World’s First Carbon ’67 Shelby GT500CR™ Mustang

March 2021 • Photos Drew Phillips courtesy Classic Restorations
Presented by MicksPaint.com & USAutomotive.co.uk

Carroll Shelby gave us the GT350, Steve McQueen Bullitt and Toby Halicki Eleanor, what more could we ask for?

How about a rust-free, all carbon ’67 fastback ? Enter Classic Recreations, Dallas, TX who just had Aaron Shelby introduce the world’s first officially licensed, carbon fiber-bodied ’67 Shelby GT500CR™ Mustang.

Jason Engel, founder and co-owner at Classic Recreations, said: “Our Carbon Fiber Shelby moved from concept to reality in an unbelievable nine months demonstrating our ability to engineer and handcraft amazing cars by collaborating with key partners such as SpeedKore Performance Group. The GT500CR™ is a breathtaking 600 lbs lighter than stock (base Mustang weighs 2,758 lb (1,251 kg)) and with 810 hp has a power-to-weight ratio on par with many exotics.”

Based in Grafton, near Milwaukee, WI, Speedkore.com manufactures 100-percent Made in the USA components and complete vehicle bodies using lightweight prepreg autoclaved carbon fiber. Their catalog includes a full 1970 Dodge Charger body as well as numerous parts for Corvette, Dodge and of course Mustang. It is the first time the technology has been applied so extensively to a vintage Shelby GT500.

In order to create the carbon Mustang, a steel ’67 was blue light scanned (blue light 3D scanners offer better precision, accuracy, and higher quality outputs). The information was then used to design and engineer plugs, from which permanent molds were developed. The resulting carbon panels are cured in an autoclave, creating blemish-free exposed carbon weave alignment panel-to-panel and exact-match replication.

Power for the carbon Mustang comes from a 5.2L Aluminator Gen 3 Ford Coyote engine fitted with a 2.9L ‘Big Mouth’ Whipple supercharger and Stainless Works long-tube headers. The transmission is a Ford 10R80 10-speed automatic with paddle shifters while the rear end is a 9-inch Fab 9 with 3:70 gear ratio and Posi Traction.

Rolling on 3-piece 18-inch Forgeline wheels booted with BFG Rivals, the GT500CR production edition benefits from adjustable Detroit Speed suspension, JRI coil-overs, quadralink rear suspension, high-performance 6- and 4-pot Wilwood brakes, oversize front, and rear sway bars and powered rack-and-pinion steering.

As you would expect, the interior is as well appointed as the powertrain and features black leather ProCar seats, bright red cam-lock seatbelts, a matching leather-wrapped aluminum steering wheel, and a special console. The instruments comprise custom red-face Shelby-signature gauges (there are a lot of Carroll Shelby signatures) with a Classic Instruments 200 mph speedo.

Externally, the Carbon Edition is, well, beautifully executed clear-coated raw carbon with subtle, candy red over-the-top stripes, however, the vehicle is available in a number of color combinations or solely as exposed carbon. There are some authentic Carroll Shelby exterior badging and carbon enhancements, such as the scoops and rockers, plus the obligatory hood pins and sequential taillights.

As you would anticipate, the carbon Mustang comes at a price. The standard GT500CR with a complete carbon body starts at $265,000 and is available with several drivetrain and customization options. The limited-release Carbon Edition Shelby GT500CR package begins at $298,000, with customization and upgrades available based on the customer's preferences. In addition, there is a special delivery experience at Shelby American’s facility in Las Vegas. NOTE: For every Carbon Edition sold Classic Recreations will make a generous donation to the Carroll Shelby Foundation in the buyer’s honor.

As prices of original early cars continues to rise, a brand new, rust free and never-to-rust Mustang appears to be the ultimate answer. Can you imagine in 100 years time the buzz surrounding a barn-find carbon Mustang with no rust?

Vehicle: 1967-68 GT500CR™ Carbon Fiber Mustang
Builder: Classic-Recreations.com
Body: Carbon Fiber by Speedkore.com

Powertrain
• Engine: Ford 5.2L Aluminator Gen 3 Coyote engine
• Supercharger: 2.9 L Big-Mouth 132mm throttle body Whipple
• Output: 810hp & 600 lb-ft of torque
• Fuel Management: Ford direct-port injection
• Pulley System: Vintage Air
• Radiator: Be Cool aluminum crossflow with two 13-inch fans
• Headers: Stainless Works long tube
• Exhaust: MagnaFlow dual 2.5-inch mandrel bent stainless steel
• Fuel Cell: Rick’s Tanks Stealth 18-gallon
• Transmission: Ford 10R80 10-speed automatic w/paddle shifters

Suspension
• Front: Detroit Speed Alumaframe
• Rear: Quadralink
• Shocks: JRI coil-overs
• Sway Bars: Oversized front & rear
• Rear End:  9-inch Fab 9 with 3:70 gear ratio and Posi Traction
• Brakes: 6-piston Wilwood calipers with 14-in. slotted, crossdrilled & vented rotors (front), 4-piston Wilwood calipers with 13-in. slotted, crossdrilled & vented rotors (rear)

Interior
• Seats:  ProCar Leather
• Seatbelts: 5-Point Camlock
• Gauges: Carroll Shelby Signature (red face)
• Speedometer:  Classic Instruments 200 mph
• Console: Carroll Shelby GT500CR
• Steering Wheel: Leather-Wrapped aluminum
• Steering column: Flaming River polished tilt
• Air Conditioner: Old Air Products

Audio
• Media Center/Radio:  Kenwood double din media center with navigation
• Amp: Kicker 5-Channel
• Speakers: Kicker
• Subwoofer: Stillwater Designs
• Battery: Optima
• Wheels: Forgeline 3-piece 18x10 (front), Forgeline 3-piece 18x12 (rear)
• Tires: BFGoodrich Rival G-Force 275/35/18 (front), BFGoodrich Rival G-Force 335/30/18 (rear)