PRESS RELEASE:

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., March 16, 2009 – Ford Motor Company will celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Mustang by auctioning the first retail 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 and a pair of Mustang GT concept cars during the 7th Annual Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Collector Car Auction on April 9-11, 2009. The three historic Mustangs will be sold for charity and are among 400-plus collector vehicles to be auctioned at No Reserve during the automotive lifestyle event at the Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds. SPEED will provide live, high-definition TV coverage of the auction once again.

“It’s rare for a concept vehicle, especially one as iconic as the Ford Mustang, to be sold to the public,” said Craig Jackson, Chairman/CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “Giving enthusiasts an opportunity to take home the ultimate keepsake is an admirable way to mark the 45th anniversary of the Mustang, which will be celebrated a few days after our event.”

All proceeds above MSRP from the sale of the Shelby GT500 will be donated to The Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation. The two Mustang concepts will be auctioned to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

“During the last three years, Ford and Barrett-Jackson have raised more than $2 million for charity through the auction of Ford vehicles,” noted Mark Fields, Ford Motor Company’s president, The Americas. “Ford and Barrett-Jackson will continue this important tradition at this year’s Palm Beach auction. The winning bidders for these fantastic Mustangs will be contributing to worthy causes while purchasing automotive history.”

The first 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 (Lot #665) is the latest in high-performance cars and features a color scheme and equipment personally chosen by Carroll Shelby. Clad in Kona Blue with white stripes, this GT500 has world-class handling, aggressive styling, and extreme levels of horsepower and torque that are unparalleled in its segment.

The two Mustang concepts on the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach docket debuted at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and have traveled to more than 50 auto shows around the world. The fresh design foreshadowed a new direction for the 2005 model year that is still relevant in today’s Mustangs.

The Redline Red Metallic Ford Mustang GT convertible concept (Lot #655) features a distinct “showbar” with a rim of billet-aluminum trim picking up where the instrument panel and console trim leave off. The dazzling red car is pure muscle from its 20-inch wheels and cross-drilled Brembo brakes to the sharp accent line that runs the length of the body and culminates in a “C-scoop” behind the door cutline. The convertible’s interior, awash in supple red and charcoal leather, includes perforated surfaces on the seat backs, as well as a billet-aluminum shifter for the 5-speed automatic transmission, 4-point racing-style seatbelts and unique instrument gauges that resemble a fine watch with its face removed.

“This car began with a significantly modified Ford Thunderbird rear-wheel-drive architecture,” noted Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “The platform was sectioned to achieve the proper proportion and the front-end geometry is all original. This is truly a piece of history that represents the transition to an entirely new Mustang.”

The Tungsten Silver Ford Mustang GT coupe concept (Lot #655.1) has a glass roof and lush red and charcoal leather interior accented by billet-aluminum hardware. Its upward rake angle makes the car appear to be in motion even while at a standstill. The styling matches its convertible sibling. The functional hood scoops help the supercharged engine breathe as it churns out nearly 400 horsepower.

About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company

Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson specializes in providing products and services to classic and collector car owners, astute collectors and automotive enthusiasts around the world. The company produces the “World’s Greatest Collector Car Eventsâ„¢” in Scottsdale, Palm Beach and Las Vegas. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit www.barrett-jackson.com or call (480) 421-6694.

[Source: Barrett-Jackson/autoblog]

[Source: idsketching/robjensendesign]

Photo copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc. via autoblog
Leider wurde nichts aus der Versteigerung des ersten produzierten 2010 Shelby GT500, welche am diesen Wochenende stattfinden sollte. Nicht das es keine Käufer gab, nein, Carroll Shelby lässt es sich nehmen seinen Auktionen selbst zu “kontrollieren” und da er mit einer Erkältung im Bett liegt, fiel auch dessen Auktion aus und wurde für den nächsten Termin in Palm Beach im April, angekündigt! Da die Produktion des GT500 bereits in ein paar Wochen startet, kann sich der Bieter also nicht aussuchen wie er seinen GT500 haben möchte. Carroll Shelby sagte dazu, das es eine Überraschung sein wird und er sein bestes geben will. Wir werden es sehen.

2010 Shelby GT500 Description:

Since 2006, Ford Motor Company and Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction have offered bidders the first opportunity to purchase rare, high performance Ford products, while contributing to a worthy charity. This year in Scottsdale, the tradition continues as Ford and Barrett-Jackson will sell the first retail version of the new 2010 Shelby GT500. With world-class handling, aggressive styling, and 540 horsepower, the latest generation Shelby GT500 will deliver unparalleled performance. All proceeds from the sale of this vehicle will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Over the last three years Ford and Barrett-Jackson have raised over $2.0 million dollars for charity through the auction of Ford Motor Company Products. The winning bidder will be given an opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause while making automotive history.

[Source:autoblog]