Car of the Day - Classic Recreations Shelby GT500CR Mustng 2010-1967

Car of the Day - Classic Recreations Shelby GT500CR Mustng 2010-1967

Shelby licensed Classic Recreations last year to build an official continuation 1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang. The whole replica/continuation thing has been a contentious area for almost as long as there have been successful and desirable cars. Products have varied between the Good, the Bad and the downright Ugly. While the good have seen factory endeavours from numerous original manufactures, especially British Marques, the practice itself has been a minefield. The vast majority are no more than cheap rip-offs. Even reputable people such as Carroll Shelby have found themselves caught up in less than desirable situations.

While the debate regarding the value and place of recreations has raged for years and is just simply one of those grey areas, there are some absolutes. There is a market for them and some are very, very good. Such is the case for the GT500CR. This is not a recreation that can be passed off for an original, it is in fact with regard to performance, fit and finish better than the original.

If you were the owner of a concourse original - wouldn’t you want one of these as your daily driver.... The GT500CR is a handbuilt masterpiece that takes 2500 man hours to complete. Once complete it receives an official Shelby serial number, badges and inclusion in the Shelby World Registry.

The GT500CR is available in three levels of performance, starting at the base 545 horsepower Performance Model and going through to the 780 horsepower supercharged Venom. The enhancements over the original are both extensive and desirable. There is a new tube subframe, new rack and pinion steering, coil over suspension, Baer brakes, nine-inch rear end and Tremec gearbox.

Visually there are 17 inch wheels and fiberglass body components with the fit and finish better than on the original Other than that the exterior looks the same - why would you change anything...

The interior is beautiful and combines the best of the past with what is obviously hand finished components made by people who love their work.

At the heart of the car as should be with any American Muscle is the engine. In the case of the Venom a supercharged 427 crate engine with enhancements. The Mass Flo Fuel Injection and F1-R Procharger with Intercooler and 17PSI of boost make for some serious improvements over the 1967 version.

So the question is with such a desirable car - will we see replicas of this recreation - off course. Guys who can’t afford the 200k outlay will be building their own version in their garage for years to come.

Rod Halligan