'66 Shelby GT350No competition models, all are street. Gone were the over-ride traction bars and lowered upper control arms to cut costs. The 289 High Performance V-8 got the Cobra high-rise and 715-cfm Holley atomizer. Ford's C4 Cruise-O-Matic transmission became an option that year. Color choices expanded to Sapphire Blue, Candyapple Red, Ivy Green, and Raven Black. Most cars got the fold-down rear seat option. It had plexiglass quarter windows, as well as side brake cooler scoops. The first 252 '66 GT350s were carryover '65 models, but look like '66 models. these carryover cars had the five-dial instrument panel common to '66, as well. The carryover cars had '65 competition suspensions.
The last four '66 GT350s were convertibles: one Dark Ivy Green Metallic, one Sapphire Blue, one Springtime Yellow, and one Candyapple Red. One supercharged '66 GT350S was built, a Dark Ivy Green fastback. Four competition drag GT350s were also built for 1966.
Numbers produced: 1,365
'66 Shelby GT350HHertz ordered 1,000 '66 Shelby GT350s for its Hertz Sports Car Club. Most of these cars were Raven Black with gold stripes-Hertz company colors. Rare are the Hertz cars in Guardsman Blue, Wimbledon White, Dark Ivy Green, and Candyapple Red. Just 85 of these cars are four-speed equipped. The rest, 925, are automatics. It is true that 40 percent of '66 GT350 production was the GT350H. It meant a lot of revenue for Shelby-American.
There is a lot of speculation about GT350H colors. According to SAAC, Hertz asked for a black and gold GT350 prototype on October 26, 1965. A firm order for 200 units followed, along with a request for a second prototype with a C4 Cruise-O-Matic. The first 200-car order was for Raven Black with gold-stripe units. The rest of the 800-car order was a mix of Guardsman Blue, Wimbledon White, Candyapple Red, and Dark Ivy Green. Check out the Shelby-American World Registry from SAAC for more details.
A special piggyback braking system was added because of stopping issues with fade-resistant brake pads. The gold foil brake warning label on the dash reads, "This vehicle is equipped with competition brakes. Heavier than normal brake pedal pressure may be required."
Numbers produced: 1,000
Second Generation'67 Shelby MustangThe first year for the GT500 featured a 428ci dual-quad FE-series big-block, highlighted by a Cobra oval air-cleaner assembly. New fiberglass and scooped hood was 4 inches longer than stock and integrated with unique fender extensions, a new grille, and valance. The '67 Shelby Mustang looked more like a shark than a horse. Redesigned fastback rear quarters featured fiberglass air extractors, in addition to the brake scoops. About 200 cars were fitted with small red running lights to the back of this scoop early in production. High-beam headlight positioning varied, with some inboard in front of the radiator, and some outboard in the grille mouth. Shelby used '67 Cougar taillights, which run the width of the tailpanel. A rear-deck spoiler puts this Mustang street beast emotionally on the racetrack. Inside, all '67 Shelby Mustangs got the brushed-aluminum Interior Dcor Group with molded door panels and seats, 8,000-rpm tachometer, plus amp and oil gauges in twin-pod instrumentation under the dash, plus a Shelby-specific, wood-rimmed, three-spoke steering wheel.
The '67 GT350 still has a 289 High Performance Cobra engine, again tuned for 306 hp. One '67 GT500 hardtop prototype (known as Big Red) was built. One GT500 convertible prototype was also built. Both were later destroyed. Although this is generally accepted as truth, we wouldn't be surprised if one or both of these cars eventually surfaced.
Numbers produced: 1,175, GT350; 2,048, GT500-all fastbacks