1969-1970

In the summer of 1969, Carroll Shelby terminated his agreement with Ford. The GT350 and GT500 for the 1969–70 model years received extensive face lifts, the body alone increasing in length by 4 inches (100 mm). Ford was heavily involved with design and style decisions, with Shelby having very little input. The GT350 was now equipped with a 351 cubic-inch V8. Production of Shelby Mustangs ceased with the 1970 model year. The 1970 models were in fact left over 1969 models

Tags: 1969 Shelby Mustang

1967-1968 GT350 & GT500

Production	1967-1968
Assembly	Dearborn, Michigan
Body style(s)	2-door fastback 2-door convertible (1968)
Engine(s)	289 cid V8 (1967 GT350) 302 cid V8 (1968 GT350) 390 cid (Early 1968 GT500) 428 cid V8 (GT500)
Transmission(s)	3-speed automatic 4-speed manual

1967 was the last year for the Shelby Mustang Cobras. The GT 350 used the high performance 289 with a COBRA aluminum hi-rise and 715 cfm Holley carb, with a Paxton supercharger as an option. The GT 500 known as the Eleanor (the name Eleanor was given to a 1973 mach one in the original film “Gone in 60 Seconds”. In the remake it was changed to a highly modified 1967 Shelby GT500. The original Shelby GT500 was never called the Eleanor) It was equipped with the 428 Police Interceptor, 2 Holley 4 barrel carbs, and headers as an option. 1968 introduced the Shelby Mustang. Power steering, a single carburetor and hydraulic camshaft made this a muscle car for the masses. The Shelby GT350 Mustang sported a 302 cubic-inch V8 while the GT500 came equipped with the 428 cubic-inch Police Interceptor engine. In February 1968, the GT500KR “King of the Road” debuted; under the hood was a 428 cubic-inch Cobra Jet V8 which was conservatively rated at 335 horsepower (250 kW). Due to a production strike, some early 1968 GT500’s had a 390 cubic-inch V8. Also in 1968, production of Shelby Mustangs switched from Shelby’s shop in California to A.O. Smith Company in Michigan.

The 1966 Shelby Mustang was differentiated in body color colors included red, blue, green and black, as well as the original white. The “Le Mans” stripes were continued as an option, as in 1965. Where early 1965 cars had black engine blocks, 1966 and later cars had the 289 engine painted blue. It featured special quarter-panel windows and rear air scoops on each side and an optional automatic transmission. A fold-down rear seat was now standard as well.  The first Shelby Mustang 252 GT-350s for 1966 were “carry-over” cars. They had the 1965 Ford Mustang Bodies and 1965 Ford Mustang serial numbers under their Shelby serial numbers. They had mostly 1965 features including standard Koni shock absorbers and engines painted black. Blue engines did not appear in 1966 until after these 252 “carry-over” models were produced. 1966 production was 1373 fastbacks, including two prototypes and four drag cars, and 252 “carry-over” models with Ford Mustang 1965 bodies. 1001 Hertz fastbacks were produced, including two prototypes. Four convertibles were also produced, for a total of 2378 units for 1966.

Shelby struck a deal with the Hertz Corporation to produce a special line of GT350s for rent which were subsequently sold to the public after their rental-car lives were finished. These “GT350H” cars are quite rare and sought-after today, with some examples selling for more than $120,000. Shelby produced 1000 of these cars: 800 in Raven Black, and 50 each in Candy Apple Red, Wimbledon White, Sapphire Blue and Ivy Green. All Hertz cars featured gold LeMans stripes and rocker panel stripes. Early Hertz cars were available with four-speed manual transmissions until so many cars were returned from rental with burned and broken clutch assemblies that all of the later cars shipped to Hertz were equipped with an automatic transmission. Many were rented to use as production class cars at SCCA events, some were returned with different engines, holes where roll bars had been welded in, and other modifications to legally run on the track.

Production numbers: GT350 — 2,380 units (four were special order convertibles for Carroll Shelby, the rumor is that six were made, but only four VINs have been discovered). The brakes were enlarged to cope with the extra power. New components such as under-hood suspension bracing were used. Staggered rear shock absorbers prevented wheel hop and axle wind-up. Functional air intake scoops were added to force air to the rear brake pads to keep them cool.