1967 Ford Mustang GT350 Tribute

Description

In the Shelby world, the big block GT500s are what get fans all excited, but it's easy to forget that if you wanted a Mustang that would chase Corvettes around a race track, the GT350 remained the best choice. And while they're a little more affordable than their big block siblings, sometimes it's better to just build your own and get it just the way you want it. That's the case with this 1967 Shelby GT350 tribute, which offers small block power, impressive handling, and an awesome Shelby look.

Bright Candyapple Red is a no-miss color for any hi-po Mustang and when dressed in correct Shelby Lemans stripes, it's a look that is as attractive as it is intimidating. Now just because this is a tribute car doesn't mean it was inexpensive to build, and you can see that thousands of hours and dollars were poured into the finish. Straight bodywork, crisp details, and a lot of proper Shelby design cues make it look quite convincing; if not for those oversized wheels, it would fit right in at SAAC conventions. Hood pins hold the hood down, scoops on the C-pillar and quarter panels replicate the Shelby look, and there really aren't many cars better looking than the '67 Mustang fastback. Finish quality is really impressive, with a brilliant shine and a deep, rich color that you could swim in. The close-set fog lamps were outlawed pretty early in '67 Shelby production, but not because they don't look cool, so they went on this tribute along with fresh bumpers and polished stainless trim.

The interior got the full Shelby treatment, too, with gorgeous bucket seats freshly upholstered in black vinyl just the way the factory did it. A wood-rimmed steering wheel with a Shelby horn button is a little thicker in the rim and a little smaller in diameter, but it looks very traditional. A full set of gauges, including a big tach strapped to the steering column, monitors the hot small block up front and there's a Hurst cue ball just to your right. As a tribute, they could afford to take a few liberties, so they added a powerful Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo system, A/C, and drilled aluminum pedals on the floor just for effect. There are also white-faced auxiliary gauges under the dash and no center console, which is apparently how Ol' Shel himself preferred it. It also includes fold-down rear seats and a trunk fitted with a spare and jack, so you know they weren't about cutting corners on this build.

We have receipts on the build of the stroked 351 cubic inch V8, with a parts tally adding up to more than $9500. Then add the block, the labor, the machining, and the dyno testing (434 horses and 422 pounds of torque, by the way), and you have one expensive piece of hardware. The engine bay is quite nicely detailed and mixes traditional looks like the Cobra dress-up kit with modern tech like the MSD ignition and an aluminum radiator. A T-10 4-speed manual channels torque aft to the 8-inch rear with 3.80 gears inside, so this sucker scoots! Long-tube headers and cackling Flowmasters give it that familiar Ford performance sound and 17-inch Halibrand-style wheels are the perfect fit for this awesome Shelby tribute.

We like to think Carroll himself would smile at this cool fastback because it combines horsepower and handling in just the right combination, making for a very entertaining and charismatic ride. Call today!