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1966 Shelby GT350 SFM6S779
Description Prepared by Bill Collins on December 18, 2011
Overview: Original 4 speed GT350 factory finished in dark Ivy Green metallic color without LeMans stripes. Equipped with standard painted steel 14 inch Magnum 500 wheels. Original “matching number” engine and all aluminum T10 transmission. The current odometer reading of 69,680 miles is believed actual.
All major Shelby parts are intact. These include the Shelby modifications to the high performance 289 engine, special 4 speed aluminum transmission, engine compartment export brace and “Monte Carlo” stiffening bar, heavy duty front sway bar, rear underride style traction bars, Koni shocks, steel frame/fiberglass hood, rear quarter windows and lower brake scoops, functional lower brake cooling ductwork, 9000RPM dash mounted Cobra tachometer, “Ray Brown” 3 inch competition seat belts and various Shelby insignia.
#779 is well documented. Its Ford VIN is verified with SAAC, the Shelby American Automobile Club. It is listed in the 2011 edition of their Shelby World Registry, where it appears on pages 298 and 459. Copies of documents are presently being secured. These may include the original dealer order, Shelby factory invoice, dealer warranty correspondence and other related items.
Authenticity: Genuine ’66 Shelby GT350 production serial # 779. The full Shelby VIN is stamped into the factory original embossed ID plate located on the left inner fender apron. The Shelby VIN is clearly stamped into the right inner fender apron by the shock tower. The full Ford VIN is stamped into the left front inner fender apron beneath the Shelby ID plate. The right passenger side apron VIN is also believed to be intact beneath the fender, but this has not yet been checked.
History: Produced at Ford’s San Jose, CA assembly plant in December of 1965 and shipped to Shelby American in Los Angeles for completion. Completed by Shelby to and shipped January 29, 1966 to Stark Hickey Ford sales of Albany, New York, to fill an order they placed on Jan 19th.
Purchased from Stark Hickey by Robert M. Stevens of Knox, New York on March 9, 1966. Subsequently purchased by Jim Sterner of Bloomfield, MI. Next registered in about 1969 to Mike and Helen Pelersi of Albany, New York, at which point it had 67,000 miles and a ’65 style side exhaust system. Mike Pelersi was the brother in law of second owner Jim Sterner, and it is believed that they may have initially purchased the car jointly and that it always remained in the Albany area.
The Pelersi’s were reportedly seeking a ’66 GT350 in the iconic white/blue stripe color combination, but could not locate one in their area. So, they bought #779 and immediately had it repainted to those colors from its original green. That 1969 refinish remains on the car to this day.
#779 was next purchased by Rick Guyer of nearby Burnt Hills, New York in about 1998. Mileage at the time was noted to be around 69,000. Rick, a long time Shelby enthusiast in the Albany area, has kept 779 in the same condition as when he purchased it.
#779 was delivered to Bill Collins of Bill Collins Collector Fords in Middletown, Pennsylvania in September of 2011.
Body : This is a very intact and complete example that retains its factory body metal to a large degree. There is no evidence of accident damage. The original fiberglass / steel frame hood is in place. Some fiberglass work has been done along the undersides of the hood’s outer edges where the skin and frame are bonded together. It is unknown if this was an attempt to repair a bow in the hood or as a result of delamination.
All front end sheetmetal and doors appear to be original. The fenders bear Ford production date stamps of “12 2 8” (Dec 2nd) on the left and “11 29 3” (Nov 29) on the right. The left front inner fender apron is stamped “12 16 D2” (Dec 16th Dearborn stamping second shift); the right has no date. The rear fender aprons between the shock tower and firewall are date stamped “12 14 D” on the left (Dec 14 Dearborn stamping) and “12 17 2” on the right (Dec 17 second shift). The latch striker pins on the left and right door jambs are date stamped “12 - 65”.
The floor pans and front frame rails are factory original with no repairs evident. The underside has not been undercoated and although there is surface corrosion in various areas, there is no rust through evident.
Both rear quarters have been replaced. The repair seam is at the beltline between the base of the quarter window and corner of the trunk. It is believed that OEM Ford panels were used, as the factory eyelets are present in the wheel openings, the hidden area is finished in Ford red primer and there is a Ford style parts sticker evident beneath the paint on the inside of the right panel.
The inner quarter trunk drops have also been replaced, using plain flat sheetmetal. The trunk floor extensions have several patches that are pop riveted into place. The rear frame rails have both been repaired in the shackle area by placing a cap over the original rail.
