It is said that “racing improves the breed.”  There may not be a better example of this than the original 1965 Shelby GT350 Factory Competition cars, also known as "R Models." 

With relatively simple modifications to the basic 1965 GT 350 street car by Shelby’s skilled engineers and mechanics, the 1965 GT-350 Competition Model became nearly unbeatable in B-Production competition. Basic weight cutting procedures such as eliminating bumpers, the use of Plexiglas windows, a fiberglass front apron and hood, a gutted interior, and other such measures made the competition version GT-350 a fit and trim race car. This, combined with 289 CID “K Code” engines that took advantage of Shelby’s three years of experience using the same motor in the Cobra competition cars, resulted in a formula still in use by countless vintage racers today. To list all of the races won by GT-350 R Models would take hundreds of pages. Suffice it to say that there has been another production-based car built in such small numbers that, as a group, has won so many races. The Shelby GT-350 R literally took the racing world by storm – just as Ford had hoped and intended. In 1965, GT-350 R Models won five out of six regional SCCA championships. At the 1965 ARRC National race, 10 out of the 14 B/Production cars entered were R Models. By the end of the year, Jerry Titus had won the 1965 B/Production National Championship. 

A total of just 36 R Model cars were built in three batches. Two cars were considered prototypes, and 34 were production models built for customers. The production versions were priced at $5995, about $1500 more than a street version GT-350. A quick lesson in identifying 1965 R Model serial numbers: The 5th character in the VIN was “S” for Street cars but changed to “R” for Race car on just the R Models. The “R” was followed by the sequential production number. 

The first of the initial 15 customer R Models was SFM5R094, delivered on 4/10/1965 to Tom Yeager of Marion, Ohio. The last first-batch car, SFM5R108, was delivered on 9/22/1965 to Gene Hammond Ford in Texas and sold to its first owner Bill Steele. These first batch cars are considered the most desirable group. It is from these first 15 cars that most of the factory team and big name driver cars came, therefore, also the lion's share of significant race-winning R Models are first batch cars.

After the first batch was completed, the second batch of R Models was produced. The chassis numbers for these cars went from 5R209-5R213, for a total of five cars.

The third and final batch of R Models consisted of 14 cars, all but one being delivered post-January, 1966. As they were built so late in the 1965 model year, the third batch cars actually had 1966 GT350 grilles and tape rocker panel stripes. By this point, R Model buyers were drying up, as $6000 would get you any number of new race cars. Evidence of this is shown by the fact that the last R Model to be sold from Shelby American, 5R533, shipped on March 31st, 1967 – that’s a nearly two year old “leftover” new race car!

It is reasonable to attribute a great deal of Shelby American's  success as a manufacturer to the 1965 R Models. Although there were a mere 36 cars, with most campaigned by private race teams, the cars were so good, so reliable, and had such phenomenal support from Shelby that they made an impact that few cars have or will ever be able to duplicate.

The significance of the R Models was recognized by collectors very early. Just as the cars became moderately competitive “old race cars” in the early 1970’s, people realized they were special and started collecting them. Today, 30 of the 36 original R Models are accounted for. Of course, today there are good R Models and bad ones; as with any race car, history and originality are paramount. Not many R Models escaped without serious on-track incidents, and finding one with great race history and most of its original DNA intact is a challenge. Re-bodies and substantial repairs were not frowned upon when these were old race cars, but as collectible items potential buyers needs to do their homework. Good R Models have sold for impressive amounts, and are rightfully very deserving of such. They possess unquestioned historical significance, double-digit production numbers, and appeal to not only muscle car but also sports car buyers. Just like famous pre-war Grand Prix cars, Shelby GT350 R Models have the right credentials to be among the most sought after collectible performance cars for decades to come.