These Modernized GT500s Are Now Easier To Buy

For years, South African company Hi-Tech Automotive has built chassis for reproduction car companies such as Superformance. It recently expanded its work to include its own line of reproductions, starting with the 1967 Shelby GT500 Mustangs. The company revealed its new model at the end of 2023 for production through the following year, with only 20 units planned for the year. Now that we’re upon a new year, Hi-Tech Automotive is ready to sell more of its GT500s, and it has added a new distributor besides its American Hi-Tech Legends subsidiary: Hillbank Motor Corporation.

A Major Retailer Of Reproduction And Kit Cars

Hillbank Motor Corporation actually has its origins in South Africa, too, started as an insurance salvage car dealer by Stan Stander in the 1970s. Since then, Stan’s son Lance expanded the venture to the US, where it started selling Superformance Cobra chassis. The company still sells Superformance products, along with Caterhams. All things considered, it makes sense that Hillbank would start selling Hi-Tech’s GT500s, too.

Classic Looks, Modern Performance, Exotic Price

Hi-Tech’s GT500 is an officially licensed continuation, so it is technically an authentic Shelby. It looks the part, too, from the outside. The company assembles steel bodies from aftermarket parts, taking care to make any changes and fix any blemishes to ensure good fit and finish. It also uses its own in-house fiberglass hoods, scoops and other bits. It’s all painted in-house, too, and assembled with chassis components that are anything but classic GT500.

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Classic Shelby GT500 Packs A Modern Supercharged Predator Engine

You can also order one with a Coyote V8.

The tubular subframes feature fully independent suspension at the front and rear with Bilstein coilovers. Huge 13-inch front brake rotors and 12.8-inch rear rotors are clamped by six-piston forged aluminum calipers. The rear end features a standard 3.73:1 ratio limited-slip differential, and the car is able to accept modern double-overhead Ford V8 engines such as the 5.0-liter Coyote and the supercharged 5.2-liter Predator. Both 6-speed manual and 10-speed automatic transmissions also fit. With the addition of those components, customers will have a complete car.

That’s because Hi-Tech also furnishes its GT500s with complete interiors, too. While the car features mostly original-style interior panels, they’re all covered in Nappa leather. They get Recaro power-adjustable bucket seats, plus a Rockford Fosgate 6-speaker sound system, tilting Ididit steering column and Dakota Digital gauges.

The total cost for one of these nearly-complete GT500s is high, though. Ordering through Hillbank will cost $225,000, an increase over last year’s price, but that’s without shipping. Add the $8,000 shipping cost, and the price tag comes to $233,000 without adding any options such as different paint and interior colors, push button start, wheel designs, and more. You’ll also still have to buy and install your engine and transmission, too. But if you’re looking for a Shelby that looks classic, probably drives better, and is literally as good as new, you don’t have many other options.