The exterior was repainted in about 1969 and remains in very presentable overall condition considering its age. Some patina is evident, as well as subsurface imperfections that have worked their way through from the bodywork where the rear quarters were attached. Both lower side scoops are factory original. The windshield and other glass is the original dated Carlite.
The general technical specifications are as follows:
Engine Compartment: The original export brace and cowl mounting bracket are intact, along with the “Monte Carlo” stiffening bar. The upper shock absorber brackets have the factory welded reinforcement washers in place. The radiator is an aftermarket replacement. The original high performance unique metal shroud is attached.
Engine: is the original “matching number” 289 cid high performance installed at the factory. The Ford VIN is stamped into the front right skirt of the engine block. The stamping is very lightly done and difficult to see with the naked eye. This number matches the VIN stampings on the body inner fender aprons. The engine assembly date stamping code is “5M17”, indicating that it was assembled on December 17, 1965.
The original air filter assembly is in place. The carburetor has been replaced with a 735 cfm Holley bearing engineering stamping “C9AF U’ which indicates that it is a service replacement unit for a 428 Cobra Jet. The intake manifold is the original aluminum hi rise with large “Cobra” lettering. The fuel pump is the original Carter button top “CARBureTOR” logo’d unit with 4201S engineering number,
The valve covers are the original Cobra aluminum “open letter” style. The external cylinder head codes are “21”, indicating that they are factory high performance units.
The distributor is the original “FoMoCo” logo with C5OE 12127 E engineering number, indicating a dual point centrifugal advance unit. Its date code is “5L8” (November 8, 1965). An aftermarket Mallory ignition coil replaces the original Ford yellow top unit. The alternator has been replaced with a later unit from a 1972 Mustang (D2ZE engineering number). The original large diameter steel alternator pulley is intact.
The cooling fan is the original four aluminum blade unit with “65J” date code (October 1965). The water pump is a cast iron aftermarket.
The high performance unique large crankshaft balancer is intact and has as “K5” date code (October 1965). The oil pan is an original “Cobra” lettered aluminum 7 ½ quart capacity unit.
Driveline: The factory aluminum bellhousing is in place, along with the proper clutch linkage. The Borg Warner T-10 transmission is all aluminum and equipped with the factory Ford shift controller. The original heavy duty driveshaft and nine inch axle housing are in place. The differential case has been replaced by a later unit with 0A18 date code (January 18, 1970). The rear axle ratio is presently unknown.
Steering/Suspension/Brakes/Exhaust: Factory quick ratio steering box with HCC-AX identification tag, fitted with Shelby unique enlongated pitman and idler arms for quickened response.
One inch front sway bar, Koni shocks all around, factory underride traction bars.
Front manual disc brakes with large reservoir master cylinder and factory proportioning valve intact. Shelby unique 2 ½ inch rear lining / drums.
Replacement “4 into1” style exhaust headers with fiberglass packed aftermarket mufflers exiting beneath the driver’s floor. No full exhaust system.
Wheels/tires: Five matching factory original 14x6 grey painted Magnum 500 wheels. The tires are old radials now questionably suitable for road use due to their age.
Interior / trunk: Factory original carpet, upholstery and headliner are intact and in good condition. The rear fold down seat is complete. All of the interior fiberglass panels and trunk access door are intact and unmodified.
All of the original instrumentation and AM radio are intact. The original Cobra logo 9000 RPM tach is mounted on top of the dash. The factory faux wood rimmed steering wheel is in place with GT350 enter cap. The Ford factory shift handle is in place with a Ford accessory floor plate. The front competition and rear standard seat belts are all intact.
The tensioning rods have been removed from the trunk lid, making it necessary to use a prop to hold it up when open. The interior trunk area has been painted black and there is no mat. The spare is a matching wheel mounted with a non matching tire. The jack and lug wrench are missing.
Observations: This GT350 presents a good opportunity for the owner/restorer. The “Big Three” integrity items are all intact: Original Shelby VIN tag, all aprons bearing the factory stamped VIN numbers intact, and VIN stamped original engine.
There is also the very desirable all aluminum transmission, a rarity in a non carryover ’66 GT350. The three owner complete history is known and the car has a clean report in the current (2011) SAAC Registry.
Price: Offered at $109,500. Available now and on display in my showroom at Middletown, Pennsylvania.
Description prepared by Bill Collins – December 18, 2011
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