1970 Shelby Mustang GT350
Photo by author, 1996 NorCal SAAC MiniNats, Sears Point Raceway
Most unappreciative consumers did not comprehend the original 1965 GT-350, where features were under the hood and under the skin. They also could not tolerate its raw character. Instead, these people demanded visible features like unique styling and luxury appointments for their money. Corporate "me too" folks in Ford also wanted to duplicate the Shelby mystique, and started to compete with the GT350 and GT500 in 1969 with the performance lineup of Mach I, Boss 302, and Boss 429. This combination of mass-market mentality and corporate politics spelled doom for Shelby Mustangs. Even under these circumstances, however, Shelby produced the 1968 GT500KR, and the mean-looking GT350 pictured here. (Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen liked the 1969-70 Shelby look so much that he wanted to implement it on the next styling change - note how the 1971-73 Mustangs look like these Shelbys.) While the 1969 GT350 was powered by Ford's brand new 351W engine, the GT500 was no longer "KR" but still powered by the 428 Cobra Jet. Leftover 1969 cars became 1970 cars with addition of hood stripes and front spoilers - this put closure to the first generation Shelby Mustangs.
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