1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Convertible
Registration no. YMO 506F
Chassis no. CSE6834FC44EP001C

Legendary Texan racing driver Carroll Shelby's team had been campaigning Ford's Mustang 'pony car' with considerable success in North America, winning the SCCA's B-Production title three years running in the mid-1960s. Capitalising on his success, Shelby began manufacturing modified Mustangs, which were officially sanctioned and sold through selected Ford dealerships. Ford supplied Shelby with part-completed 'Sportsroof' (fastback) Mustangs, which were finished off at Shelby's plant in Los Angeles.

The first Shelby Mustang - the GT350 - arrived in 1965 powered by a modified version of Ford's 289ci (4.7-litre) small-block V8 producing 306bhp, with options of a 340-360bhp unit in competition trim or 400bhp supercharged. A four-speed Borg-Warner manual gearbox was the stock transmission on early Shelby Mustangs, though a heavy-duty, three-speed automatic soon became available as an option.

The running gear was appropriately up-rated to cope with the GT350's increased performance, incorporating the optional Kelsey-Hayes front disc brakes, stronger Ford Galaxie rear axle, Koni adjustable shock absorbers and alloy wheels. The first cars were supplied minus the rear seats, thereby qualifying the GT350 as a two-seat sports car! Outwardly there was little to distinguish Shelby's GT350 from the standard product apart from a pair of broad 'racing' stripes down the body centreline. On the open road there was, of course, no comparison.

When the factory introduced a 390ci 'big-block' V8 option on the Mustang for 1967, Shelby went one better, installing Ford's 428ci (7.0-litre) Cobra Jet V8 to create the GT500, one of the great, iconic musclecars of the 1960s. Produced at the A O Smith Company's plant in Ionia, Michigan from 1968, the Shelby Mustang continued to be based on the stock version, receiving the latter's styling changes and mechanical improvements while retaining its own distinctive special features, until production ended in 1970.

Built in 2005 with Carroll Shelby's approval, the car offered here is the prototype of a proposed series of new GT500 Convertibles, which would have been the first soft-top Shelby Mustangs since 1970. Although externally it looks like the original GT500, '001C' has been upgraded with best of modern technology, boasting a fuel-injected 408ci (6.7-litre) aluminium-block V8 engine and a five-speed Tremec TKO 600 racing transmission. This engine produces a staggering 525bhp, and the custom-made X-braced chassis and running gear have been up-rated to cope. The DC&O fuel injection is worthy of note, its intakes resembling a set of period-correct Weber velocity stacks – a particularly nice touch. A racing-specification fuel cell is fitted for ultimate safety.

Carroll's signature is found throughout the classic Shelby-style interior, from the seats to the instruments, which include a 160mph speedometer and 0-10,000rpm rev counter, and he has personally signed the dashboard. Other noteworthy features include a nitrous-oxide release button, 'Go Baby Go' shifter, centre-mounted fire extinguisher and a multi-speaker Sony AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo system.

The only car of the proposed series actually completed, this unique Shelby Mustang previously formed part of the Don Davis Collection in Fort Worth, Texas and was sold at auction when the collection was dispersed in April 2013. Maintained in-house by Mr Davis' staff, it was described as 'essentially a new car' and is presented today in generally excellent condition. Recent works totalling £6,264.14 include a new twin-plate clutch, handbrake conversion and re-wiring completed 31.05.14 It is offered with current MoT and V5 document.