Even without the Shelby heritage, series-built Mustangs of such brute power command instant respect. Serialized with the Shelby blessing, these continuation Shelbys will be registered with the Shelby American Automobile Club for their latest World Registry.
Hasty said Shelby enthusiasts and collectors are the main clientele for these cars, some of whom have "a stable full" of Shelby vehicles already. The Unique Web site lists "investments" starting at $149,000 for the GT500SR. For this amount, you get a Shelby continuation vehicle that is basically a turnkey supercar, ready to take to the track or drive on the street.
Doug told us Unique is working on a '69 Shelby continuation that will also be part of the GT500SR series, so the GT500SR will encompass '68 through '70 models. They will be available as convertibles, as seen here, and as fastbacks, which we have not seen.
It will be interesting to see how Unique and Shelby put together the continuation '69 series in a GT500SR, including a new performance look with an R-model front apron replacing the original's chrome front bumper. So, we have more surprises ahead.
Yes, it seems there's always something special coming out of Unique Performance in Farmers Branch, Texas. We can't wait for the next surprise.
Collector Interest
We're starting to get a feel for the rarity of the continuation Shelbys. Production is limited to 475 for the Eleanor series, 400 GT500E fastbacks and 75 GT500E Super Snakes, which is already sold out.
Hasty originally set the GT500SR production at 500 units for all three model years and body styles. "More than likely, I'll cut production rather than keeping the number way up there," he tells us. "We may bring production numbers way down."
All of the Unique-built continuation Shelbys are licensed by Carroll Shelby and will be listed in the Shelby American World Registry. When production ends, we'll have another unique chapter in the history of Shelby and another specialty group of Shelby Mustangs to chase.
Production totals will be interesting when the Shelby continuation buildout ends. Unique's total could be under 1,000 units. That would be a small part of the total Shelby production from 1965 through 1970, which was 14,358.