This Saturday during the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction, Ford is giving enthusiasts an opportunity to bid on the racetrack durability car used to develop the ’13 Shelby GT500 production Mustang.
The durability car was built in 2007, one of the first vehicles with the new ’10 body. Then, for the ’13 model, the prototype was run for 24 hours at top speeds of 150 mph at Sebring to ensure all systems were functioning properly.
The car includes a full roll cage, six-point harness seatbelts, and new Recaro racing seats that were donated by Recaro North America, identical to those used in development. Evidence of instrumentation from development can also be found inside the vehicle. Each member of SVT engineering who worked on the ’13 GT500 has signed the underside of the trunk lid.
“I raced on the Sebring racetrack for many years,” said Carroll Shelby. “But my ambition was always to build my own car. So it was exciting to be back to collaborate on this GT500 durability car with the SVT guys. I’m really proud to have my name on this car. They took my dreams of what a car should be and made it a reality.”
The sale will raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), a leader in research leading to a cure for Type 1 diabetes. On the auction stage will be Ford’s President of The Americas, Mark Fields, and members of SVT. The event will be televised live on SPEED Channel.