Double RESTORATION

With the help of Mike Trusty, overhead drone views show the first Shelby GT350 in both Ford and Shelby form.

Three years ago, Florida car collector Nick Smith acquired the most collectible of all Shelby Mustangs — 5S003, the first GT350 completed at Shelby American in late 1964 and the prototype for the street 1965 GT350. Although previously restored to award-winning concours condition by former owner Mark Hovander, Smith established his own ambitious goal for the historic GT350: “It’s the first Shelby Mustang so it should be the best Shelby Mustang.”

That objective set the stage for a “re-restoration,” one that would make history as the only Shelby Mustang restored as it was originally built — first as a concours-spec 1965 Mustang 2+2 fastback as assembled by Ford, then converted into a GT350 in much the same manner as it was built by Shelby American.

Building the first Shelby GT350

Following the introduction of the 1965 Mustang in April 1964, Ford Motor Co. President Lee Iacocca set out to add a high-performance image to his wildly successful sporty compact. With an optional 289 High Performance K-code