The First Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R Just Sold for $3.5 Million
Top drivers like Ken Miles, Bob Bondurant, Chuck Cantwell, Peter Brock, and Jerry Titus all put miles on R5002 during testing and development.
The 1968 Ford Mustang GT390, seen in the Steve McQueen classic movie Bullitt, may be the coolest Mustang in its history, but this 1965 Shelby GT350R is probably the most critical Mustang ever built since the first one rolled off the line in 1964. This car, aka 5R002, aka the Flying Mustang, is the first official competition R-model prototype ever built. It was the first GT350R to win a race.
When you consider the significance of what was developed out of this race car, it is no surprise R5002 sold for $3.5 million at the Mecum Indy 2020 auction this weekend.
This car served time as the factory engineering test mule that would turn a fun lifestyle car aimed at young people into the performance legend we know today. It swayed the American public into taking the Ford Mustang seriously. R5002 became marketing gold when a photo of R5002 catching air, flat-out, was dubbed the Flying Mustang, which cemented the public’s view that Shelby Mustangs were fast on the track and the street.
The history of this Shelby GT350R could fill a screenplay to a Ford v Ferrari sequel. Top drivers like Ken Miles, Bob Bondurant, Chuck Cantwell, Peter Brock, and Jerry Titus all put miles on R5002 during testing and development.
