Description
This is lot number 144 in the Bonhams Zoute sale on October 6th, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Desirable Ivy Green from new
Believed personally owned by John Wyer
Professionally restored under the supervision of marque specialist and famous racing driver, the late Claude Dubois
Believed only three owners from new
HiPo (K-Code) 289ci V8 engine, four-speed manual transmission
Extensively documented
Belgian registration document
This Shelby GT350 was delivered new in 1966 to John Wyer's 'Ford Advanced Vehicles' in Slough, UK - where the Ford GT40 was developed - and is believed to have been personally owned by him.
Although this car is a 1966 model, produced in 1966, it seems it was only registered in 1967 and therefore is titled as 1967. A copy of the original purchase invoice from Shelby American Inc accompanies the car and confirms it was delivered in the desirable Ivy Green livery, with the only option listed being 'rear seats' priced at $37. The total price new was $3, 637.
Around 1973 John Wyer sold the Shelby to Paris where the car was owned by a Parisian car mechanic with Greek roots. His grandson, from Sofia, sold the car to the current Belgian owner with the help of the late Claude Dubois. A friend of our vendor, Claude Dubois was a well-known Belgian racer; former Shelby importer for Belgium; European ambassador for the Shelby American Automobile Club; an acknowledged marque authority; and personal friend of Carroll Shelby. Claude found this example for the vendor and supervised its complete restoration, which commenced in 2015 and took three years to complete. It is important to note that the car was in pretty good shape, very solid with no extensive corrosion, prior to the restoration. Coincidentally, the only demonstrator for Belgium during the mid/ late 1960s with Claude Dubois was an identical Ivy Green example - arguably the best colour for the car - another reason the current Belgian owner had to buy this one.
Refurbishment of the bodywork and paint was done by the well-known Carrosserie Janssens in Braine l'Alleud, Belgium, while the mechanical restoration was carried out by marque specialist Miguel Vanluchene, also in Belgium. A most fastidious collector, the owner was determined to keep the car as original as possible. To that end the lovely original interior was nearly 100% retained; although the underside of the driver's seat had to be re-upholstered in view of a tear and some of the carpeting has been renewed, the cabin remains and feels incredibly original. During the restoration an original HiPo Code K engine, with correct casting numbers, etc was reinstalled, and the car also retains its extremely rare original Magnum 500 wheels. This no-expense-spared restoration ended up costing 188, 000, including the cost of the car. Detailed invoices for all the work carried out are available and the car also comes with the following:
Belgian registration documents
A copy of the old French Carte Grise in the name of Yanis Tchernas, 1973
An old photograph of the second owner with his Shelby in Paris in the 1970s
A copy of the original sales invoice to Ford Advanced Vehicles
Assorted correspondence
A book dedicated to the history of this specific Shelby GT350
We have had the opportunity to drive this exceptional Shelby GT350 upon a short test drive and can comment that it performs very well. The torquey engine, gearbox, clutch, steering, brakes, suspension, all performed very well and the car feels incredibly well-balanced.
A model extremely rare in Europe, this Shelby GT350 is presented in stunning condition following professional restoration by the best in the business, overseen by Claude Dubois, and is worthy of the closest inspection.
