The 2019 biopic Ford v Ferrari introduced the American moviegoing public to Carroll Shelby as he joined forces with Ford to take on Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. But anyone who loves cars should have known all about the development of the Cobra and Daytona Coupe (which the filmmakers almost entirely glossed over) that led to the eventual GT40 trio winning Le Mans in 1966. Today, any vehicle bearing Shelby's name commands immediate attention—just look at the monstrous Mustang in GT500 trim or the outgoing GT350. But period Shelby products still get the highest respect, and it's hard to get much better than this Paxton-supercharged 1966 Shelby GT350 currently listed on the auction website Bring a Trailer that the "Chicken Farmer from Texas" himself reportedly drove in a Texas parade back in 2002.
Early Eleanor In Red
Finished in a repaint of red with white stripes, this GT350 certainly looks the part of a 1960s legend. The car has clearly been well-loved over the years and the 2006 paint job helps show off the new-for-1966 quarter windows, those iconic brake ducts, and the lack of a passenger-side rearview mirror.
Period Correct
Under the hood, the Hi-Po 289ci V8 benefits from a period-correct Paxton supercharger, which was a new option for 1966, as well. The setup routes power to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox on the way to a solid rear axle that's better held in place by override traction bars. Front disc brakes, Koni shocks, and 15-inch Shelby/Cragar-style alloys round out the goodies.
Ride Around In Style
The interior is graced by Shelby's mandatory signature on the glovebox, while the wood-grain steering wheel also wears a Shelby horn button. A duo of Paxton gauges installed over the shifter read boost and fuel pressure, while the odometer reads under 38,000 miles. As befitting a car with this kind of heritage and provenance, bidding already sits at $65,000 with 18 days remaining until the final gavel.
Sources: bringatrailer.com and mecum.com.