Total Package GT 350 Set to Kill

The 1965 Shelby GT 350 was a trick ride right out of the box. You've read about them, seen them, heard the rollicking idle sing from the pipes like so much adolescent thunder. Lots of GT 350s were raced (that's what they were built for) and though some remain stock to this day, a bunch were (and remain) built to suit, built to please or built to the hilt. Frank Stagnaro's in particular is all three.

Wild Pony
First, set the background: the organization that would cage such an animal is the Sports Car Club of America. The SCCA is big, much more populous than folks realize. Think about it: from the first official SCCA event at the airport in Iowa City, IA, the SCCA has catered to every American's need for speed; an amateur racer's outlet for building and driving his or her own car. How could it not be huge? You've heard of Trans Am? That's the SCCA too. Big.


Where does Frank's GT 350 fit in? What about the really curvy short stuff? SCCA Solo II, C Prepared: the Heavy Metal class. Bolt together some ultra-deep gearing for your tweaker engine and gobs of rubber for your wide-as-tall wheels, dial in the secret-recipe suspension, practice a balanced heel and toe, show lots of technique and brass and you too can turn some quick numbers.


Question is, can you outrun Frank Stagnaro's Total Package?


This car wins once and a while—just often enough for Frank to hold claim to four SCCA C Prep titles ('94, '95, '97 and '98), be rated an all-time Top 25 SCCA pilot and remain undefeated in San Francisco-regional Solo II for years. He's brought a trophy back from the SCCA Nationals 20 years straight.