Set to cross the block with Mecum Auctions on May 16, this 1965 Shelby GT350R Fastback—chassis SFM5R106—is among the most significant surviving examples of Carroll Shelby’s original SCCA B Production racers. One of just 34 factory-built R-Models, it was delivered new via Jack Loftus Ford to its first owner, Dick Jordan of Downers Grove, Illinois.
Jordan, already an accomplished Corvette competitor and graduate of Shelby’s high-performance driving school in Riverside, California, took delivery of the car in August 1965. Within days, SFM5R106 made its competitive debut at Road America, before going on to contest events at Clermont, Lynndale Farms, and Wilmot Raceway. His ownership would span over two decades, after which the car was carefully stored, preserving much of its originality.
The car’s origins trace back to Ford’s San Jose plant, where a stripped Mustang Fastback was prepared to the exacting standards set by GT350 project manager Chuck Cantwell. Completed at Shelby American’s Los Angeles facility in December 1964, it emerged six months later as a fully realized R-Model competition machine.
Under the hood lies its original Shelby-prepared 289 cubic-inch HiPo V8, delivering 325 horsepower via a Holley four-barrel carburetor, Cobra high-rise intake, and distinctive Tri-Y headers, paired with a Borg-Warner T10 four-speed gearbox and a 4.11 rear axle.
Chassis 5R106 benefits from a meticulous, no-compromise restoration executed using original and new-old-stock components, faithfully returning it to its 1965 race specification. Notably, it retains hallmark lightweight features including its fiberglass front apron, Plexiglas windows, and brake cooling ducts, while the underside of the hood bears the signature of Cantwell himself.
Finished in Wimbledon White over a black interior and riding on American Racing wheels, this GT350R also boasts a well-documented provenance within the Shelby Registry. Later ownership by respected collectors such as Colin Comer ensured its continued preservation, even retaining period-correct imperfections like a minor door-handle blemish from its Road America racing days.
With fewer than 5,000 miles recorded and its original drivetrain intact, SFM5R106 represents an exceptionally authentic and historically important Shelby competition car—an enduring icon from the golden era of American road racing.
1965 Shelby GT350R Fastback For Sale – Image Gallery
Source: Mecum Auctions
