Elite Eights: Very special Shelby GT500 arrives on AutoHunter auction site

A perfect automotive storm — and story — strikes the AutoHunter collector car auction site in the form of a 2020 Shelby GT500 Carroll Shelby Signature Edition Ford Mustang that not only has ridiculously low mileage, but an even lower serial number.

Actually, make that two serial numbers, since this car not only bears Ford serial number 0008 but Shelby serial number 008 as well.

Bidding on the car, which has been driven only 40 miles, starts immediately and ends July 27.

The car’s story starts with its consignor, automotive radio personality Alan Taylor, who helped a friend order the car only to have the friend’s financial situation change and with Taylor making the purchase.

Taylor has a friend who is the scion of a famous Midwestern industrial family. Taylor also has a 2018 Dodge Demon with serial number 8. The friend was intrigued by such a low number and wondered if Taylor could help him buy such a car, specifically one of the new Shelby GT500 Mustangs.

Taylor connected his friend, who is also a silversmith, with Ford scion and corporate executive Bill Ford. The friend not only wrote a letter to Ford but included a sterling silver Cobra keychain he’d created. He also pointed out that his ancestor had been a friend of Henry Ford’s. 

A correspondence between scions began, and, as a result, Taylor’s friend was able to secure the rights to Shelby GT500 serial number 0008.

“Fast forward to 2020,” Taylor says, and his friend calls and says that the coronavirus pandemic has created a downturn in his investments, and he doesn’t want to proceed with the purchase of the car but doesn’t want to create a problem for Taylor and his relationship with Ford.

“Don’t worry,” Taylor responds, “I’ll buy the car.”

Because of some special striping the friend requested on the car, the car was parked inside a custom paint shop while the pandemic raged. Fortunately for Taylor, he said, he was able to get the car before the custom stripes were added.

Instead of taking immediate delivery, Taylor had the car shipped to Shelby American in Las Vegas, where it would be equipped with Carroll Shelby Signature Edition features, including the CSM serial number 008.

Again, because of the pandemic, the car was parked again, this time waiting for parts. Those parts include a louvered carbon fiber hood that cuts 30 pounds of weight, lowered suspension, larger wheels and tires, special intercooler for the supercharger, a snakeskin look for the interior, and badging. The car also has 800 horsepower, 40 more than the standard version.

It was about a month ago that the car was finally ready for delivery, so Taylor flew to Vegas, shot video of the car, and had it shipped to his home in Oregon. He’s driven the car only one mile — a half-mile each way for a photoshoot. The car has yet to be registered and is being offered with its original MSO (manufacturer statement of origin).

Although he’s only driven the car one mile, Taylor did take part in the press preview event for the new GT500 and was able to fully explore the new model’s dynamic potential.

“It was the most forgiving, amazing car on the race track, but comfortable for just cruising as well,” he said. “Jay Leno says the same thing, and so does (auto racer) Randy Pobst, who reviewed it for Motor Trend.

“It’s like two cars in one.”

Taylor is selling the Mustang because he realizes that what he really needs for his lifestyle now is one of the Shelby F-150 Ford pickup trucks.

For more technical information and to bid on the Shelby GT500 with the 0008 serial number on its dashboard, visit the AutoHunter website.