Frame Off Built Shelby GT350 Convertible 302 4 Speed

In the world of collector cars, the Shelby name is synonymous with extreme performance and collectability. Enthusiasts that missed the early-buying boat have spent the last few decades running straight up a value curve that just won't quit rising. When the legend himself, Carroll Shelby, passed on May 10th of this year, the demand for authentic Shelby pieces hit an all-time high. With many of the originals becoming museum pieces, smart enthusiasts who enjoy driving their vintage hardware are buying cars like this slick 1968 Shelby GT350 convertible tribute. Decked in full Shelby regalia with a hot 302 under the hood, this frame-up restored GT350 carries on the Shelby spirit by looking awesome and punishing pavement with the best of them. While authenticity is great, it will be the last thing on your mind while rowing through the gears in this awesome convertible.

With a car, first impressions matter. Thanks to the restoration, this GT350 makes a great one. With crisp lines and straight panels, the amount of prep-work invested in this body is obvious. Covering the slick body is a coat of Lime Gold paint right off of the 1968 Ford options list. Different variants of this color tend to bring out either the gold or the green. This one definitely favors green which looks great against the saddle interior. Eight different striping packages were offered through Shelby in 1968, so there was no shortage of looks to choose from. This pony features the classic white GT350 rocker stripes paralleled by the white rally stripes on top of the car. The look is quintessential Shelby and sure to please any Ford enthusiast.

Ford made sure the first Mustang had plenty of visual appeal to begin with. Add the aggressive Shelby accents and well-maintained trim and this tribute has appeal that goes beyond paint and body. Up front, a functional fiberglass hood held in place by silver twist locks rides above a black mesh grille that hosts a Shelby header script above familiar Marchal fog lights. At sides of that grille, deep set headlights cap the Mustang's aggressive ridged fenders. Below, a clean chrome bumper perfectly complements a pair of wide-set chrome trimmed parking lights. Up top, a clean glasswork is wiped clean by bright stainless wipers and capped by a white canvas top. The large stainless pieces surrounding the windshield look great with no significant flaws visible. At the sides of the car, traditional Shelby fender snakes hang between slick chrome mirrors, familiar chrome door handles, Shelby-style side scoops and dent-free rocker trim. At the back, glossy peaked fenders frame a fiberglass Shelby decklid that's complete with Shelby script that mirrors the front. A bright silver valence, which stretches around sequential tail lights and a highly detailed Shelby fuel cap, tops another good looking chrome bumper, traditional chrome trimmed reverse lights and straight stainless exhaust tips.

For the Shelby enthusiast, lifting the fiberglass hood reveals an engine bay full of familiar parts. At the heart of the bay is a 302 V8 wearing its correct shade of Ford Corporate Blue. At the top, a Shelby-style air cleaner cover conceals a polished Holley four-barrel carburetor that feeds atomized fuel in an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold. At the sides, Edelbrock Performer RPM aluminum heads dressed with finned Shelby valve covers help maximize the 302's output. Up front the distributor sends spark through Taylor wires, igniting the raspy small block. Below, an alternator, fan, power steering pump and air conditioning compressor all run off of engine power. Around the engine, a chrome shock tower brace and a secondary cross brace add some additional rigidity to the front end while small details such as factory correct decals and an Autolite Sta-Ful battery further contribute to the authentic looking bay. Like any good build, the engine fires immediately, idles well and has a fantastic exhaust note.

Take a look under this GT350 and you'll find rock solid floors above a straight chassis that's ready for years of carefree cruising. Behind that hot 302, a Toploader four-speed transmission applies power to the ground through a Ford 9-inch rear equipped with Traction Lock and 3.50 gears. The front end is supported by a restored double A-arm setup while the back remains planted thanks to a rear leaf spring suspension. Both ends benefit from 1” inch sway bars that minimize body roll through corners. Braking comes courtesy power brakes that utilize discs up front and drums out back. Step on the throttle and a fresh stainless fuel tank supplies gas to fresh stainless fuel lines while a set of headers hurl spent exhaust gas into true dual pipes that breathe through aggressive dual chamber Flowmaster mufflers. Power is put to the pavement by a great looking set of 10-spoke Shelby alloy wheels that are wrapped in fresh 235/60/15 Goodyear Eagle GT's.

Inside the car you'll find a freshly restored factory vinyl interior that does a great job recreating the Shelby look. Restored front seats wear their new covers well and feature firm padding that's probably spent most of its life holding trophies instead of people. Below the seats, new tan carpet is protected by silver stitched Cobra floor mats. Top dead center on that carpet is a great looking wood trimmed and Cobra-branded console which holds a chrome Hurst shifter behind traditional console gauges. At the front of the car, a spectacular looking wood trimmed dash includes a Shelby 140 MPH speedometer and a Shelby 8,000 RPM tachometer above an MP3 compatible Pioneer CD player. Connecting the driver to the road is an excellent looking wood-rimmed steering wheel that hosts a Cobra-branded horn button on a tilt-away steering column while perfectly matches the cars wood trimmed and chrome detailed door panels. Behind the cockpit, a well-restore trunk features correct factory decals, trunk mat and a spare tire.

Documentation includes a small display that highlights the Shelby components included in the build.

If you're tired of just looking at Shelby cars, get behind the wheel of one with this awesome GT350 tribute. With tons of authentic Shelby parts wrapped in an attractive shell, few Mustangs on the market offer more fun for the dollar.