One to Buy: ex-Dick Jordan 4900 mile 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350R
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To pave the way for an attack on the SCCA B Production Championship, Ford commissioned Shelby to create the GT350 Mustang, at least 100 of which would have to be manufactured in order to achieve homologation. For competition use, Shelby also developed the even more extreme GT350R – a track-only monster riddled with hot equipment.
In total, 34 copies of the GT350R were produced and the model went on to achieve great success, most notably winning the B Production Championship for three consecutive years between 1965, ‘66 and ‘67.
On May 16th at Mecum’s Indy sale, one of the most original GT350Rs in existence will be going under the hammer: chassis SFM5R106.
Delivered to Shelby American on December 21st 1964, conversion work to GT350R trim began the following March and was completed in June. The order for SFM5R106 came from Jack Loftus Ford of Hinsdale, Illinois, on behalf of local resident, Dick Jordan from Downers Grove, who had previously driven a Chevrolet Corvette in SCCA events.
Jordan successfully raced SFM5R106 up until the early 1970s, during which time he was a frequent top three finisher in SCCA Midwestern events. The still highly original car was then placed into storage, where it remained until 1986.
1987 saw SFM5R106 pass to its second custodian, Paul Zimmons of Potomac, Maryland, who undertook a sympathetic restoration that resulted in a Gold Award in the Competition Class during 1993’s SAAC-18 at Watkins Glen.
Since then, the car has been expertly maintained on behalf of subsequent owners. It heads to auction showing a remarkable 4930 miles on the odometer and ranks among the best preservation examples of Shelby’s iconic GT350R.
