OVC 1965 Mustang GT350 Roadster Answers a 'What If?'Courtesy of Bring A TrailerHere's a Mustang Shelby never made, blending GT350 upgrades with a slick roadster top.It has as much power as a modern Mustang, with chassis enhancements that help put it to the pavement.It was built by a team that includes some of the original Shelby employees.Probably the most American thing about the Ford Mustang is its ability to be so many different things to so many different people. Depending on how you order it, or what you put into it, it can be anything from an all-out racer to a top-down cruiser. Sometimes you get really lucky, and it's both.Courtesy of Bring A TrailerStraight from Huntington Beach, California, this 1965 Mustang roadster blends the spirit of the Shelby GT350 with wind-in-your-hair exhilaration, and it's up for sale on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos). This car is actually a previous BaT alumnus, having sold as a nicely turned-out red convertible a few years ago, but it has since been treated to one heck of a makeover.This '65 Mustang started as a convertible with a 289-cubic-inch V-8 and a three-speed manual. Assembled in Ford's San Jose plant, it was a classic California-spec pony car, just sporty enough to be fun.At that same time, over in Venice Beach, a little more punchy California vibes were being infused into the Mustang, thanks to Carroll Shelby and his team. Under their guidance, the Mustang was trained up as the now-legendary GT350, a pony car with the speed of a thoroughbred.Ol' Shel' isn't around anymore, but some of the guys who built those GT350s are still putting together wild 'Stangs, under the auspices of Original Venice Crew Mustangs (OVC). Such is the case here, where the little red convertible went into the shop like a lamb and came out like a lion.Courtesy of Bring A TrailerWe'll get to the go-fast upgrades shortly, but the look of this car is a huge part of the appeal. A respray in period-correct Wimbledon White (with twin blue stripes, of course) sets off the lines of the car, and the hood scoop and Peter Brock–designed front valence bring the attitude. Torq Thrust–style wheels wearing fat modern rubber seal the deal.Courtesy of Bring A TrailerAs for that slick rear tonneau cover, that was penned by a modern Ford artist, Camilo Pardo. The designer behind the first-generation Ford GT, Pardo added a lovely touch to the Mustang's canvas.All right, let's get to the red meat. Under that twin-striped hood is some of OVC's expert handiwork. The original V-8 was bored out to 331 cubic inches, rebuilt with aluminum heads and high-compression pistons, and tuned to run on 91 octane fuel. Output is now a healthy 460 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, fed through a four-speed manual transmission.Courtesy of Bring A TrailerOVC builds other Mustangs with all the modern conveniences, including a fully independent rear suspension, but this GT350-style roadster keeps the flavor slightly more old-school. It has upgraded Wilwood disc brakes up front, but still a live axle with discs out back. The suspension runs Koni shocks, and both the chassis and suspension have been reinforced to handle the extra power.Courtesy of Bring A TrailerAll in all, it's the answer to the question "What if Shelby had built a roadster version of that '65 GT350?" OVC's build features a few more upgrades than would have been available in the 1960s, but the overall spirit is right there.Having collected several trophies over the past couple of years, this GT350 Roadster is now looking for its next home. A Mustang can be anything you want it to be. In this case, you want it to be in your driveway.The auction ends on October 1.Gift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029