Ford abandoned a prototype so promising it could have changed supercars as we know them
- Ford revealed the Shelby GR-1 concept car in the early 2000s
- The GR-1 had a massive V10 engine and a top speed of 190MPH
- Despite great promise, Ford dropped the GR-1 in favor of the GT
Published on Apr 20, 2025 at 6:37 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Apr 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Ford, builders of the GT40 and GT, once created a prototype supercar so radical it could have changed the segment forever.
The American manufacturer created the amazing Shelby GR-1 in the early 2000s, a concept so good it seemed inevitable it would enter production.
However, Ford changed its mind about the radical supercar and left us all wondering what could have been.
Many have lamented that the GR-1 never made it to production, as it showed so much promise that it would still have held its own against the supercars of 2025.
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Ford was aiming to create more high-performance vehicles
At the start of the new millennium, Ford had seriously high aspirations for a new run of performance vehicles.
It had already shown off concepts such as the GT90 and Mustang Mach III, as well as the Mercury Messenger.
In 2003, the Blue Oval revealed two retro concepts, the Shelby Cobra and the Shelby GR-1.
The latter in particular proved to be a real standout.
The GR-1 looked like a blend of the new Ford GT of the time and the Shelby Daytona Coupe of the 1960s.
It was fully intended to be a modern homage to the Daytona.
A long hood, teardrop cabin, and Kamm tail all gave clear indications as to where the inspiration lay.
Ford’s head of design, J. Mays, said in 2005 that Italian influence from the 1970s was also blended into the car.
The gorgeous GR-1 never made it to production
Power came from a 6.4-liter V10, with 605HP and 501LB-FT of torque, giving the supercar a top speed of 190MPH.
Acceleration was also strong, with the GR-1 able to sprint from 0-60MPH in just 3.9 seconds.
Despite showing such promise and having a great reaction at Pebble Beach, Ford never greenlit production.
Much of that came down to changes that would have been needed to make it a viable production supercar.
A stretched wheelbase, more upright A-pillars, and reduced weight were all needed for the GR-1.
The Blue Oval ultimately gave up trying to produce the GR-1 and instead focused on the recently launched GT supercar.
Superformance CEO Lance Stander later approached Ford about securing the license for the name in an attempt to produce a run of the GR-1s.
Sadly, this has yet to happen, despite the company taking deposits for the cars to gauge customer interest.
It seems likely that, even with such huge potential, the world will never see the Shelby GR-1 enter production.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
