As Carroll Shelby once told me about Le Mans: “We spent a ton of old man Ford’s money and kicked Ferrari’s ass.” Edsel Ford had a part time job in Shelby’s shop.
The Ford GT Heritage Edition with the famous Gulf racing theme that honors motorsport victories was bought by Rick Hendrick, Hendrick Motorsports owner for $2.5 million as the gavel fell Saturday at the 48th annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. (Carroll Shelby – Sports Car Racer and Builder – Dead at 89)
The breathtaking return for a production car followed the auction on Friday of the first 2020 VIN 001 of the Mustang Shelby GT500 for $1.1 million. Ford will donate in total $3.6 million to two long-time charity partners – $1.1 million to JDRF, for funding type 1 diabetes research and $2.5 million to support United Way for Southeastern Michigan.
“The chance to become the owner of the first 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition with famous Gulf racing colors is an opportunity of a lifetime,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, global operations. “More importantly, being involved in helping to raise much needed funds and awareness for United Way will help them improve the lives of families in Michigan.”
Joe Hinrichs, Ford president and Dr. Darienne Driver, president and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, drove the 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition lot No. 3012 across the auction block. Celebrating Ford’s 1968 Le Mans-winning race car that beat Ferrari with its original paint scheme, this Ford GT has No. 9 graphics on the hood and doors, a ghosted image on the interior door panels, a serialized identification plate, and exposed carbon fiber inside and out.
Friday evening, Edsel B. Ford II, Ford Motor Company board member, and Aaron Shelby, grandson of the legendary Carroll Shelby, accompanied the all-new Shelby GT500 onto the block. Craig Jackson, CEO and Chairman of the Barrett-Jackson Company now owns it. He can choose from all available colors and options for this first-production Mustang Shelby GT500, which debuted at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 14. The car will be available this fall. (AutoInformed.com on 700 Horse Shelby GT500 Strongest Street-Legal Ford Ever)
“Over the last decade Barrett-Jackson, Ford and Shelby have teamed up to create some incredible moments in automotive history,” said Craig Jackson, CEO and Chairman of Barrett-Jackson. “As a lifelong Shelby Mustang fan, it was especially exciting to be the winning bidder of the 2020 Shelby GT500. It’s a direct descendant of the Green Hornet and Little Red Mustangs and will be a welcome addition to my personal Shelby collection.
“And while it’s an honor to be the owner of this very special Mustang, it’s more rewarding to know that Carolyn and I could contribute to JDRF’s fight against type 1 juvenile diabetes. We continued to build on that spirit of giving on Saturday with the sale of the 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition VIN 001, which sold to benefit United Way of Southeastern Michigan.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, publisher (kzhw@aol.com), is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
Zino is at home on test tracks, knows his way around U.S. Congressional hearing rooms, auto company headquarters, plant floors, as well as industry research and development labs where the real mobility work is done. He can quote from court decisions, refer to instrumented road tests, analyze financial results, and profile executive personalities and corporate cultures.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
First 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition Sells for $2.5 Million
As Carroll Shelby once told me about Le Mans: “We spent a ton of old man Ford’s money and kicked Ferrari’s ass.” Edsel Ford had a part time job in Shelby’s shop.
The Ford GT Heritage Edition with the famous Gulf racing theme that honors motorsport victories was bought by Rick Hendrick, Hendrick Motorsports owner for $2.5 million as the gavel fell Saturday at the 48th annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. (Carroll Shelby – Sports Car Racer and Builder – Dead at 89)
The breathtaking return for a production car followed the auction on Friday of the first 2020 VIN 001 of the Mustang Shelby GT500 for $1.1 million. Ford will donate in total $3.6 million to two long-time charity partners – $1.1 million to JDRF, for funding type 1 diabetes research and $2.5 million to support United Way for Southeastern Michigan.
“The chance to become the owner of the first 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition with famous Gulf racing colors is an opportunity of a lifetime,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, global operations. “More importantly, being involved in helping to raise much needed funds and awareness for United Way will help them improve the lives of families in Michigan.”
Joe Hinrichs, Ford president and Dr. Darienne Driver, president and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, drove the 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition lot No. 3012 across the auction block. Celebrating Ford’s 1968 Le Mans-winning race car that beat Ferrari with its original paint scheme, this Ford GT has No. 9 graphics on the hood and doors, a ghosted image on the interior door panels, a serialized identification plate, and exposed carbon fiber inside and out.
Friday evening, Edsel B. Ford II, Ford Motor Company board member, and Aaron Shelby, grandson of the legendary Carroll Shelby, accompanied the all-new Shelby GT500 onto the block. Craig Jackson, CEO and Chairman of the Barrett-Jackson Company now owns it. He can choose from all available colors and options for this first-production Mustang Shelby GT500, which debuted at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 14. The car will be available this fall. (AutoInformed.com on 700 Horse Shelby GT500 Strongest Street-Legal Ford Ever)
“Over the last decade Barrett-Jackson, Ford and Shelby have teamed up to create some incredible moments in automotive history,” said Craig Jackson, CEO and Chairman of Barrett-Jackson. “As a lifelong Shelby Mustang fan, it was especially exciting to be the winning bidder of the 2020 Shelby GT500. It’s a direct descendant of the Green Hornet and Little Red Mustangs and will be a welcome addition to my personal Shelby collection.
“And while it’s an honor to be the owner of this very special Mustang, it’s more rewarding to know that Carolyn and I could contribute to JDRF’s fight against type 1 juvenile diabetes. We continued to build on that spirit of giving on Saturday with the sale of the 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition VIN 001, which sold to benefit United Way of Southeastern Michigan.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, publisher (kzhw@aol.com), is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. Zino is at home on test tracks, knows his way around U.S. Congressional hearing rooms, auto company headquarters, plant floors, as well as industry research and development labs where the real mobility work is done. He can quote from court decisions, refer to instrumented road tests, analyze financial results, and profile executive personalities and corporate cultures. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.