It’s official! It’s official! Green Hornet’s rare sister was found.
The almost-most-expensive Mustang to be ever bought in an auction, the 1968 Shelby EXP 500 Green Hornet that pulled in an outstanding bid of $1.8 million at Barrett-Jackson, apparently has a sister named “Little Red.” These two were the rarest Shelby prototypes ever built, as they are the only notchbacks coupes that ever rolled and wore the Shelby nameplate.
The Green Hornet didn’t sell because the seven-digit dollar price tag wasn’t high enough to meet its reserve price. However, Barrett-Jackson announced that it had discovered the 1967 Shelby GT500 EXP Little Red.
The Little Red has a lot of history that would make any car collector salivate. It was the first notchback coupe to be named Shelby. Also, it was the only GT coupe that was ordered and equipped with dual-quad carburetors. It was a prototype car for Ford as well as Shelby. This meant that many ideas were explored. The redesigned body, the addition of the Paxton supercharger and the big-block engine are just a few examples. EXP is actually an acronym for “experimental,” which should help explain what was done to the car.
Little Red was last seen in 1968 as a model for Ford’s popular Mustang California Special. It was then moved to storage and possibly lost. After the Green Hornet’s successful restoration, Craig Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction Company Shell and Pennzoil, came up with the idea of searching for Little Red. Jason Billups, a classic car restoration specialist, was there when he found the car and verified it on March 3, 2018.
Jackson said, “Finding Little Red was the discovery of your life.” This Shelby prototype is one of the most sought after and mysterious vehicles in postwar history. Since Little Red disappeared in the 1960s, countless enthusiasts and experts searched for it. Many believed that it was destroyed after the car was no more needed. It was not true, and I am happy to report that it was. We have found Little Red, and we plan to meticulously restore this iconic car to its former glory.”
With the help of Kevin Marti, a renowned Ford Mustang expert, the team was able confirm that the coupe is the missing prototype. Cross-references, serial numbers and date codes were used to verify authenticity.
Barrett-Jackson is currently restoring the car to its former glory. The company described it as “one the most meticulous projects American car collectors history has seen.” You can also follow the Shelby Prototype Coupes restoration project via the website .