Shelby American
EXP 500 'Green Hornet' prototype (1968)

Why it matters

The Green Hornet is one of two Shelby-built prototype Mustang notchback coupes, the other being the 1967 Little Red. Hagerty calls it the most important GT/SC prototype, and it carried advanced hardware for the period, including fuel injection, independent rear suspension and four-wheel disc brakes.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

History

The car began as a Lime Gold 1968 Mustang with a 390 V-8. Shelby fitted Thunderbird tail lights and its own body panels, then replaced the 390 with a fuel-injected 428 engine called CJ-X, along with a gearbox based on a truck transmission, independent rear suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. It was designated EXP-500.

In May 1971 it was sold to a Ford employee and later stayed with that family for about two decades with a standard engine and rear end. It was restored in 1993 and again in recent years to Shelby American experimental specification.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   The 1968 "Green Hornet" Mustang prototype is freshly restored to Shelby-spec Level B Hagerty Media

   • replaced by a fuel-injected 428 engine dubbed CJ-X
   • fuel-injected 428 engine dubbed CJ-X
   • independent rear suspension and four-wheel disc brakes
   • four-wheel disc brakes

   Accessed 2026-11-12