Carroll Shelby and the Shelby names are virtually synonymous with the Ford Mustang Pony car. Shelby’s very first Mustang was the 1965 Shelby GT 350; a legitimate race car that is crediting with enhancing the Mustang’s image as a high performance machine and was factory sponsored to compete with the Corvette. That first Shelby Mustang sported a 306 horsepower, 289-inch V8 powerplant under the hood, topped by a Holley carburetor and a special Cobra high-rise intake manifold. It also featured a four-speed manual transmission and side exist exhaust with two-inch Glasspak mufflers. This was a real man’s car.

Images: Collector Motors

We found this beautiful 1965 GT 350 clone created as a tribute to the original Shelby Mustang for sale on the Collector Motors site that just had to be shared. This particular clone was professionally built with the intent to be raced – if so desired – or could easily be transformed back into a wicked street machine. Lurking between the framerails, you’ll find a 460-inch Big Block Ford wedged into the spot where the 289 once rested, and has been set back eight inches. The 460 features SCJ cylinder heads with a .675 lift Lunati roller camshaft and 13:1 compression. The car has not yet been raced, and with less than 100 miles on the odometer since the build, you’re looking at one fresh car.

Underneath, you’ll find a Chris Alston chassis with an eight-point roll cage and removable steering wheel. The suspension has been converted to a Mustang II rack and pinion and moved two inches forward of stock. The drivetrain is finished up with a Ford 9-inch rear, 4.10: 1 gear ratio, 44-spline axles, and a four-link suspension. Inside is a full gauge cluster, five-point racing harnesses, and a great looking flame job on the aluminum door panels. The exterior features a one-piece fiberglass cowl and hood, Specialty Wheels Magnum 500 wheels.