Next Friday, January 19, 2018, at the 47th annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, this rare 2008 Ford Shelby GT convertible will cross the block as lot #1012. This Shelby GT is not only the prototype for the first Shelby convertible since 1970; it was also driven by Carroll Shelby for promotional purposes in several magazine stories and served duty as a media press car. The Shelby GT will be driven across the Barrett-Jackson stage by Carroll’s grandson, Aaron Shelby.
“The Carroll Shelby Foundation has been helping kids with the race for life since 1991,” said Aaron Shelby, Co-President of the Carroll Shelby Foundation. “We’re selling the Shelby GT prototype driven by my grandfather to help raise money for the charity that he loved. Those funds will give financial support to children and the medical professionals who help them overcome life-threatening health issues. Some of the money will also promote continuing educational development through initiatives like the Carroll Shelby Automotive Technology Program.”
The Shelby GT program was launched in 2007 as a collaborative build effort between Ford, Carroll Shelby, and Ford Racing to produce a retail version of the 2006 Ford Shelby GT-H rental car. Demand was so high for the GT-H that the announcement that Shelby GTs would be produced for retail sale with pre-title modifications made by Shelby American in Las Vegas enthusiasts went running to their dealers to order. The 2007 Shelby GTs were available only coupe body style and only in white or black.
There was significant demand for an open-air version of the Shelby GT so a convertible version was planned for the following model year. Like all Shelby products production was limited to retain exclusiveness.
At the time, Carroll Shelby said, “The Shelby GT was engineered for people that put performance first. Working with Ford Racing, we created this Shelby to be an everyday driver that’s tuned for fun at the track. Those who value a well-balanced package will appreciate it. Those who don’t will be left behind staring at its tailpipes.”
Each Shelby GT began life as a specially-equipped Mustang GT assembled at the AutoAlliance International assembly plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. The cars were shipped to the Shelby Automobiles facility in Las Vegas for transformation before delivery to Ford dealerships nationwide. Many say that the Shelby GT is one of the most desirable late-model Mustang vehicles due to its pre-title build status as being “truly built by Shelby” versus post-title Shelby vehicles or Ford Shelby vehicles that come directly off of the Ford assembly line.
Shelby added key aerodynamic enhancements, a Ford Racing Power Upgrade Package to pump up the horsepower and torque, a Hurst short-throw shifter, sport tuned suspension and 18-inch tires. Each car featured an authentication plate on the dash, as well as a matching tag under the hood for documentation in the official registry. Only 2,214 total 2008 Shelby GT coupes and convertibles were built.
“This particular car was both the prototype for the 2008 Ford Shelby GT pre-title pony car, as well as the prototype for the first retail Mustang-based Shelby built convertible since 1970,” said Gary Patterson, president of Shelby American. “And since the Shelby convertible was built just as the 2008 cars went into production, it is actually based on a 2007 model year Mustang. This makes it very, very rare since a convertible Shelby GT was not offered in 2007”
A total of 583 production 2008 Shelby GT Vista Blue convertibles were built; the only prototype that is being auctioned was equipped with:
-4.6L V-8 tuned by Ford Racing (319 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque)
-Five-speed manual transmission
-18-inch Ford factory Shelby GT wheels
-Shelby appearance package
-Ford Racing suspension
-Charcoal gray interior
-AM/FM CD player
This blue with silver striped Shelby was the company’s official press car. It was photographed for all media photos, which were distributed worldwide and appeared in every initial article about the Shelby GT convertible that year. Personally driven by Carroll Shelby for promotional purposes, the car starred in stories published by major automotive outlets such as Motor Trend, Road & Track, AutoWeek, Car & Driver, Automobile and Mustang Monthly.
“This is a historically important car because it represents a return of the Shelby ‘small block’ convertible to Ford dealerships, as well as the final year of the pre-title manufacturing agreement between Ford Motor Company and Shelby for the Shelby GT program,” said Neil Cummings, Co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International, CEO of Carroll Shelby Licensing, and Co-President of the Carroll Shelby Foundation. “The winning bidder will own a car personally cherished by Carroll Shelby, as well as having the satisfaction of contributing to the charity that Carroll so loved.”
The 2008 Shelby GT owned by the Carroll Shelby Foundation is scheduled to cross the Barrett-Jackson Auction block on Friday, January 19, 2018, between 1:30 and 3:30 pm central mountain time.
Photography by Carroll Shelby Foundation
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