Saving weight is very hard to do. Yet, Classic Recreations has managed to save a whole wack of it thanks to a full carbon fiber body.
The company is the only one licensed to make Shelby continuation cars and it partnered with SpeedKore for its carbon-fiber know-how. Together, they’ve made a Shelby GT500 CR that weighs 600 lbs less than steel-bodied cars.
In order to make it, the company first scanned a real Classic Recreations 1967 GT500CR and designed a carbon fiber body in CAD. Once molded, the carbon body panels were autoclave-cured. That means that they can be exposed (they’ll also paint them if you want), so the company was sure to make the weaves match from panel to panel.
As a result of the lower weight, the “Carbon Edition” GT500 comes with a Detroit Speed suspension, JRI Coilovers, and a quadralink rear suspension. It also features high-performance Wilwood brakes to make sure it stops as quick as it scoots.
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Under the carbon hood, there’s a 5.2-liter Gen3 Coyote V8 with stainless steel headers and a Ford 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission. The one in these pictures makes 810 hp, but the carbon-fiber upgrade is available on GT500CR 900C, 900S, and 545 models as well.
Inside, you get an Alcantara headliner, Kicker audio system, a Kenwood media system, ProCar leather seats, and custom red gauges.
The company unveiled the images of the first completed production car at Motorsport Ranch in Texas on February 2. The location was a reference to Carroll Shelby’s lineage and the date a reference to when he started building the first Cobra in 1962.
Carroll’s grandson Aaron Shelby was on hand to observe the latest iteration of the car his kin launched.
“Shortly after my grandfather beat Enzo on the track at Le Mans, Carroll and Ford engineered the all-new 1967 Shelby GT500 as a ‘Ferrari killer’ for the street,” said Aaron Shelby. “Fifty-five years later, this car has new life with the capabilities to take on Europe’s biggest names once again. I’m proud of Classic Recreations’ efforts to keep Carroll’s dream alive.”
Prices for the carbon fiber-bodied Shelby GT500CR start $265,000, but the Carbon Edition is priced at $298,000.