In a matchup of new versus old, the guys from TheStraightPipes YouTube channel recently corralled a pair of Ford Shelby Mustangs built six decades apart, and hit the highway in a road test of two very different pony cars that share a common heritage.
Behind the wheel, both vehicles deliver visceral experiences, albeit in distinct ways according to Yuri and Jakub from TSP. The 1965 Mustang, with its 306 horsepower, 289 cu.in. carbureted V8 engine is the essence of old-school muscle, with a raw and guttural exhaust note that sounds like it was lifted from the soundtrack of the 1968 film Bullitt.
Watch The 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350 Vs 2020 GT350R Matchup
By way of contrast, the 2020 GT350R with its 526 horsepower four cam Voodoo engine featuring an exotic flat-plane crank emits a mechanical symphony sounding more like a hybrid of ‘Merica meets Maranello
“Literally the most amazing new car sound,” said Yuri.
Looking beyond the raucous exhaust note, the common thread that binds these two cars together is an integral part of automotive history, none other than the fingerprint of the legendary Carroll Shelby.
Origin Story Of The Shelby Mustang GT350
Back in 1965, Ford handed off 652 Mustang bodies to Shelby with the request that he make them SCCA B-production winners. Modifications to the Mustang GT350 included rear seat delete, side exit exhaust, 15-inch Cragar wheels, fiberglass hood, and other race-spec suspension upgrades.
“The [SCCA] rulebook stated that you could either modify the engine or suspension on the cars that he was going to race, but not both. He decided to homologate the street cars with race suspension and then stick the highly tuned race engines in the select few R models that they would race as the factory team,” said Gary Klutt from Legendary Motorcar Company. “It just wasn’t feasible to put a race engine in every street car."
According to Jakub, between the two Mustangs, the 1965 got more positive feedback from other drivers on the highway.
“The overall vibe of driving this — I’m getting non-stop thumbs-up in the 1965. Everyone loves and respects the hell out of this thing.”
Fast forward to 2020, the GT350R channels the spirit of the earlier Mustang while adding the comforts and conveniences that modern drivers generally take for granted.
“This thing drives like a total sports car, not a muscle car … It is very, very precise; you’ve got different sport modes, you’ve got modes for your steering and suspension,” said Yuri. “That [1965 Mustang] is like a whole different classic car animal that we don’t fully understand.”
While the GT350R has been unfortunately discontinued for 2021, there are apparently still a few examples available at dealerhips. If you’re in the market for a 1965 Mustang GT350 or another classic Ford, check out Legendary Motorcar Company.
Source: YouTube