In the mid-sixties, muscle cars were the talk of the town and Jim, like other 18-year-olds, liked their rides will plenty of muscle. “I’ve always loved Shelbys,” Jim recalls, “but I couldn’t afford one back then, so I had to own a Mustang instead.” He had raced his new Mustang at some of the local tracks that once stood in Connecticut and even at onetime drove at Lime Rock Park. But that was then.

Today is baby is strictly for show, and our first glimpse of the car (which was not quite ready for our first photo shoot; Jim was still having the front end refitted in his garage after its beautiful paint job) left no do but that this was a very special show car. A regional sales manager for Town Fair Tires, Jim bought the Shelby in 1989. He says reluctantly, “I had to sell my other Mustang in order to buy this car.” Jim is referring to his last love, a 1965 Mustang convertible, which he owned for many years before finding the right Shelby.

Obviously the trade has paid off. The Shelby is number 504 out o the 2378 built in 1966, and is one of only 321 which sport the blue and white color scheme. Jim’s own attention to detail has helped towards a 100-point restoration process. The “OK” painted on the front of the cylinder head and the two hash marks on the front sway bar were originally done by the engine builders and the final assembler at the plant. Jim has made sure that they were painted in the same location. Kent Bain of Automotive Restorations of Stratford also had a bit to do with this beautiful prancing pony. At Kent’s shop, the car was completely disassembled, right down to every nut and bolt. The total restoration took over a year to complete and the results are outstanding. “The only thing missing,” adds Jim, “is the application of the stripes along the bottom of the doors.”

Jim plans on showing the car for the first time at the East Norwalk Car Show on April 28, sponsored by the Gateway Antique Auto Club. A member of the Shelby American Automobile Club, Jim also plans to display the car at the Shelby National convention, which will be held June 27 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The striking blue car with its white stripe should attract attention of many along with Carroll Shelby, the car designer, who will be on hand at the convention. It certainly attracted ours.

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PHOTOS: Visually the same as in 1965, an air scoop was added to duct air to the rear rakes. Side windows replaced production vents which added to the sleekness of the car. Also the Shelby came in different colors that year, besides white, they now came in red, blue, green and black. Race-inspired seat belts also added to the Shelby’s appeal. These belts are original equipment with the manufacturer’s tags still intact.

Different phases of restoration. This is one of the rare over-the-axle traction bars which appeared on only 800 or so of this year car.