Vehicle Description
Chassis No. SFM 6S2363
Ford swiftly revolutionized the automotive industry with the
introduction of the Mustang at the 1964 World's Fair in New York,
captivating a young generation of enthusiasts, and in so doing,
achieving over a quarter-million sales by year's end. The Mustang's
runaway success coincided with the dominance of the Ford-powered
Cobra Daytona Coupe at the 1964 12 Hours of Sebring on a global
tour in the FIA International Championship, soon on its way to Le
Mans. Closer to home, Ford was eager to replicate this success in
SCCA road racing. Ford homologated the Mustang for B-Production
competition, taking the Corvettes head-on, along with Jaguar
E-Types, Sunbeam Tigers, and various Ferraris. Naturally, Carroll
Shelby was selected to turn the brand-new Mustang into an all-out
sports car.
His creation, the Shelby GT350, dominated the competition, winning
the 1965 B-Production Championship outright. Modifications included
an additional 35 horsepower over the standard "K-Code" Hi-Po 289
V8, courtesy of a Holley carburetor, high-rise manifold, and Tri-Y
headers. The suspension featured modifications as well with larger
rear drum brakes, front Kelsey-Hayes discs, and more. A more
extensive program was undertaken in 1966, expanding the GT350's
color options to include Candyapple Red, Sapphire Blue, Dark Ivy
Green Metallic, and Raven Black, all featuring white Le Mans and
rocker panel stripes with GT350 logos. Steel hoods replaced the
troublesome fiberglass ones, functional brake scoops were added,
and a new GT350 gas cap was introduced.
The 1966 Shelby GT350 offered here, chassis number 6S2363, is a
pedigreed, championship-winning sports car with period and vintage
racing history. According to the SAAC Shelby Registry, 6S2363 was
shipped to Paradise Ford Inc. in Scottsdale, Arizona, on 24 June
1966, who were invoiced a total of $3,945.75 for the Sapphire Blue
Shelby featuring optional ten-spoke wheels and rear seats. Original
owners Jerry and Kathi Stewart of Greer, Arizona road-raced and
auto-crossed their new GT350 before selling it to Jim Emmert in
1969. Emmert had the car race prepared by SCCA legend Don Roberts,
who campaigned the Shelby in the 1970 SCCA B-Production Southern
Pacific Division Championship. That season, Roberts took five
victories in the Shelby on his way to winning the divisional
B-Production championship, and followed it up by finishing fourth
in class at the 1970 American Road Race of Champions - an
extraordinary achievement, to be sure! Don and his wife Sharon
subsequently purchased 6S2363 to continue campaigning it in the
1971 season, winning a further two B-Production races and finishing
third in the American Road Race of Champions at Road Atlanta.
Following a tremendous run of results in the B-Production class,
the Shelby was purchased by John Goodson of Tallahassee, Florida in
1972 who prepared it for IMSA competition. The Shelby Registry
records that the GT350 didn't change hands again until 1983 when
Jere L. Clark of Phoenix, Arizona purchased the car and had it
further prepared by Phil Roberts and Danny Ranshaw. Its vintage
racing debut took place at the 1983 Monterey Historics. It
continued to be a regular entrant in vintage racing events -
including a first-place overall finish at the 1988 Monterey
Historics - until 1990 when it was placed in storage. The Shelby
reemerged in 1999 and was reunited with its championship-winning
driver Don Roberts, who recommissioned and prepared it for vintage
racing once again. After being purchased by Jim Click in 2002, the
Shelby continued to take part in vintage racing events, with
Roberts maintaining it, for over 13 years including a complete
engine rebuild prior to the 2015 Monterey Historics.
Acquired by the consignor in 2016, this Shelby GT350 presents an
unrivaled opportunity to own and experience a winning American
racing legend on the track. Few race cars achieve the level of
success enjoyed by chassis 6S2363 in-period, including numerous
B-Production victories and the 1970 SCCA Southern Pacific Division
Championship - a long and successful life of vintage racing with
maintenance carried out by its championship-winning driver.
Long-time owner Jim Click said of Roberts following his passing in
2019, "I never had to worry about a car. I never had to worry about
it performing. I never had to worry about the handling. I never
worried about the safety because of Don; I just had total trust in
him." Exercised in multiple Sportscar Vintage Racing Association
(SVRA) and Corinthian Vintage Auto Racing (CVAR) events since the
consignor's acquisition, chassis 6S2363 remains a highly usable and
competitive sports car primed for further vintage racing.
