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One-of-one 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 racetrack durability
car was auctioned off late Saturday night, with all
proceeds benefiting JDRF, the world's largest charitable
funder of type 1 diabetes research
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This racetrack durability car was put through the paces
at historic Sebring International Raceway by the Ford SVT
development team and Carroll Shelby. It was originally
built in 2007 as one of the first Shelby GT500s with the
body updated for the 2010 model year
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The GT500 durability car was personally piloted by
Carroll Shelby during testing and led to the new
production Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang, which produces 650
horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque, making it the most
powerful production V8 engine in the world
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 24, 2012 - Ford gave muscle car
enthusiasts a rare opportunity to bid on the racetrack
durability car used to develop the 2013 Shelby GT500
production Mustang. The car was auctioned at the 41st
Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction late Saturday
night in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The sale raised $350,000 for JDRF (formerly known as the
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), the world's largest
charitable funder of type 1 diabetes research. On the
auction stage was Ford's President of The Americas Mark
Fields, and members of SVT. The event was broadcast
live on the SPEED Channel.
"This GT500 durability car represents the most recent
collaboration between Ford SVT and Carroll Shelby," said
Fields. "Working alongside Carroll, our SVT team put this
durability car through some of the most demanding driving
conditions at Sebring International Raceway as well as
others across the country. The result of those tests is the
2013 Ford Shelby GT500, the most powerful production V8 in
the world."
The durability car was built in 2007 - one of the first
vehicles with the new 2010 body. Then, for the 2013 model,
the prototype was run for 24 hours at top speeds of 150 mph
at Sebring to ensure all systems function properly for
customers who will replicate such grueling conditions.
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. The production 2013 Shelby GT500 will be
available with optional SVT-designed Recaro seats. Evidence
of instrumentation from development also can be found
inside the vehicle. Each member of SVT engineering who
worked on the 2013 Shelby GT500 has signed the underside of
the trunk lid.
"I raced on the Sebring International racetrack for many
years, but my ambition was always to build my own car,"
said Carroll Shelby. "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 auction of the car will benefit JDRF,
a leader in research leading to a cure for type 1 diabetes.
During the past five years, Ford has raised more than $3
million for charity through sales of vehicles at
Barrett-Jackson auctions.
"Ford is proud of its ongoing partnership with JDRF in the
fight to find a cure for type 1 diabetes," said Edsel B.
Ford II. "The energy and excitement at Barrett-Jackson
creates the perfect environment for Ford to raise
significant funds that will help bring us closer to a world
free from diabetes."
"When the Ford SVT team and Carroll Shelby collaborate on a
car, you know it's going to be firing on all cylinders,"
said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson Auction
Company. "We have a long history of working with Ford and
Carroll and are excited to have this one-of-one durability
car cross our auction block in Scottsdale to benefit a very
worthy charity."
2013 Ford Shelby GT500
The ultimate Ford Mustang - Shelby GT500 - raises the bar
high on performance by delivering a test track top speed of
more than 200 mph. The 5.8-liter V8 aluminum-block engine
produces 650 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque, making
it the most powerful production V8 in the world.
Nearly every part of the powertrain has been optimized for
producing the additional horsepower, including a new
supercharger, new cross-drilled block and heads, updated
camshaft profiles, a new carbon fiber driveshaft and
upgraded clutch, transmission and axle.
Plus, nearly every gear on the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 has
been revised to manage the torque and use more of the power
in a way that makes it more driver-friendly.
The 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 will be built at AutoAlliance
International Plant in Flat Rock, Mich.
# # #
About Ford Motor Company
, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn,
Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six
continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70
plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include
Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services
through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information
regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit .
About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company
The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company was established in 1971
and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz. Barrett-Jackson
specializes in providing products and services to classic
and collector car owners, astute collectors and automotive
enthusiasts around the world. The company produces the
"World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions™" in Scottsdale,
Palm Beach, Fla., Las Vegas, Nev. and Orange County, Calif.
Barrett-Jackson also endorses a one-of-a-kind collector car
insurance offering for collector vehicles and other valued
belongings. For more information about Barrett-Jackson,
visit or call (480) 421-6694.
About JDRF
JDRF is the leading global organization focused on type 1
diabetes (T1D) research. Driven by passionate, grassroots
volunteers connected to children, adolescents, and adults
with this disease, JDRF is now the largest charitable
supporter of T1D research. The goal of JDRF research is to
improve the lives of every person affected by T1D by
accelerating progress on the most promising opportunities
for curing, better treating, and preventing T1D. JDRF
collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners who share
this goal. Since its founding in 1970, JDRF has awarded
more than $1.6 billion to diabetes research. Past JDRF
efforts have helped to significantly advance the care of
people with this disease, and have expanded the critical
scientific understanding of T1D. JDRF will not rest until
T1D is fully conquered. More than 80 percent of JDRF's
expenditures directly support research and research-related
education..
