HPI Guy's '66 Shelby GT350 Video

[Tim W. SoCal]

 

[Hawk312]

That looks like a nice build. They said it is a new body. Are the wheels new too?

[Tim W. SoCal]

9 hours ago, Hawk312 said:

They said it is a new body. Are the wheels new too?

Actually, I think the "new tooled body" statement is in error for the Shelby GT350, unless he is referring to the body being a new tool for the AMT '66 Mustang Fastback released in 2023. The 10 Spoke Shelby kits are the same as those included in the AMT '66 Mustang kits since Kit # 6526 released in 1989. The Torque Thrusts that were on the chrome tree in the original 1966 release were added as separate parts in the latest '66 Fastback release from 2023.

Edited July 7 by Tim W. SoCal

[oldcarfan]

I was just hit with a wave of memories with this kit. As a child I remember my dad getting the original version of this kit. He was an odd one regarding cars. He loved European racing, especially F1 and endurance racing. I remember him doing his Mustang up as something you'd see at Lemans or Sebring. I'll have to get one and do it as a tribute.

[Hawk312]

16 hours ago, Tim W. SoCal said:

Actually, I think the "new tooled body" statement is in error for the Shelby GT350, unless he is referring to the body being a new tool for the AMT '66 Mustang Fastback released in 2023. The 10 Spoke Shelby kits are the same as those included in the AMT '66 Mustang kits since Kit # 6526 released in 1989. The Torque Thrusts that were on the chrome tree in the original 1966 release were added as separate parts in the latest '66 Fastback release from 2023.

Thanks Tim. Is it just me, or are those 10 spokes out of scale/disproportionate?

[Tim W. SoCal]

16 minutes ago, Hawk312 said:

Is it just me, or are those 10 spokes out of scale/disproportionate?

You piqued my curiosity, so I got one of my AMT '66 Mustang Fastback kits out and measured the rim size on the 10-Spoke wheels. They are accurate to 1:25 scale for a 15" wheel.

[gtx6970]

I'm not a Ford guy.

 

But,, this kit is on my want list for sure 

 

Ive watched a few of this guys builds

 

He's not shy with paint or glue . But in the end he makes for a decent looking shelf replica . Even with the silver sharpie for the window trim . It looks pretty good

[Can-Con]

On 7/7/2025 at 3:18 PM, Tim W. SoCal said:

You piqued my curiosity, so I got one of my AMT '66 Mustang Fastback kits out and measured the rim size on the 10-Spoke wheels. They are accurate to 1:25 scale for a 15" wheel.

They're accurate to size but they're missing that beveled area between the spokes. Kinda ruins the look without it.

[Ragtop Man]

There's never really been a bang-on 10-spoke that I recall from any Shelby kit. There is a new 3D version now that are quite good, I need to learn how to bookmark better to save them!   

The really GOOD '66 Shelby wheel is the "Starburst" that was original to the '68 Shelby kit (with the record) that continued through the "Modern Classic" where the wheelbacks were deepend for the hollow Goodyear tires. "Sknakebite" retooled these, and IMHO, ruined them.

This, per Hemmings.com - 

Actually, according to some sources, the aluminum wheels now often referred to as “10-spokes” originally came almost as a consolation. The original 1965 G.T. 350 was basically a race car sold off the showroom floor; that was what made it fantastic and miserable all at once. Many consumers thought they wanted a race car, but soon realized that what we now refer to as NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) was too much for regular street use. The ’66 model G.T. 350 looked very similar, but was toned down both to lower the production cost and to make the car more appealing to a broader audience. Among the items to go were the 15-inch wheels, at least in part because the spare, which had been mounted under the rear window in the area where the backseat had been, would be returning to the trunk in 1966.

 

Allegedly, the ’66 10-spoke aluminum wheels, which measured 14×6.5 inches, were a means of making the smaller tires seem more appealing. The design of the wheels was quite different from the five-spoke wheels becoming popular with hot rodders, thanks largely to Cragar, which had provided the optional 15-inch wheels for Shelby in 1965, and American Racing, which produced the Torq-Thrust that was becoming a road race favorite for American cars. The multi-spoked Shelby wheels provided lots of open space to enhance brake cooling, and in theory, the design would provide exceptional strength.

 

The optional 14-inch aluminum 10-spokes cost $267 for the ’66 model year, and were sourced from Shelby. The unusual design seemed to draw its roots from exotic road racers, with a hint of the functional beauty that the AC Cobra’s Halibrand wheels provided, and maybe even a touch of inspiration from the GT-40 program.

