With a thundering 800 hp supercharged V-8, this reimagined 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500, from Texas-based Classic Recreations, is guaranteed to get any driver’s heart pumping. But the muscle car is also going to help keep the hearts of others pumping as well. See, the limited-edition model will comprise only 10 examples, each priced at $625,000, of which $100,000 of that will go to the American Heart Association and its latest “Life is Why” campaign. That’s $1 million in total.
The reason behind this charitable drive is simple, according to Jeff Stone, CEO of Classic Recreations. “Heart disease is what ultimately caused Carroll Shelby‘s early retirement from racing,” Stone tells Robb Report. “Had he still been with us, we know he would have been totally behind our efforts to raise money for the American Heart Association during its landmark 100th anniversary year.”
The limited-edition Mustang, inspired by the classic 1967 Shelby GT500 fastback, is built new from the ground up. It features a lightweight, all-carbon-fiber body mounted on an I-beam-stiff steel spaceframe chassis. Once completed, the body goes through a painstaking eight-week process to add front-to-back, burgundy centerline stripes, outlined with hand-painted, thin white stripes. These are flanked by stripes in the American Heart Association’s trademarked bright red.
“It’s a very dramatic color scheme that will be unique to these 10 cars. The center burgundy stripes are translucent, letting the distinctive carbon-fiber weave show through. It looks amazing,” says Stone.
Inside, the cabin includes Carroll Shelby Scat Rally Series high-back leather bucket seats with red stitching, and headrests embossed with the American Heart Association’s “Life is Why” logo. The brushed-aluminum dash presents bold Shelby white-with-red gauges. Shelby’s iconic signature is displayed above the glove box and stitched into the floor mats. The fascia also showcases a commemorative plaque identifying the car as one of only 10. The entire build process takes over 2,500 hours for each example.
As the ultimate Classic Recreations Shelby GT500CR, the car boasts a specially tuned Gen 3 Coyote 5.0-liter V-8 from Ford Performance, boosted by a Magnuson VMP supercharger. A Tremec T56 Magnum six-speed manual transmission is standard, although an automatic option is available. With 800 hp on tap, the builder claims the car covers zero-to-60 mph in 3.2 seconds and has a top speed just shy of 190 mph. And to ensure the Mustang stops as effectively as it goes, there are Wilwood rotors at each corner, clamped by six-piston calipers up front, and four at the rear. Rod & Custom Motorsports double-wishbone suspension—with adjustable coil-over shocks—also raise the level of handling to that of contemporary performance cars.
“It’s an honor for us to be supporting the American Heart Association and its fight against heart disease and stroke,” adds Stone. “The non-profit’s values align perfectly with those of our family owned company and its employees who are looking to make a difference and give back.”
Classic Recreations will take the $100,000 earmarked from each car and donate it to the American Heart Association in the name of the owner, who will also potentially receive a charitable tax deduction on their investment.
Click here for more photos of this 1967 Shelby GT500CR from Classic Recreations.
