Lost 1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang Prototype Found in a Texas Field

By Miles Branman August 23, 2018

1967 Shelby GT500 Little Red — Barrett-Jackson

Whenever a classic car — especially a rare or significant model — turns up in some guy’s barn or similarly quaint setting, we have to wonder how the heck it got there. Who stole and stashed or just plain ol’ forgot about this piece of automotive history?

Take the recent discovery of a 1967 Mustang GT500 prototype (nicknamed “Little Red”). How did this Shelby find its way into the middle of a Texas field, sans engine, transmission, and other important bits? That’s what its new owner is trying to find out via crowd-sourced information.

1967 Shelby GT500 Little Red

1967 Shelby GT500 Little Red

Here’s what we do know about Little Red. The second-ever serialized GT00 (the first was a fastback and the third was a convertible) disappeared in the late ‘60s after being used as a testbed for Ford performance parts. After being pulled from the automaker’s test car rotation, the prototype was supposedly sent to the crusher (like many other pre-production models). In reality, it was sold as a used car, passed between a few owners, and then parked in a Texas field. When it was discovered, Little Red had long since lost its big-block V8, three-speed automatic transmission, and front-end components.

To find the historic muscle car, Craig Jackson (CEO of the Barrett-Jackson auctions) and Jason Billups (car restorer) tracked down the original Ford VIN and its most recent owner. To this point, car collectors had only searched for Little Red based on its Shelby serial number. With some help from Mustang expert Kevin Marti, the prototype was finally located and purchased by Jackson.

1967 Shelby GT500 Little Red — Shelby Prototype Coupes/Facebook

This particular Shelby Mustang is noteworthy for several reasons, including its factory-equipped dual-quad carburetors (the only of its kind), 428 cubic-inch V8 (the first Mustang coupe to get this powertrain), and its notchback coupe design (all production GT500 models wore fastback bodies).

Jackson is reportedly giving the experimental Shelby a full restoration, which should be completed around the time Ford debuts its all-new GT500 (sometime next year). The question is really how Jackson will restore the car, considering all the various parts it used during its time as a test vehicle. Whichever direction he takes, Little Red will remain an ultra-rare member of the muscle car community.

Editors' Recommendations

Miles Branman developed a passion for cars early on thanks to a neighbor’s collection of rare and exotic vehicles. What…

Auto

Maserati rounds off its 2025 Folgore lineup with an electric GranCabrio

Maserati's sports convertible goes all-electric

Maserati GranCabrio Folgore

Maserati has unveiled the final piece of its 2024 electrification puzzle in the form of the GranCabrio Folgore -- an all-electric version of its new convertible. The battery-powered roadster was unveiled as part of “Folgore Days,” a celebration of Maserati’s new electric lineup held in Italy’s motor valley. Folgore Days itself is following on from the Formula E racing weekend at Misano World Circuit -- with Maserati being the only luxury brand represented in the electric racing series.

The Trident has gone all out with its latest offering, producing what it claims is the fastest electric convertible on the market. It can do 0-60 in 2.8 seconds and is capable of hitting speeds of just over 180 miles per hour. As with many of Maserati’s sportier offerings, “Corsa Mode” is available and is the easiest way to get the most out of your electric Maserati. The vehicle produces just over 750 horsepower, though with boost, this can briefly reach around 820 horsepower. So the GranCabrio sits alongside its hard-top sibling as the most powerful vehicle Maserati currently offers.

Auto

This is what’s new with the 2025 Subaru Forester

Rather than reinvent models every few years, Subaru focuses on improving each model incrementally.

Subaru introduced the sixth-generation 2025 Forester SUV in five trim levels. The sixth variant, the Forester Wilderness, remains unchanged for 2025 because Subaru redesigned the 2024 version of the more rugged, off-road trim. Like all Subaru SUVs and most sedans, the 2025 Forester trims have full-time, symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD), four-cylinder Boxer internal combustion engines (ICEs), and continuously variable transmissions (CVTs).
Why 2025 Subaru Forester trim levels matter

Unless you already own a Subaru, and even then, discerning the changes between years is difficult. Walk on a Subaru dealership lot with new cars mixed with used models, and it's easy to mistake a 10-year-old Forester or Outback for a spanking new version. Subaru doesn't make drastic design changes. The brand's value point is based on reliability and durability, much more than attracting attention with spiffy new profiles.

Auto

The newly tuned and sharpened Audi S3: Faster, lower, and grippier

Audi continues to boost S3 ICE sedan performance

Blue 2025 Audi S3 direct front view with the car driving on a mountain road with rocks and trees on either side.

Audi has recently unveiled the 2025 Audi S3 in performance-enhanced sedan and Sportback models. Similar to the added performance features in the new and sportier Audi A3, the S3 models continue to advance the platform's power, design, and technological innovation. Set to hit dealerships in the second quarter of 2024, the 2025 Audi S3 is another step up in the luxury sports sedan category.
Why the 2025 Audi S3 performance updates matter

The 2025 updates are particularly significant because they demonstrate Audi's confidence in internal combustion engine (ICE) technology amidst a market shifting towards electrification. By enhancing the ICE capabilities of the Audi S3, Audi caters to enthusiasts of traditional high-performance engines and emphasizes the ongoing relevance and advancement of ICE technology in modern vehicles. These updates show that Audi stays in the game with ICE performance vehicles.
2025 Audi S3: upgraded power