2004 Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept

The fact that no photos appear showing inside the car's cabin makes me wonder if it is currently little more than a styling buck

No photos of the interior make me wonder if the GR-1 is currently little more than a styling buck with an engine. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

with an engine. I'd be curious to hear from any readers who were at the launch to see if they had a close look inside to see if it had a finished interior. Even if the GR-1 is pure eye candy though, Ford attests that it has been developed on a fully-operational Cobra concept chassis, the second one of two that were developed for demonstrating the capabilities of the Cobra prior to body panels being fitted. The automaker says that the Ford's Advanced Product Creation Group began working on the GR-1 even before the Ford Shelby Cobra concept was unveiled in Detroit last January.

"The Ford Shelby Cobra concept was a small step in our plans for the Ford GT supercar architecture and our relationship with

With Shelby back at Ford, car enthusiasts around the world will once again be able to enjoy the fruits of the old man's labors. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

Carroll Shelby," says J Mays, Ford Motor Company group vice president of Global Design. "And the Ford Shelby GR-1 is a giant leap toward the future."

Yes, if you didn't already know, Shelby is back with Ford again, finally setting things right after sojourns with Chrysler and others. The octogenarian racer seems to have some spark left in his wick, and Ford is going to exploit the relationship as far as corporately possible. This is no bad thing, however, as Shelby is a willing participant and will no doubt profit measurably. And car enthusiasts around the world will once again be able to enjoy the fruits of the old man's labors, or at least the cars Ford markets under the Shelby brand.