This ultra-rare 1966 GT350 Convertible can soon be yours
Mecum’s Indianapolis sale has been postponed to July, but the docket is already full of stunning vehicles. Back in March we highlighted the announcement of the first-ever Shelby GT350R, part of the John Atzbach collection that features numerous rare and important Shelbys. Among them is this super-rare 1966 GT350 Convertible, offered at no reserve.
Just four GT350 Convertibles were built for 1966, and serial number 6S2375 indicates that this is earliest of the quartet. Shelby supposedly built the cars for testing purposes, ahead of the planned standard-production Convertible which was ultimately released for the 1968 model year. After completion, 6S2375 was used as part of the Shelby motor pool. It was then sold in early 1967, becoming frequently used as a pace car for SCCA events. Later, the drop-top GT350 passed through the hands of numerous owners, got repainted at one point, and eventually underwent a complete restoration in the mid-’70s. Since then it has been shown extensively, including at the 50th-anniversary gathering of Mustangs at the LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.
“It’s an awfully rare occasion to have an original ’66 GT350 Convertible comes up for sale, which is only to be expected with just four ever built.” says Colin Comer, Hagerty marketplace expert and author of The Complete Book of Shelby Automobiles: Cobras, Mustangs, and Super Snakes. “Better still its history is well known, it retains its original engine, and is coming from a great collection,” he adds.
The Shelby remains in its original color combination of Ivy Green with Hertz Gold side stripes (minus the Hertz “H” following the GT350 call out). A few additions were made down the road, including the set of Hertz Gold Le Mans stripes and Paxton Supercharger. “The much-later addition of a Paxton supercharger is not much of a value-add here, if one at all since it wasn’t factory or installed in period, nor are the added gold LeMans stripes which I, as the purist, would likely remove,” offers Comer. “But the not-so-secret sauce of this whole offering is just the rare chance to buy one of the four real GT350 convertibles, which have always been among the most desirable of all Shelby Mustangs.”
This is indeed a rare occasion; the last 1966 GT350 Convertible to be offered publicly was in 2017. The Ruby Red, four-speed example was offered at the Worldwide Auctioneers’ sale in Scottsdale, Arizona, where it sold for $742,500. The Hagerty Price Guide suggests market values between $681,000–$986,000, although the final price will be anyone’s guess given the provenance. Especially at no reserve, this is an opportunity likely to draw a few enthusiastic bidders.
The GT350 Convertible crosses the block on Friday, July 17. You can follow the entire sale results in real time through the free Hagerty Insider app.
