As an American icon, the 1967 Shelby->ke81 Mustang GT 500 is a car that’s firmly entrenched as one of the true blue classics in Ford’s illustrious line-up of vehicles. The car’s bad-ass looks, not to mention it’s unheard of power at that time, has turned into what Memphis Raines so eloquently describes as the “unicorn” of all vehicles: a car that elicits wide-eyed gasps at first sight of it.

American tuner Classic Recreations is no stranger to the iconic muscle car, having brought their own tuned-up version to SEMA earlier this month. Calling it the G.T.500CR, the car’s recreation of the timeless classic combines the unmistakable look of the Shelby with modern sports technology.

"The G.T.500CR is meant to be driven," says Jason Engel, founder of Classic Recreations. "Although the overall look is vintage Shelby, essentially this is modern sports car technology wrapped in vintage Shelby GT 500 sheet metal. We had a blast watching the car do what it was built to do.”

Details and press release after the jump.

1967 Shelby GT500CR by Classic Recreations

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 1967 Shelby GT500CR by Classic Recreations
  • Transmission: Tremec Manual Transmission
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR

The exterior and interior of the car weren’t given the extensive upgrades that the car’s whole performance dynamics underwent, but that being said, the G.T. 500CR still has some aesthetic improvements to boast of. The car’s exterior was given fiberglass enhancements, Shelby sequential tail lights, a number of Shelby G.T. 500CR emblems, a set of Shelby 427 Wheels for both the front and rear side of the car, and lastly, a number of available colors for the car, including Grey/Black, Red/White, Blue/White, Black/Grey, and Yellow/White

As for the interior, Classic Recreations added a number of new improvements to the car that include installing Carroll Shelby signature seats, Simpson 5 point camlock seatbelts, Caroll Shelby Signature gauges, 160-mph Speedometer, a Woodgrain Aluminum steering wheel, Old air products A/C system, Deluxe 1967 door panels, dash, and trim, G.T.500CR Console and Floormats, custom-made trapdoor, a Pioneer CD player with a removable face, and Polk Audio coaxial speakers.

PERFORMANCE

This is where Classic Recreations made their keep with the Shelby GT 500. Power comes from a fuel injected, naturally aspirated, hand-built 7.0-liter engine that produces 545 horsepower. Classic Performance’s monster engine is accompanied by a bevy of other powerful materials, including a Tremec overdrive manual transmission, modern coil-over suspension with rack-and-pinion steering, modern vented disc brakes, dual 2.5” exhaust with JBA ceramic-coated headers and Spintek mufflers, tubular sub-frame connectors with shock tower bracing and cosmetic rollbar.

In addition to this model, Classic Performance is also in the middle of working on a supercharged, 780 horsepower "Venom" model that will presumable blow any and all competitors out of the water.

PRICING

The 1967 Shelby G.T.500 is being priced at $119,000, a pretty steep sum even for a modern recreation of an iconic muscle car. As for the currently-in-the-works "Venom" model? Yeah, that's got a price tag of $200,000.

COMPETITION

It’s hard to find suitable competition that can stand on the same plane as a 1967 Shelby GT 500, but for comparison’s sake, we’re going to go with a car like ‘Eleanor’ from Gone in 60 seconds. In case you didn’t know, that model was a 1968 Shelby Mustang GT 500 KR edition. While Classic Recreations’ Shelby GT 500 makes use of a fuel injected, naturally aspirated, hand-built 7.0-liter engine that knocks off 545 horsepower, the Shelby GT 500 KR uses a 7.0-liter V8 Cobra Jet GT engine that doesn’t pack as much power – roughly around 450 horsepower – as Classic Recreations’ steel-twisting machine.

PRESS RELEASE

Oklahoma coachbuilder brings two officially licensed 1967 Shelby continuation cars to the 2010 SEMA Show for Ford and Cobra Electronics. G.T.500CR Performance Model competes in "Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational" at Spring Mtn. Raceway

Yukon, Okla. (Nov, 2010) - During the 2009 SEMA show, Classic Recreations founder Jason Engel announced plans to work with Shelby American on the first series of officially licensed 1967 Shelby Mustang continuation cars. One year later at SEMA 2010, Engel brought not one but two G.T.500CR customer cars to the show after invitations from Ford Motor Company and Cobra Electronics to display vehicles in the company's respective booths. The car from the Ford display was also called out as an "Ultimate Street Car" when Optima batteries asked Engel to participate in the annual Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational (OUSCI) track shootout and television show at Spring Mountain Raceway in Pahrump, Nevada, the Saturday after SEMA.

"Having two customer cars in major booths at the SEMA Show was really a coming out party for the G.T.500CR," Engel said. "We are in full production and have shipped Shelbys all over the world, but having vehicles in the Ford and Cobra booths, then being chosen to take part in the OUSCI was a great thrill for us. Everyone knows we can build a beautiful car - this was our chance to show that we also build a fast car with the performance and reliability of a modern supercar. I think we proved that at Spring Mountain Raceway and we were truly honored that the crew at Optima chose us out of thousands of vehicles on display at SEMA."

