Virginia Classic Mustang Blog: Just the Details...1966 Shelby GT350 Mustang Restoration

Feb 24, 2017

Just the Details...1966 Shelby GT350 Mustang Restoration

1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033.
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The assembly of our project 1966 Shelby continues to come together. The interior has been installed now except for the door panels. Those will be left off until we drive the car a bit. We will re-check the window adjustment when we see how much wind noise we have around the roof rail area seal weatherstrip.

This Shelby is '66 #33, so it was the very first batch and came with a rear package tray rather than the folddown rear seat that was used in most '66 GT350s. You will also note the the seat upholstery and dash pad are from the 1965 model Mustang, since these first 252 '66 Shelbys started as '65 Mustangs.

We have posted a lot of pictures today. Check them out and be sure to also scroll down and read the comments about the pictures. If you missed our last post, you can check it out by clicking here.

1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. Rear interior quarter trim area.
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All of the rear interior trim is now installed. The Shelbys with the rear package trays had a metal cover riveted over the interior rear quarter trim panel where the folding rear seat latch would have been originally installed.

1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. Under side of front seat.
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The seats have been completed for quite some time, and now they are in place!

1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. Interior
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The door panels are going to be installed later. We want to drive the car to check for any wind noise. The windows may have to be re-adjusted a bit.

1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. Under dash area on LH side.
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Here's a shot of the LH under dash area showing the fresh air vent, HiPo choke cable, parking brake mechanism, windshield washer motor, heater plenum, etc. It's great to have all of this finally assembled and in the car.

1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. Step plate.
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Special step plate labels with "Shelby American, Inc" and the "CS" logo were originally installed on all of the 1966 Shelbys.

1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. Rear package tray.
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The original rear package tray is back in its permanent home!

1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. Interior door.
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1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. Insulation on back of kick panel.
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Insulation was installed, like originally done, on the back of the kick panels before installation.

1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. Instrument bezel ('65 standard interior GT).
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The instrument panel and bezel in the Carryover GT350s were the '65 standard interior GT style.

1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. Rear interior quarter trim area.
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1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. GT350 rear tail light panel emblem.
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Some of the Carryover '66 cars had the GT 350 tail light panel emblem and some did not.

1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033.
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1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. Trunk - insulation on top of gas tank.
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1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. Trunk mat.
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Trunk area is complete now with the trunk mat installed.

1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. Under side of trunk lid.
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1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. Fastback trunk hinge.
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There are actually several variations of the '65-66 Mustang fastback trunk hinge. One of these variations involves the use (or lack of) a bushing where the torsion rod passes through the hinge. You will note that this particular car did not ever use the bushing. The hinges that used the bushing had a larger hole to accommodate a plastic bushing.

1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. Fastback trunk hinge.
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1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. LH side under step plate. Tail light wiring harness runs through this area.
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1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 restoration. SFM6S033. Rear trap door latch and striker.
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The above picture shows the rear trap door latch and striker. A piece of wood was attached to the plastic rear package tray. There is also a wood support on the under side of the tray.