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Without doubt, one of the greatest joys offered to NHRA Sport Stock and AHRA B/Sports
by the collector car world is the opportunity competition, McCain’s GT350 drag program
to rediscover great, previously unknown cars. was approved at Shelby American by July 1965
Especially racing cars that decimated the with limited factory support. Soon, records fell
opposition like thieves in the night and then and word was out to savvy racers looking for
disappeared, only to re-emerge years later. One that winning edge.
such car, which will be offered with No Reserve at According to the Shelby American Automobile
Barrett-Jackson’s 2022 Scottsdale auction, is this Club (SAAC), just eight GT350 drag cars,
unrestored and as-raced 1965 Shelby GT350 (Lot collectively designated “Drag Units,” were built
#1395), modified for the original owner when - four 1965 cars and another four 1966 models.
new by the wizards at Les Ritchey’s Performance All began as randomly selected GT350 street
Associates to full “Drag Unit” specification.
cars at Shelby American’s LAX factory and once
First, a little background on the little-known ordered as a “Drag Unit,” they were shipped to
GT350 drag program. Early in 1965, Don Performance Associates, where the drag-racing
McCain, Shelby’s national sales director, upgrades were exclusively performed.
conceived a drag-racing GT350 variant and However, in Southern California and virtually
racing program as a sales booster. McCain unknown to most Shelby fans and experts for
and Ford drag racing stalwart Les Ritchey of nearly 50 years, lurked another GT350 drag
Glendora, California’s Performance Associates car - SFM5S242, modified to full “Drag Unit”
devised a host of modifications to McCain’s specification at Performance Associates in 1966.
own GT350, dubbed “Performer.” Tailored
Raced by its original owner for the 1966 and

LOT #1395 - 1965 SHELBY GT350 – NO RESERVE
BACK IN THE

LIMELIGHT

THE SIXTH SHELBY GT350 DRAG CAR

102 BARRETT-JACKSON EXPERIENCE WINTER 2022