SFM5S206
At the end of May 1965, the GT 350 project team was
looking at building a car for NHRA B/Sports Production competition. The
Dragonsnake Cobras made a name for themselves on the drag strip, why
couldn't the GT 350 do the same. Don McCain, a Shelby sales rep,
approached Shelby American public relations head, Max Muhleman, about
building a special drag car as a PR stunt. He asked that Shelby American
supply the car, Goodyear would provide the tires and certain Shelby
dealers would pay to have their names painted on the car when it was run
in their areas. The car was to be campaigned at seven major NHRA races in
California.
The prototype for the drag series is pictured above.
It was given to Bill Stroppe a race car and engine builder. Stroppe got
approval from the NHRA for his modifications to the car. The mods were:
- Machine port the heads
- 1 5/8" exhaust valves
- 1 7/8" intake valves
- Heavy duty valve springs
- Belanger drag racing headers
- Blue printing and balancing of the engine
clearance on rank and rods @ .003
rod side clearance @ .024 per journal
- Combustion chamber cc'ing to 44 per chamber
- Set deck clearance to .005 cold, so when hot they would
shrink to .0015
- Set piston clearance to .005 to .008
- Cure Ride 90/10 uplock shock on the front
- Gabriel Silver Eagle 50/50 downlock shocks in the rear
- Hurst Competition shifter
- 9.00x 14" tires on 5" wide wheels
- Torque strap on engine
- Rework the distributor to 3 1/2 degrees @ 1,800 rpm; 4
degrees @ 2,000 rpm; 7 degrees @ 3,000 rpm; 10 degrees @ 4,000
rpm
- Rear end ratio 4.86
- Driveshaft loop
- Plenum chamber for carburetor
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The street versions of this car did not receive the special drag
racing engine. They were given the Shelbyized hi-po 289. The 306
horsepower would make the cars cheaper and eliminate the problem of owners
blowing up an expensive racing engine installed by the factory. The racing
engine was available as an option without a warranty.
The drag GT 350's came with a scattershield, and a drag clutch &
pressure plate. When the buyer got the car these parts were in the trunk.
Even though the parts were included in the price of the car, it was up to
the buyer to install them during preparation of the car for the strip.
That also saved having to take the cars apart at Shelby American to
install them.
Stroppe also developed a set of ladder torque arms. He looked at all
the loop holes at NHRA and AHRA. He lengthened the front spindles,
modified seat tracks, re-radiused the rear wheels and relocating the
front control arms. He even looked at a very special roller cam engine
with a set of Weber stacks as a "factory experimental". Most of
his exotic modifications never made it past the conversation phase.
The first drag car was sold in August of 1965 to a dealer in Lorain,
Ohio. A second car went to a dealer in Long Beach, CA, Mel Burns Ford.
There were 13 drag GT 350's built in total, nine were 1965 models, four
were built in 1966.
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What did a Drag Racing GT 350 cost? |
|
Net |
Retail |
| GT-350 Drag Mustang |
$5,041.50 |
$5,441.50 |
"AFX" Lift Kit
(rear lift bars) |
$150.00 |
$200.00 |
SICR-6250-A Racing Camshaft
.272 degrees duration, .450 degrees lift |
$63.00 |
$90.00 |
*Source of information: the Shelby American Guide published
by the Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC)
Get your own copy at SAAC, well worth the price.