Both G.T.500CR Shelbys on display at SEMA were 545 horsepower Performance Models, one finished in classic wimbledon white and guards blue, the other featuring a two-tone gloss and matte black paintjob. Both cars are powered by fuel injected, naturally aspirated, hand-built 427 cubic inch engines. Other features include a Tremec overdrive transmission, modern coil-over suspension with rack-and-pinion steering, modern vented disc brakes, a custom handcrafted interior featuring Carroll Shelby signature seats, custom gauges, brushed aluminum trim, and five-point harnesses. Each car is built by highly trained craftsman in the heart of America and require well over 1,000 hours of manual labor.

The stealth car was a key part of the Cobra Electronic booth display, where it was constantly surrounded by admirers and photographers. The white car was part of the Ford Heritage Display directly across from the Ford drift exhibition next to the Monster Energy stage, where modern Mustangs demonstrated Ford performance in a cloud of tire smoke.

Saturday after the close of the SEMA Show, the white Shelby competed at the OUSCI in four competitions: autocross, road course, speed stop and engineering. As one of only three Fords in a field of 60 top-tier supercars, the G.T.500CR stood out and made an impression. When the tire smoke cleared, the Shelby finished in the top 20 on the road course.

"The G.T.500CR is meant to be driven," says Engel. "Although the overall look is vintage Shelby, essentially this is modern sports car technology wrapped in vintage Shelby GT500 sheet metal. We had a blast watching the car do what it was built to do. Classic Recreations offers additional options on all our builds and next year we're bringing out one of our supercharged, 780 hp "Venom" models with four-link rear suspension and we'll really show them what we can do."

The entire Optima event, from the pre-SEMA builds to the awards ceremony, was shot for a national TV show, which will air in early 2011 on a national cable network. For full event results, more information on the OUSCI results, TV show, participants, official rules and more, visit http://www.optimainvitational.com/.

Intro Model

- Investment starting at $119,000

Color availability:

- Grey/Black ,Red/White, Blue/White, Black/Grey, Yellow/White

Drivetrain:

- 427 C.I Crate Engine (545 H.P.)

- Mass Flo Fuel Injection

- Tremec Manual Transmission

- 9" Fab 9 rear w/ 3:70 Gear ratio and Posi Traction installed

- Concept one pulley system

- 150HP NOS Nitrous system (disarmed)

Steering:

- TCP Rack and Pinion conversion (Power)

- Flaming River Tilt column (polished)

Interior:

- Carroll Shelby signature seats

- Simpson 5 point camlock seatbelts

- Carroll Shelby Signature gauges

- 160mph Speedometer

- Woodgrain Aluminum steering wheel

- Old air products A/C system

- Deluxe 1967 door panels

- Deluxe 1967 dash and trim

- Carroll Shelby G.T.500CR Console

- Carroll Shelby G.T.500CR Floormats

Stereo system:

- Pioneer CD player w/ removable face

- Classic Recreations LLC. custom trap door

- Polk Audio coaxial speakers

Wheels and tires:

- Shelby 427 Wheels 17X8 front

- Shelby 427 Wheels 17x8 Rear

- High performance z rated tires (Goodyear) 245/40/17 Front

- High performance z rated tires (Goodyear) 245/40/17 Rear

Exterior:

- Shelby sequential tail lights

- Shelby G.T.500CR Emblems

- Exterior Fiberglass Enhancements

Fuel:

- Electric Fuel pump

- Stealth 18 gal Fuel cell

Brakes:

- Front: Shelby/Baer 13"X1.1" track system

- Rear: Shelby/Baer 12"X.81" touring system

- Slotted, Crossdrilled and zinc washed

- Adjustable rear proportioning valve

Electrical:

- Trunk mounted battery

- MSD Ignition

Exhaust:

- JBA Ceramic coated headers

- Dual 2.5" Exhaust

- Spintek Mufflers

Cooling:

- Becool Aluminum Crossflow Radiator

- 2-13" electric cooling fans

Chassis:

- Tubular Sub frame connectors

- Shock tower bracing

- Cosmetic Rollbar

Suspension:

- Performance tuned front suspension

- Performance tuned rear suspension

- Sway bars front and rear

Performance Model

Investment starting at $149,000

Interior:

- Carroll Shelby Scat Rally series 1000 seats

Suspension:

- Custom Front Crossmember w/ tubular A-arms

- High Performance Front Coilover shocks

- High Performance Rear Coilover system

- Tubular Sport Sway bars front and rear

Venom Model

Investment starting at $199,000

Drivetrain:

- 427 C.I Crate Engine (780 H.P.)

- F1-R Procharger Intercooled w/17PSI of boost

Interior:

- Carroll Shelby Scat Rally series 1000 seats

- 200mph Speedometer

Wheels and tires:

- Shelby 427 Wheels 17x11 Rear

- High performance z rated tires (Goodyear) 315/35/17 Rear

Suspension:

- Custom Front Crossmember w/ tubular A-arms

- High Performance Front Coilover shocks

- High Performance Rear Coilover system

- Tubular Sport Sway bars front and rear