Originally shipped to Dub Richardson Ford of Oklahoma City on 29 October 1965, this GT350 bearing chassis number 6S180 was originally earmarked as the dealer’s demonstrator and remained with them for the following eighteen months. Interestingly, in May of 1966, at 63 miles on the odometer, the car’s original engine was replaced, and the invoice from Shelby American for the new motor (which is still fitted to this car) is included in the history file. Its first private owner was Michael Tom McNeight of Stillwater, Oklahoma, who purchased his new GT350 in March of 1967, trading in a 1959 Chevrolet in the process. The SAAC Shelby Registry mentions that the car came with an owner’s manual printed in both English and French, and that the car’s metric speedometer was replaced upon McNeight’s purchase with one reading in miles per hour, hinting that the car was most likely specified for the European market.

The Shelby passed through owners in Arizona in the 1960s and 1970s before being purchased by Dale A. Johnson of Nashwauk, Minnesota, around 1981. Chassis number 6S180 would call Minnesota home for the next 25 years, passing through at least one other Nashwauk-based owner. Passing through noted Shelby collector Paul Andrews of Jamestown, Rhode Island, in 2006 before being acquired by the current owner, the car was fully restored by the Shelby specialists at Curt Vogt’s Cobra Automotive of Wallingford, Connecticut, and was acquired by the current owner upon completion of the restoration. The car was found to be a solid, rust-free example retaining its original body panels, including its original fiberglass hood, clearly thanks to its early days in the southwest.

During the restoration, the car was upgraded for touring, with numerous mechanical components replaced to add greater performance and reliability, including the fitment of a top-loader transmission and 3:50 gears. All original components replaced were retained, including the original aluminum T-10 Transmission, and accompany the car today, should its next owner decide to return it to fully original condition.

Shipped to its new home in Florida, the car has remained with its current custodian for the last decade, sharing garage space with a handful of other Shelby Cobras and Mustangs. SFM 6S180 is reported to drive beautifully and is ready to be enjoyed on rallies such as the Copperstate 1000 and GT350 tour, and thanks to its impeccable restoration, it could easily be returned to concours- or competition-ready condition.