One Of A Kind: Prototype 1999 Shelby Series 1

If you love supercars and have a dream to own something truly special, this car is for you! It’s a real-deal prototype of the Shelby Series 1 and it’s coming up soon here on the Mecum auction block. What’s a “Series 1”? Read on to find out! Shout out to Adam for the tip!

Carroll Shelby is one of the most famous names in Automotive history, and his tremendous impact on the industry will forever be in the history books. For most of his career, his work focused on modifications to existing vehicles from major automakers, but in the 1990s, he undertook a bold endeavor: Build a car from scratch. The Series 1 remains the only car Shelby ever created from the ground up.

Out of this gutsy move, and significant monetary expense, was born the Series 1. Powered by Oldsmobile’s 4-liter L47 Aurora v8 (in naturally-aspirated or supercharged form) and backed with a specially-prepared ZF 6-speed gearbox, they recorded 0-60 times between 3 and 4.4 seconds, and top speeds of about 170mph. The structure was made from extruded aluminum, which was welded and then heat-treated, and the body panels were composite. Some interior components were sourced from GM, like the radio, instrument cluster, and climate controls. A total of 249 units were produced, all 1999 models, and there were plans for a Series 2, but they never fully materialized beyond three prototypes.

We look now at the example before us. The seller is apparently a collector/dealer and tells us that it is legit with papers, has never been titled, and has only covered about 2,600 miles of pavement since assembled. We can see a rather odd-looking specimen, as compared to the production cars, but that is to be expected since it wasn’t meant to be the final draft. Finished in black, it’s allegedly very rare.

I find cars like this fascinating. If it is a real prototype, that means it has significance far and away beyond its production counterparts and could be considered a piece of Automotive history. I’m not even going to think about how much it might go for, because a guy like me can only dream of such things. It’s really neat, though, and I hope it goes to a place where it doesn’t just sit around, collecting dust in a garage for 20 years. That’s what I think, what do you think? Let us know in the comments!

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Comments

  1. Steve BushMember

    Very nice and a real Oldsmobile powered prototype unlike that POS fake Cutlass/Vista Cruiser mashup that old clown was trying to pass off here the other day.

    Like 4
    • Poppapork

      “Real oldsmobile power” This is a GM shortstar (smaller cousin of the northstar used in cadillacs). Should be all aluminum, all forged with the block split in two creating a crankshaft craddle. Or at least thats how northstars are

      Like 1
  2. Fred W

    Museum piece. Interesting that they put 2600 miles on it with no legal tag.

    Like 4
    • 86_Vette_Convertible

      Dealer plates?

      Like 3
      • carbuzzard

        Manufacturer plates.

        Like 4
    • Martin

      Maybe they were all on a track.

      Like 0
  3. Bruce Boatwright

    Hard to sat without actually sitting in it, but that drivers side footwell looks like your feet are offset to the left by a substantial amount?

    Like 3
  4. Comet

    Looks like tiny feet are a requirement.

    Like 3
    • LD

      Then it would be perfect for my wife. She has really small feet.

      Like 4
  5. Stangalang

    Did Mr shelby even drive this car?? He was a big guy

    Like 2
  6. Dusty Stalz

    Steering wheel offset to the right and pedals offset to the left? It looks like driving this would get old pretty quick. It’s a good looking car tho.

    Like 2
  7. lc

    I seriously doubt that this is a prototype Series One.
    The 7 digit CSX5000 build numbers were assigned to the 2005 component cars built without drivetrains. If it were a prototype there would be no way a MSO document could be attached to this car. Now it may be a pre-production component car, but that’s not to be confused with a prototype which is a different animal entirely.

    Like 3
    • Adam

      This chassis is verified by Shelby American as a prototype used in development. You have no clue what your talking about.

      Like 0
      • lc

        Adam, As former head of body design and interior development at Shelby on the Series One project, I might have a little clue.

        Like 7
  8. bobk

    uhhh,…. give me a minute. I need to check my powerball ticket.

    Like 1
    • bobk

      Sigh….. well, maybe next time.

      Like 1
      • Jeffro

        Yeah, I checked my check book balance. Unfortunately, my kids needed shoes and food. Still trying to understand the joy of children. LOL

        Like 2
  9. Steve k

    2600 miles and a tear in the drivers seat bolster. What a shame.

    Like 0
  10. healeydays

    The series 1 has always been a dream garage entry for me.

    Like 0
  11. CCFisher

    This car is listed on the Mecum site as one of the stars of the Indy auction, which gives it very high visibility in the Shelby community. If they haven’t raised a red flag by now, it’s probably legit.

    Like 0
  12. RonMember

    I’m sorry, but supercar this is not…

    Like 0
  13. Paul Oberman

    This is definitely a “Butterface”

    Staggering exterior, with a 1996 ford taurus interior.

    Like 1
  14. TimM

    It’s more of a collector car than something you would drive! It’s a 1 of 1 and out of my wheel house of affordability!! This car would be like driving Shelby’s first cobra or his first Daytona!!

    Like 0
  15. Nic Brown

    I sit an a Series One drivers seat everyday at work.
    Back in the day the company I work for made the suspension and some drive train for these. 6 of the managers wanted desk chairs and now arranged to get them from the build somehow.
    I haven’t seen a series one for sale in many years!

    Like 0

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