Final Shelby Mustang GT350 Heading to Auction at Monterey

RM Auctions is selling an incredibly rare 1970 Shelby GT350 at its Monterey auction on August 16-17. What makes it rare is that technically there were no Shelby MustangsFord Mustang Gen.1United States of America, 1964 > 197337 versions
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built in 1970. FordFordUnited States of America, 1903 > present92 models
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went around Shelby to use remaining parts to build new cars after he decided not to build any more Shelby Mustangs.

Carroll Shelby was a cantankerous man and that might be putting it nicely. While he was certainly a successful racer and builder, he was known as a man with a strong temper and getting on the wrong side of him was a bad idea. 

Shelby started his relationship with Ford in 1962 began using their V8s in his famous CobraShelby CobraUnited States of America, 1961 > 19683 series
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sports car. In 1965, Ford wanted to add some performance to its new Mustang and contacted Shelby to perform some modifications. The Shelby-tuned Mustangs were an instant hit among American auto enthusiasts, but the relationship did not last long. In September 1967, Ford moved production of the Shelby Mustangs from Shelby's factory in California to its own factory in Iowa. By 1969, Ford has angered Shelby enough that he stopped working on Mustangs for them all together

But that is not the end of the Shelby Mustang story. For 1970, Ford still had buyers who wanted higher performance Mustangs, and the Shelby name meant something to them. Ford took 788 unsold 1969 Shelby Mustangs and shipped them to Kar Kraft and well-known customizer in Dearborn, Michigan. They were shipped back to the Ford factory and stamped with a 1970 Vehicle Identification Number.

The 1970 cars were mechanically identical to the 1969 cars accept for new hood stripes and a new front air dam. The engine was a 351 cubic inch (5.752 liter) V8 with 290hp, heavy-duty front suspension and power disc brakes in the front. 

The car that RM is auctioning is even more special for three reasons. First, it was the only 1970 car specced with an automatic transmission, and it was the only 1970 Shelby Mustang ordered in Grabber Yellow paint. Finally, it was the last 1970 Shelby that Kar Kraft modified, which makes it the final original Shelby Mustang sold in the US. 

The car was delivered to Florida and has had three owners since new covering 27,000 miles. It was restored in 2006 and comes complete with its original window sticker, build sheet, order sheet and warranty papers.

RM Auctions estimates that the car will sell for $200,000 - $250,000.

Source: Motor Authority