Mustang Monthly

A 1966 Shelby G.T. 350 Saved from the Woolsey Fire in California
This ’66 G.T. 350 survived thanks to its determined owner
The devastating brushfires that consumed parts of California late last year unfolded for many on social media. One of the more engaging images was of what appeared to be a Wimbledon White 1966 Shelby G.T. 350 being pushed out of harm’s way by some firefighters. As typical of social media, some lauded their desire to save the owner’s prized possessions, while others argued it was a waste of resources to do such a thing. Regardless of what side of the playing field you’re on, the image certainly had some amazing reach.
We recently heard from John Young from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. A Shelby owner and enthusiast himself, he was able to verify the white fastback in that image was a tribute (a C-code built in San Jose). Still, we’re happy to see any Mustang saved. John’s own 1966 G.T. 350 barely escaped the fire as well. His Shelby, SFM6S1117, narrowly escaped the encroaching Malibu fire as well. John is the fifth documented owner of his Shelby and as soon as he packed up his wife and two sons so they could leave the house for safety he grabbed two full binders of documentation dating back to the original owner’s purchase and took off in the Shelby for the safety of his sheriff’s department parking lot.
“It’s an original paint, four-speed car with five documented owners. Also (for whatever it’s worth) most likely the last vintage Shelby Mustang sold while Carroll was still with us. I purchased it outside Austin, Texas and drove it back home to SoCal two days prior to his passing,” John states. With the massive size of the blaze John spent several weeks working the fire, all the while not sure if his own home would still be standing, but at least he knew his family was safe and so was his Shelby. When the smoke cleared the family was elated to find their house and all possessions still intact. Not everyone was so lucky.














Photography by John Young