Worlds rarest muscle car

Answer 1

When most car collectors and enthusiasts ask this question, the minimal criteria to be considered includes the:

1. Model Year
2. Make (Manufacturer)
3. Model (e.g. Mustang, Camaro, 'Cuda)
4. Body Style (e.g. Coupe, Convertible)
5. Engine Code

A sixth criteria, the transmission type, is often added, however, it isn't necessary in for this discussion.

It's important to note that the term "production" rules out experimental vehicles, pre-production prototypes, as these are typically never sold to the general public.

When we consider the primary five criteria (model year, make, model, body style), two automobiles are tied for one-of-one status, and both were made by Shelby American, Inc.:

• 1967 Shelby American GT 500 Coupe (0131)
• 1967 Shelby American GT 500 Convertible (0139)

Both cars were:

• ordered with the intention of offering them to the public
• serialized as production cars
• built on the regular assembly line (at Ford's San Jose Plant in this case

Background: For Shelby American, problems immediately plagued the 1967 program and Ford stepped in to take control in October 1966. The convertible and coupe that were ordered in August were still built by Ford and delivered to Shelby American in November 1966. Due to all the launch problems, Ford made the decision to delay the spring-'67 introduction of the convertible and coupe another six months until the 1968 model year. It is hard to grasp why one production car would be built, not as a prototype, however, this is the well-documented reason why just one convertible and one coupe were built.

The coupe (0131) has never been found and is believed to have been "destroyed" because the engine was heavily modified with twin Paxton superchargers and the C-6 automatic transmission was replaced by a 4-speed manual.

The convertible's (0139) original drive-train and Federally mandated safety features remained intact. The car received updated '68 styled fiberglass to be used in marketing photo shoots for the upcoming model year and then was eventually sold to the public through Ford's corporate "B-lot" after Ford shuttered the Shelby American operation in August 1967. Extensive information on this particular car can be found at 1967ShelbyConvertible.com

Other examples of extremely rare 'production' automobiles include:

• 1967 Plymouth Satellite R/T Convertible with 426 'Hemi ... just 2 units were built.
• 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Convertible with 426 'Hemi ... 4 units built.
• 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am Convertible with 400 Ram Air ... 8 units built.
• 1968 Pontiac Firebird Convertible with 400 Ram Air II ... 8 units built

Previous answers to this question:

• 1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda Convertible. Total production of 12 units.
• 1969 Chevrolet ZL1 Corvette (production quantity unknown - two are known to exist)
• 1966 Shelby American A/C Cobra 'Super Snake.' Only two units built (one still survives).

When it comes to rarity in American muscle, the 'recipe' is the biggest engine you could order in a convertible. A very comprehensive list of rare convertible muscle cars can be found @ rareragtops.com