In 1968, Shelby American tried out several prototype features on this experimental Mustang known as the Green Hornet. Such one legendary car, one of the very few prototypes from that era that survived the crusher, fully restored Green Hornet Shelby Mustang will be offered at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, January 13-20, 2013. It is expected to sell for about $2 million.
Fate or happy accident and survival of this rare car is related to the heyday of the American muscle car era, and specialy the year 1967, when the Ford team impressed with a prototype Mustang called “Li’l Red,” which inspired the “California Special” also known as the GT/CS, wanted to create a nationally available version of the GT/CS, which would be marketed as a GT/Sport Coupe. So, two prototypes were built, and one of them was a Lime Gold, 1968 Mustang coupe, with a deluxe Ivy Gold interior, 390 V8 engine and C6 automatic transmission.
After finishing the show circuit,, Ford decided not to move forward with the GT/SC program, but instead of being scrapped the Lime Gold notchback was sent to Shelby American to once again become a prototype, this time for a different kind of Mustang… a Shelby. It was going to be an experimental Shelby, named EXP 500, a prototype that would become Green Hornet.
The car has undergone many modifications, including an experimental fuel-injection system, independent rear suspension, a unique rear disc-brake configuration and a power rear antenna, which was rare at the time. According to Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jacksont was sent to a Ford yard in Michigan where it was scheduled to be crushed, but a Ford executive essentially bought the car “out the back door.”
“It is just a fluke that this car survived. This survived the crusher and then all those years on the streets of Michigan,” he added.
