In just a few more days, car collectors the world over will flock to Scottsdale, Arizona for the annual Barrett-Jackson car auction. The first major auction event of the year is already under way, though the first bids have yet to be placed. We’ve already covered a number of big name Mustangs that will be at the show, but we’ve got room for one more last-minute entry that is sure to bring in big bucks.
Ford just announced that it would be auctioning off the 2013 Shelby GT500 “durability” prototype at this weekend’s Barrett-Jackson auction, driven by none other than Carroll Shelby himself. It’s not exactly the “first” 2013 GT500 we had in mind.
It is rare for concept cars and testing prototypes to go up for auction. More often than not these vehicles are sequestered away in private collections, or more often simply crushed to avoid proprietary designs from falling into the wrong hands. But for whatever reason, Ford and Shelby have decided that this particular GT500, which was used for road testing at Sebring, Arizona Proving Grounds, and the Route 66 road course, is destined for a higher calling.
By higher calling we of course mean wealthy bidders. Alas, because this is a “prototype” car, it can never be registered and driven. But we don’t expect that to halt the flow of top-dollar bids from collectors who are not just purchasing a car, but history. As usual, the proceeds from this auction will go to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Center.