), and is ready for any show field you’d care to name. Once a work-a-day rental, this GT350-H is now a world-class restoration you can’t rent at any price. Buying, however ‒ that’s another story.

For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click HERE.