The restoration continues on this rare 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

Today, we have another update on the restoration of a very early production 1965 GT350 Mustang. This is one of the cars early enough to have been modified at the Venice, CA facility before Shelby American moved to the Los Angeles Airport plant.

The car is owned by a customer. Virginia Classic Mustang has supplied many of the parts along with consultation for the restoration. The restoration is being performed by Maple Hill Restoration. We have featured quite a few of Jeremy’s restorations of our own cars here on the Blog. His work is really incredible.

This Shelby is now painted, and the “fun part” of the restoration is rolling along as things start going together.

We have tagged all of the posts featuring the restoration of this car, and you can find them all here by clicking this link.

If you click on a picture, you can view a large version of that image, but please check out the captions which explain each particular image.

If you don’t subscribe to our Blog yet, be sure to do so by clicking the link in the RH side bar. We will be posting more pictures very soon…don’t miss them!

Rear brake/hub area is detailed and assembled. Our brake shoes were used rather than the segmented originals due to superior performance of these particular shoes. 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

Rear brake drum has been “blacked out” on the face as originally done. 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

Markings on the factory nine inch rear end housing have been duplicated as found on the original. 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

Factory markings on the rear leaf springs and U-bolts have been duplicated. 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

Detail shot of the rear underside area showing the rubber bumper used on override traction bar cars and the detailed Koni Shock. 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

Another detail shot showing the rear end, backing plate, and rear traction bar. 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

This car was originally equipped with the 15 x 5 1/2 inch Kelsey Hayes steel wheels. Here is one mounted with a Goodyear Blue Dot tire. 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

Gas tank and trunk area detail. The tail light wiring harness is ready to be installed. 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

Rear tail light wiring harness installed and properly routed. 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

Detail shot of the RH tail light housing showing the proper spacers and nuts. 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

This image shows the inside quarter vent area. Note how the colors and overspray have been duplicated exactly how it was originally found on this particular car. 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

The original rear trunk latch was cleaned and re-used. 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

Exterior rear quarter vent/louvers have been cleaned and detail painted as original. 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

Note the detail of the original colors and overspray. Also note the “override” traction bar mount and seal. This area will, of course, be covered when the package tray and other interior pieces are installed, but it has been restored and duplicated exactly as it was originally built. 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

1965 Shelby GT350. Front frame rail detail. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

1965 Shelby GT350. Front suspension strut rods with proper stops, hardware, bushings and washers. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

1965 Shelby GT350. Strut rod steering stop with paint marking as original. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

1965 Shelby GT350. Motor mount assemblies were unique to the 289 High Performance engines in 1965. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

The ’65 GT350 through early ’66’s were “lowered” in the front by Shelby American drilling a lower set of holes the mounting of the front control arms. 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

The first 300 or so 1965 GT350s had a trunk mounted battery. Special rubber plugs were used in the holes where the battery tray would have been originally mounted up front in the Mustang. We have those plugs available, and they are 100% like the originals. You can buy them at this link. 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

Rear brake hose area on the underside of the car. Note the dual exhaust muffler hanger is installed in the car even though it is not used, because the 1965 Shelby GT350s had side exiting exhaust. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

Another detail shot showing the floor pan with the proper overspray and routing of the gas and brake lines along with the emergency brake cable on this rare 1965 Shelby GT350. ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc