Chassis No. SFM 6S542

In a story that has become legend among performance car enthusiasts, in 1966 Shelby American supplied about 1,000 GT350s to the Hertz rental car company. Specially finished in, most often, black with gold stripes, these cars were intended to be rented to buyers qualified to handle such high-performance machinery, or so Hertz claimed. In reality, any 20-something with Dad's credit card could get behind the wheel, and some of the cars were reportedly returned from their rentals with evidence of racing numbers still on the body. There is at least one documented instance of a GT350 or Cobra losing its engine on the track, only to have the race team run out to Hertz, 'Rent-A-Racer,' swap in the new engine, and keep racing. The GT350 H is, in sum, one of the best stories in the Shelby world, not one known for a lack of good tales.

Chassis no. SFM 6S542, offered here, was one of only 85 GT350 Hs built, which were equipped with a four-speed manual transmission, as confirmed by the historians of the SAAC Shelby Registry. Ordered by Hertz on November 15, 1965, it had a radio installed by Hi-Performance Motors of El Segundo, California, then dealer prepped by Alvin A. Swenson, Inc., of Philadelphia before delivery to the Hertz agency in that city.

Following its fleet use the car was owned by Thomas Stinnett of Nicholasville, Kentucky, then Edward and Debbie Werder of Cooper City, Florida, who undertook a restoration in 1991. Donnie Gould came to know the Shelby for the first time in the Werders' ownership, selling it for them to Paul Jones of Jonesville, Michigan, after which it was updated with new seat upholstery and other authentic details, then received three Best of Show awards in one year. In 2016 Donnie then acquired the car from Mr. Jones for Jim Taylor, who had driven Donnie's own GT350 H while visiting Florida and liked it so much that he wanted one himself.

Inspection shows that the car retains its original solid, rust-free body, including the all-steel hood fitted to many of the Hertz cars, as well as the original engine with its original intake manifold, tri-y headers, and Holley 715 carburetor; four-bladed 'K-Code' fan; and high-performance cylinder heads with larger intake ports and threaded rocker arm studs. Underneath is the original nine-inch tapered rear axle, as well as Koni shock absorbers standard on 1965 and early 1966 GT350s, with the original weld used to stiffen up the shock tower braces still visible, and overrider traction bars. The interior has been restored but retains its original rear seat upholstery, including the carpeting on the back of the folding rear seat, while a roll bar has been added. A correct radio is still present as is the original shifter, and the driver looks out through the original windshield.

Accompanied by a small history and maintenance file and recording 41,524 miles at the time of cataloging, this is the most desirable of the storied Hertz Shelby Mustangs – an original four-speed car, of excellent purity and fine provenance, truly the best-of-the-best for the astute collector.