Cars, Muscle Cars, Shelby

1965 Shelby GT350 Fastback

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1965 Shelby GT350

One of the most beloved automobiles in American automobile lore is the 1965 Shelby GT350 Fastback. This car symbolizes the epitome of American muscle cars. Automobile visionary Lee Iacocca knew that he wanted to make a car that would be remembered, and teamed up with racing industry success Carroll Shelby. The sleek look, the proven power, and the famed white with blue stripes of the Shelby Cobra made this vehicle a marvel to look at.

The Shelby GT350 was manufactured from 1965 – 1968. This machine can go from 0 – 60 in 6.7 seconds, and reaches top speed at 137 mph. This Shelby has a V8 engine, and sported a 4 speed Borg-Warner transmission with an aluminum case to reduce overall weight.

Ford wanted a car that would be used for racing as well as for enthusiastic drivers. However, with an asking price of just over $4,500.00, there were not too many people who could afford the vehicle upon its introduction in 1965. Fortunate owners were far from disappointed in their pricey purchase.

One of the most noted features of the Shelby GT350 is that it does not have a back seat. This was due to racing regulations in the SCCA not allowing anything over a two-seater. In place of the seat was fiberglass flooring and a spare tire placed under the rear window. The 1965 Shelby GT350 is one of the best known pony cars. Although its initial sales looked dismal, it is a time tested classic that has been re-released.

1965 Shelby GT350 Fastback Photo Gallery:

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Cars, Muscle Cars

1965 Pontiac GTO

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Due to popular demand, and the popularity of the GTO series, the 1965 Pontiac GTO brought new features, and was a much more popular car than its predecessor 1964 model. The restored 1965 Pontiac GTO model sold just over 75,000 cars that year, even though a UAW strike was taking place early on during the year. The main changes to the body of the 65 model were the new headlights, which were now vertical, and a single hood scoop, which replaced the double scoop found in 1964 and older models of the GTO family. The 65 model also featured improved camshafts, and new intakes reved up the horse power ratings to 335 in the four-barrel equipped models, and 389 and 360 horse power, in the tri-power topped engine models.

The 1965 Pontiac GTO also featured six chrome ribs, which ran down the quarter panel, and hid the headlights, until they were lit by the driver. The original price was $295.50, and for an additional $115.78, drivers could opt to purchase the tri-power vehicle model. In the middle of August that same year, another boost came in sales of the 1965 Pontiac GTO, due to the release of a dealer cold air induction kit for the tri-power series. This gave way to the Ram Air package, which continued through until the 1966 models of the GTO. One last model, the XS package, was also produced and released to the consumer market, after the engine block code on the Ram Air GTO models.

 

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Cars, Ford, Muscle Cars

1965 Ford Mustang

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In 1964, Ford Motors introduced the car that would change the way the world looked at automobiles. The 1965 Mustang, first released in 1964, is one of the most popular and sought after muscle cars even today. The car was first introduced in April of 64 at the New York’s World Fair and appeared on the cover of both Newsweek and Time magazines.

Just how much influence did this vehicle have on the automobile market? Over 22,000 cars were ordered on the first day, and nearly 418,000 sold in the first year. These numbers obliterated all others for automobile sales of the time. What is it that made this car so great though?

The Mustang came in two body styles, the Coupe and the Convertible, nearly 29,000 Convertibles and just over 90,000 Coupes were sold. This car was built for performance, and it delivered everything asked for and then some. The sleek design and custom interior made the Ford Mustang one of America’s favorite muscle cars. Three different engine types were available, one V6 model and two V8 models with 101, 164, and 210 horse power respectively. A true machine of performance.

The Mustang was available in 17 colors including Cascade Green, Raven Black, and Silversmoke Gray. The cars were assembled in Dearborn, San Jose, and Metuchen. After the initial series was produced, the Mustang also became available in a fastback model. The fastback designation indicates that some of the trunk space was converted to provide more interior room.

Lee Iacocca who was then chief engineer and assistant general manager, had visions of a vehicle similar to the Ford Falcon that would be more sporty and be reasonably priced. The Mustang has been in production ever since, and will most likely continue to be produced as long as the world uses cars. It has never lost it’s style or appeal, and anyone who has ever owned, driven, or dreamed of having a Mustang understands why.

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