by The legendary 1966 Ford Mustang GT350H, which was once available for rent, has undergone a full-scale restoration.
Carroll Shelby’s autograph on the sun visor significantly increases the car’s collector value.
Carroll Shelby himself personally signed one of the sun visors of this unique Mustang.
The collaboration between Ford and Hertz lasted for decades and gifted the world a number of special models that became true automotive legends. The most iconic among them is considered to be the original Mustang GT350H, initially released in a limited series of 100 units for the Hertz rental fleet to popularize the Mustang among a wide audience.
However, demand turned out to be so high that the total production run reached almost 1000 cars. Now, one of these rare GT350Hs is preparing for auction at the end of the month.
Like all other 1966 GT350Hs, this example features a stylish black-and-gold paint job with gold racing stripes and gold accents on the rocker panels. According to Mecum Auctions, this specific model was delivered to the dealer on March 17, 1966, after which it entered the Hertz fleet.
It is unknown how long the car served in the rental fleet, but it eventually ended up with its first private owner from Amarillo, Texas.
Photographs show that the former rental car, nearly 60 years old, looks simply perfect. The secret is that the car underwent a complete restoration on a rotisserie stand and was repainted in its original colors. A red oxide primer was also applied to the underbody, and most of the suspension components were replaced.
Mecum Auctions
The muscle car’s interior is in impeccable condition – it’s hard to find another car from this era with such a perfect interior. The seats are reupholstered in black leather with no signs of wear, new carpets are installed, along with a three-spoke wooden steering wheel and the original instrument panel. The mileage is 82,168 miles (132,236 km).
Under the hood remains the original 289-cubic-inch V8 engine, which in its best years produced 306 horsepower (likely a gross figure instead of net), paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. According to automotive magazines of the time, the car accelerated to 60 mph (96 km/h) in an impressive 6.6 seconds. Carroll Shelby’s autograph on the sun visor adds special value.
If you have a sufficient budget and a desire to own a unique piece of car rental history (without the characteristic smell of old air fresheners), you can learn more about this exclusive on the Mecum Auctions website.