 

When the redesigned 1967 Shelby Mustangs debuted, 15-inch wheels returned, and a new 10-spoke, now measuring 15×7 inches, was offered. The 15-inch version was again sourced from Shelby, though another 15-inch wheel–the Magstar–was also offered and produced by Kelsey-Hayes. The new 10-spoke featured a cleaner design than the first, with spokes that led straight from the center to the rim, only curving outward at their furthest points, and detailed with a cleanly machined spoke facing. 

 

[Ragtop Man]

And just to pound the nail ALL THE WAY THROUGH the board... this:

http://www.shelbyforums.com/threads/how-to-tell-original-10-spoke-wheels.8932/

Even more detail on the 10-spoke, for which MANY versions are noted.

I'd settle for one good one! 

[Rodent]

I bought these in the mid 1980s IIRC. Sold the car in 2001, so my mind is a little fuzzy about the details. I bought them from a local Mustang parts store. They were on the owner's '68 GT 350 convertible that was originally delivered with a supercharger. I was told they were early reproductions. He scored a set of genuine N.O.S. original wheels that went on the GT 350 so he offloaded these to me.

Sorry I neglected to dust this photo before I scanned it.....

Edited July 10 by Rodent

[slusher]

11 hours ago, Rodent said:

I bought these in the mid 1980s IIRC. Sold the car in 2001, so my mind is a little fuzzy about the details. I bought them from a local Mustang parts store. They were on the owner's '68 GT 350 convertible that was originally delivered with a supercharger. I was told they were early reproductions. He scored a set of genuine N.O.S. original wheels that went on the GT 350 so he offloaded these to me.

Sorry I neglected to dust this photo before I scanned it.....

Great looking Mustang, Steve!

[Ragtop Man]

Madonn Mia! 

That is a gorgeous Mustang. 

[Radretireddad]

So we’ve waited how many years to finally get the rest of the kit to match the wheels?

[Can-Con]

16 hours ago, Radretireddad said:

So we’ve waited how many years to finally get the rest of the kit to match the wheels?

Yea, now all we need is an accurate set of wheels. 😉

[Radretireddad]

1 hour ago, Can-Con said:

Yea, now all we need is an accurate set of wheels. 😉

True, but with Round 2, I’m thinking this is as good as it’s going to get.

[Can-Con]

3 hours ago, Radretireddad said:

True, but with Round 2, I’m thinking this is as good as it’s going to get.

there is a 3-d file for a nice set though.  , , and one of the die-cast companies sold a set at one time that were perfect.

[Rodent]

I have a Countdown series '66 coupe with ten spokes that I think may have come from an early Shelby kit. I need to find it and see how the wheels look.

 

[Can-Con]

13 hours ago, Rodent said:

I have a Countdown series '66 coupe with ten spokes that I think may have come from an early Shelby kit. I need to find it and see how the wheels look.

 

The AMT '68 Shelby Mustang and '69 Galaxie also had 10 spokes at the time so they may have been from one of those or possibly a set from later issue of the kit could have been put in. 

Not sure how many people here realize it [I know some do know this] but there were a couple slightly different versions of the Shelby 10 spoke wheel. 

[kelson]

The only wheel that i've seen that looks accurate is the custom set from Monograms 70'Boss 429 kit.

[blizzy63]

On 7/6/2025 at 6:33 PM, Tim W. SoCal said:

Actually, I think the "new tooled body" statement is in error for the Shelby GT350, unless he is referring to the body being a new tool for the AMT '66 Mustang Fastback released in 2023. The 10 Spoke Shelby kits are the same as those included in the AMT '66 Mustang kits since Kit # 6526 released in 1989. The Torque Thrusts that were on the chrome tree in the original 1966 release were added as separate parts in the latest '66 Fastback release from 2023.

Lots of shared parts trees between the AMT '66 Ford Mustang kits. After all these years, it's nice to have a variety of '66 Mustang flavors.

(Not to mention the AMT "Super Boss" Mustang GT Funny Car kit...)

[Below: AMT704, AMT1305, AMT1491 boxart]

Edited Monday at 06:42 PM by blizzy63

[Force]

I personally don't like the 10 spoke wheels in these kits, they doesn't look right to me.
The 10 spokes in the 1968 Shelby are even worse.

[Radretireddad]

I appreciate the upgrades Round2 has given these two kits over the original coupe which wasn’t bad either. It’s just that those upgrades still can’t compensate for such a woefully outdated and inaccurate chassis and engine. The cost of new kits has me rethinking the number of future kit bashes I’d like to do but for me these guys almost demand the better chassis and drivetrain from the Mueller era ‘67 to compliment their body and interior updates. Since there are better Revell versions of the Shelby (yes I’m aware it’s an GT350H) and the GT fastback, it’s even harder to justify the additional expense for AMT renditions.

Edited Friday at 01:24 PM by Radretireddad