Owner Gary Fitzgerald graciously allowed former driver Tommy Hamilton some seat time in 5R533 during one of the open track sessions. Staging for this particular track excursion was like a time-warp rewind of some 40 years.
The Details
'65 Competition Shelby GT350 (R-model) SFM5R533
Engine
295ci
Boss 302 block (4.030-inch bore)
Scat billet-steel crank (2.900-inch stroke)
Crower steel rods
Ross forged pistons
Cobra Automotive-spec solid-roller cam
World Products Windsor heads, fully ported
Comp Cams roller rockers
Edelbrock Victor Jr., ported
Holley 750 double-pumper
MSD distributor and ignition box
Aviaid oil pan
Transmission
Jerico four-speed
Tilton dual-disc clutch
Hurst shifter
Rearend
9-inch
Detroit Locker
3.89 or 4.11 gears
Moser 31-spline axles
SAAC events always place an emphasis on track time, and here we see the Brown Brothers R-model on the infield portion of California Speedway at SAAC 30. Credit for the first-class race prep goes to the crew at Cobra Automotive.
Suspension
Front: 620lb springs, Koni shocks, Cobra Automotive 111/48-inch sway bar, boxed upper and lower control arms
Rear: 225lb-rate leaf springs, Koni shocks
Brakes
Front: Lincoln 12-inch disc assembly, Cobra Automotive/Porterfield carbon-Kevlar pads
Rear: 11x 211/42-inch drums, Cobra Automotive/Porterfield carbon-Kevlar shoes
Wheels
Front: American Racing Torque Thrust D, 15x7
Rear: American Racing Torque Thrust D, 15x8.5
Tires
Front: Goodyear Blue Streak, 6.00-15
Rear: Hoosier Street TD, P245/60D-15
News Flash
Just prior to going to press with this story, we learned of some significant, recent changes to 5R533. Collector and classic-car dealer Colin Comer (www.colinsclassicauto.com) purchased this car from Gary Fitzgerald, took the interior and engine back to circa 1965, and was heading to the January '07 RM Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, with it when we caught up with him by phone.
Comer was nice enough to share his thoughts with us, saying that when he first purchased the Brown Brothers R-model, he planned to keep it with his significant collection of classics. Comer already races a '66 GT350 in select vintage events and thus felt the urge to pamper 5R533 a bit by back-dating it and taking it off the track. As fate would have it, another R-model subsequently became available to Comer, thus the decision to put 5R533 up for sale. Comer says the car's current configuration makes it vintage-eligible for many more sanctioning bodies and could now include events such as the prestigious Monterey Historics. The RM Auctions catalog has identified the projected sales price of 5R533 to be around $750,000-$950,000.