The Shelby GR-1 concept Ford never built is coming from Superformance

Southern-California-based Superformance, the company known for its Shelby Cobra, Daytona Coupe, and Corvette Grand Sport replicas, is bringing the mid-2000s Ford Shelby GR-1 concept to limited production with hopes to build 200 of the aluminum-bodied coupes. Carbon-fiber bodies to follow. Car and Driver broke the news earlier this week.

The latest development stems from a Shelby tribute event at the Petersen Automotive Museum, where Superformance CEO Lance Stander mentioned that not only was the GR-1 going into production, but that the company would also be developing an electric version.

We also learned, after a trip to the company’s Irvine, California, headquarters, that Superformance is planning a version of the GR-1 using the engine from the upcoming 2020 Mustang GT500. We’ll learn more about that particular engine once Ford gives us all the details at this year’s North American International Auto Show, but rumors have all pointed to a supercharged, cross-plane version of the 5.2-liter currently used in the GT350.

Ford showed a a design model of the Shelby GR-1 at Pebble Beach in 2004, and the fully-fledged concept debuted at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. Since then it has made appearances across the country and still turns heads with its Daytona-Coupe-inspired lines. The original Daytona Coupe was designed by Pete Brock to give Shelby a more aerodynamic race car on high-speed tracks, and the GR-1 looks every bit as ready to run 200 mph. It just needs the right motivation. And with the GT500’s heart, it’ll almost certainly get that in spades.

Are you ready for an all-electric Shelby, or are you more interested in a V-8 powered version with 700+ horsepower?