We’re all Shelby fans now, in the wake of “Ford v Ferrari”, and Barrett-Jackson is capitalizing on that enthusiasm with a very special Shelby GT500 display at its inaugural Houston Auction already underway (running today through Sunday, Sept. 19) at the NRG Center.

As if the world-renowned auctioneers needed more than the comprehensive and spectacular assemblage of collector cars and trucks ready to be auctioned off.

On display all weekend, together for the first time in history, are a pair of extremely rare and historic 1967 Shelby concept vehicles, Craig Jackson’s fabled lost Ford Shelby GT500 Experimental (EXP500) muscle car and the only Shelby GT500 convertible built that year.

The cars will be featured inside the official Ford Motor Company exhibit at the event for the entire three days.

“These two big-block cars were built as concept and experimental vehicles just months after Ford and Carroll Shelby beat Ferrari at Le Mans,” said Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “They were cornerstones of an ambitious American plan to vanquish the prancing horse across the globe. The personal grudge between Enzo Ferrari, Henry Ford II and Carroll Shelby had spilled over from the track onto the street, where Ferrari sold cars to the public to fund his racing program.”

Ford and Shelby American built the car dubbed “Little Red” as an experiment to test new technologies, the first of two prototype big-block coupes (the other being the “Green Hornet,” which is also in Mr. Jackson’s collection).

Officially “EXP500” to denote its status as an experimental GT500, Little Red was a pivotal development car for a variety of ideas, ranging from a restyled body to dual-quad carburetors, a black Connolly leather interior and twin Paxton superchargers. The car also served as the prototype for the 1968 “California Special”, making it also a double concept vehicle.

The epic search, recovery and restoration of “Little Red” was featured in a documentary sponsored by Barrett-Jackson and Shell Pennzoil. Narrated by Carroll Shelby’s grandson, Aaron Shelby, the film – and another about the experimental 1968 Shelby GT500 named the “Green Hornet” – were broadcast on A+E Networks’ FYI and HISTORY channels, and now available on demand via the Barrett-Jackson YouTube channel.

“The car has deep Texas roots as we found the ‘lost Shelby’ in a field not far from Carroll Shelby’s East Texas home,” said Jackson. “The world was stunned when we unveiled the Shelby inside the Henry Ford Museum in 2018. Now we’re making history again by displaying it alongside the only 1967 Shelby GT500 convertible for the first time ever. It’s even more significant that the car will be exhibited inside the official Ford display, which is a perfect way to celebrate the first Texas auction in Barrett-Jackson’s 50-year history.”

The only 1967 Ford Shelby GT500 coupe, Little Red, will sit inside the Ford display alongside the only Shelby GT500 convertible (67413C9A00139) built that year.

“Shelby American and Ford planned to introduce a convertible version of the Shelby GT500 as a mid-year model,” said Jackson. “Unfortunately, bottlenecks and other problems resulted in production of all 1968 Shelby cars moving to Michigan about the time when the convertible was to be introduced. This twist of fate resulted in the first and only 1967 Shelby GT500 convertible built by Shelby American.”

The significance of No. 0139 extends beyond the Shelby marque. Prior to wearing a Shelby American serial number, the convertible rolled off Ford’s San Jose Mustang assembly line. All 1967 Mustangs ordered by Shelby American as GT500s were equipped with the potent “Ford Cobra” 428ci engine topped with dual 4-barrel carburetors. Thus, No. 0139 is the only multi-carbureted Shelby Mustang convertible ever built.

It was also reworked to be the prototype for the 1968 model year Shelby GT500 convertible line.

All of these facts have been researched and documented by Brian Styles, founder of the Shelby Research Group, and the caretaker of the 1967 Shelby GT500 convertible.

For tickets to the Houston event, click HERE.