We feel like such idiots—we totally forgot about the Shelby GT350′s birthday until it was already here. Damn you, Facebook, for making us so dependent on you for birthday reminders!

Yes, it was on January 27th, 1965—47 years ago today—that Carroll Shelby first revealed the GT350 to the world, packing a 289 cubic inch V8 tuned to produce 306 horsepower. GT350s were also outfitted with Ford Galaxie rear axles, Kelsey-Hayes front discs and larger rear drum brakes, and enough attitude to stare down Clint Eastwood. Designed for racing, the ’65 GT350 had its back seats ripped out in favor of a full-size spare tire, and only came in white with blue rocker stripes.

The GT350 stayed in production through 1969, when Carroll Shelby terminated his agreement with Ford after the car maker stuck their noses too far into the design of Shelby’s cars. With only 562 Shelby Gt350s built in 1965, they fetch a pretty penny today—one just sold for $198,000 at RM Auctions’s Arizona show.

If you can’t rustle up that kind of cash, though, Ford will happily sell you the GT350′s spiritual successor, the Ford Shelby GT500, for about a quarter the price—and if you can hold off a couple months for the 2013 version, you’ll be buying a Mustang with a factory warranty and 650 horsepower. If the Shelby GT350 could talk, we think it’d be pretty proud of its descendant. [via The History Channel]