1965 GT-350H Tribute Manual

This specially-configured Mustang gets its exterior styling inspiration from an inventive car rental concept arising from a mid-'60s agreement between Hertz and Shelby that was centered on a simple yet compelling idea - muscle car enthusiasts could venture to designated Hertz locations to get their muscle car fix behind the wheel of specially outfitted Shelbys. Fewer than 2000 of these specimens were built, a substantial percentage ended up being irreversibly modified for racing after their service and not many survive to this day. This 1965 Ford Mustang GT-350H Tribute ably recreates the authentic presence and nostalgia-inducing magic of the originals enlisting in the Hertz "Rent a Racer" program. The black shade on this '65, a color prone to amplifying every imperfection on its surface, has nothing to hide here - there are no distracting issues looming below the surface and the paint itself is in great shape. The extensive contrasting gold ornamentation it carries over its hood, roof, deck lid and lower doors was a signature element of the Hertz package and it's at its best here, with nice, sharp edges and a deep shine. The array of chrome and bright work featured on the exterior, including the front and rear bumpers, window trim, front grille and hood pins, have a fresh shine that indicates they were likely added not long ago and their collective glow really lights this classic up. The body alignment is really impressive - likely just as good as when it left the factory more than a half century ago. The gaps surrounding the doors, hood and decklid are as precise as you could want and the panels sit nice and flush and blend well with each other. Climb inside and you'll be surrounded by a great looking interior. The front buckets and rear bench seat sport covers with the weave-textured accents that show very little wear and unlike many Mustang fastbacks from this period, the rear seat folds down without incident. A pair of properly configured Shelby windows loom over the quarter trim in back to give the interior a distinct look that separates it from its first-generation counterparts. Beyond the properly badged woodgrain steering wheel you'll see a dash area that's been nicely restored, with an assortment of fresh gauges in its textured instrument panel and a straight, uncracked dash pad running across the top. Air conditioning was no given back in the mid-'60s, but it's on board here and functioning well. The trunk area is in good order - a full-size spare sits inside on a plaid floor liner that could stand to be replaced, which is a very easy fix - and its steel components line up nicely. Raise the hood and you'll see a 302 cubic inch V8 resting between the shock towers, wearing a properly badged chrome air cleaner and a pair of Cobra valve covers to amp up its look. It sits in a tidy engine compartment, with all hoses and wiring appearing fresh and properly routed. Carrying a 4-barrel Holley carb on top, the powerplant is running strong and sounds great as it exhales into its dual exhaust while featuring a great lope to proclaim it's harboring a performance cam without adding unwelcome disruption to the idle. Front disc brakes provide fade resistant stops as this nicely configured Ford classic cruises on its 14" special edition Hertz wheels outfitted with BF Goodrich Red Line tires. Running great and exuding plenty of mid-'60s mojo, this 1965 Ford Mustang GT-350H Tribute will be the centerpiece of any collector's garage. Call today!