Just the Details...Early Production 1965 GT350 Shelby Mustang Restoration

 

Outside of the GT350 body is taped up.

So, it's been quite a while since we had an update on the restoration of this incredible early production 1965 GT350 Mustang (Shelby).

To refresh your memory, this is a complete, turn-key restoration by our buddy, Jeremy at Maple Hill Restoration. I've said it before, but the amount of detail that goes into one of these restorations is just absolutely phenomenal. 

While most of the body work and paint on one of these restorations is farmed out, at Maple Hill Restoration, it's all done in house. One of the most fascinating parts of the entire restoration is the painting of the underside of the car. There's no substitute for having the opportunity to document and duplicate all of the original colors and overspray patterns. That's exactly what was done on this particular car.

While most all '65 and '66 Mustangs are just painted with a red oxide underneath, the restorations here duplicate the colors exactly along with the gloss levels. While this particular car was originally painted with the red color sealer under the front rails, the majority of the floor pan was actually black which is common for San Jose production cars built in the production time.

From there, the correct body color overspray was applied along with the black out from the pinch weld at the rocker.

There are lots more details to explain, but to shorten this whole post, I will let the pictures do the talking. Amazing!!!

Primed and ready to go. Drips are added to the floor pan...just like the original.

Sealer is applied to the proper areas.

Another great shot of the primed underside of the Shelby.

Black, in the proper gloss, applied to the engine compartment area on the GT350.

Proper black engine compartment.

Check out the correct color red under the front frame.

The black is on the underside.

Black is on the underside.

White body color overspray.

Welds for the spare hold down.

Here you can see the black overspray from the pinch weld on the rockers.

The Mustang axle bumper brackets were crudely cut off and modified on the GT350s.

Blue overspray from the side stripes.

Sealer dripped on the firewall duplicated perfectly.

The drips on the floor pan were duplicated perfectly.

Detail of where body was held down on assembly line.