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FordThe name is associated with many incredible feats of automotive engineering. 1903 saw the birth of the Ford Motor Company, and since then, Ford has turned the automotive world on its head with countless innovations.
Ford is known to the public for workhorse pickup trucks, hot hatchbacks, and the iconic Ford Mustang. We can add high-performance cars to the equation with the Shelby GR-1 Concept.
American car icon Carroll Shelby lent his name to some of the best performance cars to ever grace the pavement. The Shelby GR-1 is no exception to this rule, with award-worthy achievements and displays. Sadly, the retro-inspired Ford Shelby GR-1 never made it past the motor shows.
The Shelby GR-1 Concept may be an unfamiliar name to some. Even the most ardent of car aficionados may find the Shelby GR-1 Concept an elusive sports car. How did the Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept get started, and what kept this sleek and powerful coupe from making it to the production line? We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Ford’s awesome Shelby GR-1 Concept.
Ford’s High-Performance Concept Car: The Shelby GR-1
The year is 2004. The event is the Concours d’Elegance in sunny Pebble Beach, California. Ford used this event to unveil a clay model of what we now know as the Ford Shelby GR-1. The creation and design of this model was actually achieved using CAD (computer-aided design), which was then cut by a machine out of 1,100 lbs of clay. After a week’s work, the machinery completed the clay design, which continued to be painstakingly perfected by hand over a three-week period.
Even these small glimpses into the process tell us that Ford cut no corners with carefully curating such an epic concept car. The clay design molds became the building blocks in a fiberglass model (sans engine and interior), which was sold at an RM Sotheby’s auction for $82,500 in 2011.
In 2005, an engine and interior joined the Shelby GR-1’s gorgeous exterior. Ford unveiled a GR-1 at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. The car proved to be a definite standout from the start, drawing attention with its chrome body and resemblance to the coveted Shelby Daytona. Much like the Shelby Daytona, this car lives on as a fantasy of what cars could be – despite its obscurity to the public.
What to Know About the Shelby GR-1 Concept
The Ford Shelby GR-1 is mostly built from familiar parts. Most of the chassis comes from the Ford Shelby Cobra Concept. The GR-1 has a 6.4-liter Modular Prototype V10 engine with a six-speed manual transmission. According to Ford, the engine produces an impressive 605 horsepower, and 501 lb ft of torque. With a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.9 seconds and a blistering top speed of 190 mph, the Shelby GR-1 is as impressive in performance as the interior and exterior would lead you to believe.
The interior has a minimalist approach to design – clean lines, aerodynamic angles, and polished finishes. The GR-1 comes with a very unique footprint with gearheads itching to get behind the wheel. The GR-1’s seats are carbon fiber with racing harness style seat belts, and the center console even displays G force. Interestingly, the car radio is equipped with MP3s. How’s that for early 2000s nostalgia?
The exterior of the 2005 Ford Shelby GR-1 is striking, no doubt. Ford has pulled out all the stops when it comes to this iconic concept car. The polished chrome look of the aluminum body draws you into its unique presence, designed after the Daytona and race cars of the 1960s. The car has butterfly doors, 275/40R front tires and 345/35R rear tires, and fog lights on either side of the rectangular air intake. The rear of the Ford Shelby GR-1 has a very slanted rear end with quad exhausts.
Will We See The Ford Shelby GR-1 In Production?
If you want to get your hands on your own 2005 Ford Shelby GR-1 you may be having a hard time doing so. Only one of these unique coupes was ever made. But the Superformance brand wants to change that. Superformance received permission from Ford to begin production of the Shelby GR-1. Superformance expects to do a low-volume production run with a sticker price of around $250,000. The last production update on this sports car was on August 8, 2021, so our fingers are crossed that it becomes a reality. Superformance expects their GR-1 clone to have a 750 horsepower engine with an aluminum or carbon fiber body, and has their sights set on a two-second 0-60mph time. We think Carroll Shelby would be proud.
Sources: Superformance, Top Speed, Motor Cities
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