Classic Recreations is making its first SEMA appearance under Velocity Restorations ownership, giving builders, suppliers and media their first look at the reborn brand, company officials announced in a press release. At the center of the display is the Shelby GT500CR with a carbon-fiber body—the world’s only production, officially licensed 1967 Shelby GT500 built this way. Fresh from its debut at the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas, the car is on view at the FuelTech Booth #24431 in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Central Hall.
Officially licensed by Shelby and recorded in the Shelby Worldwide Registry, the ultra-limited GT500CR Carbon combines the unmistakable presence of the original Shelby Mustang with modern materials and performance hardware, making for a more responsive and visceral driving experience than ever before, the release noted.
Supercharged Coyote Powertrain & FuelTech Engine Management
At the heart of the GT500CR Carbon is a Wegner-built Gen 4X Coyote V-8 topped with a Whipple 3.0-liter inverted supercharger and fitted with a Wegner front drive system. Power runs through a Suncoast-built 10R80 10-speed automatic and a Panhandle Driveline carbon-fiber driveshaft to a Ford 9-inch housing with a Gear FX 8.8 center section.
Running the show is a FuelTech FT700 standalone ECU, which manages the supercharged Coyote and its traction control, working alongside a Vaporworx fuel controller. This combination makes for a beastly 1,000 horsepower and shows how advanced engine management can bring modern precision to a classic Shelby platform, the company said.
“A thousand horsepower only means something if the driver can use it, and that’s where FuelTech comes in,” said Cody Dabney, director of production at Velocity and Classic Recreations. “The FT700 runs the supercharged Coyote and its traction control, working alongside the Vaporworx fuel controller, so we control how the car delivers its power, not just how much it makes. That precision, paired with a carbon-fiber body and a modern chassis, is what separates the GT500CR Carbon from a Shelby with a big engine. It’s the clearest statement yet of where Classic Recreations is headed under Velocity, and SEMA alongside FuelTech is the right place to show it.”
Chassis, Brakes & Interior Upgrades
Underneath the carbon body, finished in BASF Glasurit paint, is a Detroit Speed Aluma-Frame front suspension system and a Detroit Speed QuadraLink rear suspension system. Nitron Elec-Tron electronically controlled shocks provide adjustable ride control. Stopping power comes from Brembo CCM-R carbon-ceramic brakes, with 380×34 mm discs and 6-piston calipers up front and 380×28 mm discs and 4-piston calipers in the rear. Forgeline Carbon Grudge wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires put the power to the pavement.
Inside, the GT500CR Carbon pairs Scheel-Mann seats and a Classic Recreations custom console with a Dakota Digital cluster, an Ididit steering column and a Vintage Air A/C system. A Focal K2 speaker system with a Mosconi amplifier and an Alpine head unit delivers modern audio, while Dynamat sound deadening keeps the cabin refined without muting the supercharged V-8.
“We are thrilled to have the GT500CR Carbon in our booth this year,” said Anderson Dick, FuelTech founder and CEO. “The same FT700 technology our racers trust at the track is running this car’s Whipple-supercharged Coyote and traction control, and Classic Recreations has built something truly special around it. This build is more than a show car. It’s proof of what our technology can do when it’s paired with world-class engineering and the Shelby name. We’re excited for SEMA attendees to see it up close.”
Carbon-Fiber Shelby GT500CR Build Specifications
- Body: Carbon-fiber body, BASF Glasurit paint, Ringbrothers hood and trunk hinges
- Engine: Wegner-built Coyote Gen 4X V-8, Whipple 3.0-liter inverted supercharger, Wegner front drive system
- Engine management: FuelTech FT700 standalone ECU with traction control, Vaporworx fuel controller
- Drivetrain: Suncoast 10R80 10-speed automatic, Panhandle Driveline carbon-fiber driveshaft, Ford 9-inch housing with Gear FX 8.8 center section
- Chassis and suspension: Detroit Speed Aluma-Frame front, Detroit Speed QuadraLink rear, Nitron Elec-Tron electronic ride control shocks
- Brakes: Brembo CCM-R carbon-ceramic: 380×34 mm front discs with 6-piston calipers, 380×28 mm rear discs with 4-piston calipers
- Wheels and tires: Forgeline Carbon Grudge wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires
- Exhaust and cooling: Stainless TIG-welded exhaust with titanium tips, Spintech mufflers, DEI heat wrap, Wizard radiator and fans
- Fuel and electrical: Precision stainless fuel tank, American Autowire body and dash harness, Odyssey battery
- Interior: Scheel-Mann seats, Classic Recreations console, Dakota Digital cluster, Ididit steering column, Vintage Air A/C, Dynamat sound deadening
- Audio: Focal K2 speakers, Mosconi amplifier, Alpine head unit