The covers came off Little Red to debut a fresh restoration as it shared the stage with the iconic Green Hornet for the first time ever.
A pair of historic experimental Shelby Mustang prototypes known as "Green Hornet" and "Little Red" were both found in less than stellar condition after left to rot away in the elements, but both have since been restored back to their former glory. These two are the only notchback coupes under the Shelby moniker, and the two experimental vehicles were revealed together for the first time alongside two brand new 2020 Shelby GT500s today at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale.
The Green Hornet is a restored 1968 Shelby GT500 prototype while Little Red is a 1967 Shelby 500 prototype that was just revealed to show off its fresh restoration, a long way from how the car was found. Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson, unveiled the iconic duo next to matching modern descendants. In fact, Jackson restored both of these two Shelby Mustangs.
Jason Billups of Billups Classic Cars located in Colcord, Oklahoma performed the restoration on the Green Hornet. During the process, Jackson mentioned finding Little Red, the '67 prototype that had been long lost and believed to be destroyed. Billups led the search, and found the famous little red Shelby on March 3rd, 2018, in a field in north Texas where it had been left to rot away with the elements. The most sought-after postwar Shelby prototype had seen much better days and was rescued from the only life it had known for the past few decades.
Now that the pair has been rescued and restored, they now share the stage together for the first time ever. Jackson wanted to celebrate the significance of these two cars, so he went ahead and added two brand new Shelby GT500 Mustangs to his hoard. Even better, the pair of Shelby GT500 cars mimic their elders with one being a one-of-one in Candy Apple Green to match the Green Hornet and the other blanketed in Little Red's Rapid Red. Little Red relates to the supercharged V8, and the Green Hornet shares an independent rear suspension, electronic fuel injection, and disc brakes on all four corners.
Back in the fall, the 2020 Shelby GT500 reminiscent of the Green Hornet was the very first one to roll off the assembly line (VIN 001) at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan. With money going toward the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Jackson shelled out $1.1 million for the car.
Many people showed up to see the big reveal of Little Red and watch the iconic moment it was unveiled next to its experimental kin The Green Hornet. Noted guests in attendance include Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson; Jim Owens, Ford Mustang Brand Manager; and Aaron Shelby, grandson of Carroll Shelby. In addition, representatives from Ford Motor Company, Shelby American, and Shell Pennzoil were also among the audience.
After the big unveiling, all four Shelby Mustangs, that total 2,600-horsepower together, were roared to life in unison. Craig Jackson was behind the wheel of Little Red, Steve Davis piloting the Green Hornet, Jim Owens in the Rapid Red 2020 Shelby GT500, and Aaron Shelby sitting in the Candy Apple Green 2020 Shelby. Altogether, the four cars total 2,600-horsepower.
