When vehicles come under the hammer at the annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., the ones that cost a mint are usually in mint condition, too. But this year, a beaten and bruised Ford Mustang, built just four years ago, rang up a winning bid of $300,000. Of course, this wasn’t just any Mustang—it was a prototype “durability car” used to develop the 200-mph 2013 Ford Shelby GT500, which goes on sale later this year.
Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) originally built the car in 2007 as the automaker was introducing the 2010 Mustang body and, more recently, it helped shake down vehicle systems for the 2013 model. According to Grand Rapids Ford Dealers, this included enduring 24 hours on the famed Sebring International Raceway in Florida, where the car topped speeds of 150 mph and carved through the track’s 17 turns with aplomb. Kitted out with Recaro performance seats, a full roll cage and six-point racing-style seatbelts, the truly unique Mustang also bears the autographs of each member of the SVT group who worked on it.
“I raced on the Sebring International racetrack for many years, but my ambition was always to build my own car,” said Carroll Shelby, who spent significant seat time in the vehicle. “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.”
All proceeds from the car’s auction went to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
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