While we all joke about If cars could talk, if that ever happens this car might have some of the better stories around. It is 65145, a 1966 “Carryover” GT350, one of just 252 produced. These unique cars were called “leftovers” or “carryovers” due to the fact that they are actually 1965 cars that Shelby serialized and sold as 1966 model year cars. More of this interesting story can be found at the great website https://carryovergt350.com/ . Out of these 252 cars just 95 were originally delivered as two-seater cars with a package shelf in place of the rear seat and 65145 is one of these rare package tray cars.
Now, it seems 65145 led a fairly normal life until sometime in the 1980s when it fell into the hands of some, umm, entrepreneurs who were apparently in the import/export business if you catch my drift. And somehow they decided a good, low-key (and suitably swift) way to transport their, umm, product was to use 65145 as a mule by stuffing her rocker panels and other areas full of, umm, product. To make her look like just an old Mustang she was painted all white and the side scoops were removed. It didn’t work and in the late 1980s 65145 was seized by a few agencies who don’t take kindly to such entrepreneurial ventures, no matter how cool your transportation may be. Not knowing just what the car was they sent 65145 to an scrap yard and apparently ordered it destroyed. Thankfully a guy who knew exactly what It was saved 65145 from the crusher in 1988. Other than horrible paint and looking rather disheveled (wouldn’t you?) 65145 was in remarkably great shape. All of her sheetmetal was original, as was the Interior, seat belts, steering wheel, complete drivetrain including her original engine and transmission, even the original fiberglass hood and often changed “service items” like the S2MS carburetor and GT350 specific radiator were there.
Once saved 65145 underwent a meticulous concours restoration to standards far above what was the norm in the late 1980s, and she went on to be featured in Mustang Monthly in July, 2000. Now retired, her rocker panels remain empty and she proudly wears her Shelby dress without fear of further trips to the crusher.
