Based on the Ford Mustang, the special high performance road models made by Shelby in 1965 had some very enthusiastic buyers. Out of the more than 560 GT-350 produced, 36 cars were modified in true race cars, dubbed GT-350R. To save weight, schock absorbers and parts of the interior were removed, making the GT350R with its 350 horsepower more than 200 kilograms lighter than the street version.