Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show 2024 - Cars on Saturday the 9th of November, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT. Ford's international ambitions for their new Mustang became obvious when the sixth-generation of the venerable 'Pony' car (internal project code name; S-550) was unveiled simultaneously on 5th December 2013, in Dearborn, Michigan, New York, Los Angeles, Barcelona, Shanghai, and Sydney. Three engine options were available: a newly developed 2. 3-litre EcoBoost with 310bhp, a 3. 7-litre 300bhp V6, or the 5. 0-litre Coyote 435bhp V8 with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. A new independent rear suspension system was developed specifically for the new model which also became the first factory version designed as a right-hand drive export model to be sold overseas through Ford new car dealerships in right-hand drive markets.
This desirable, left-hand drive, manual gearbox, 2015 Mustang 5. 0 V8 GT has covered just 6, 473 miles to date and was first registered in the UK on 19th June 2015 by TVR Manufacturing Limited. The car is accompanied by its original V5C declaring the first registered owner to be TVR Manufacturing Limited, various items of correspondence and import documents with TVR Manufacturing Limited named, plus a shipping note which names Jack Demmer (Ford, US Michigan) - TVR Manufacturing Limited and listing this car "1 NA 2015 Ford Mustang VIN: 1FA6P8CF6F5321840 (for test and development purpose)".
After a little investigation it appears that after the long established but, at the time, shelved TVR brand had finally been bought back by a group of business minded car enthusiasts keen to revive the once glorious TVR name, they set about designing a car that would not only start a new chapter in the brand's history, but also ensure its longevity to hopefully compete with all the other top supercar manufacturers going forward. With this in mind, and a decent budget, they hired one of the world's greatest race and road-car designers, the legendary Gordon Murray, to assist. A design concept was agreed and a new car penned but, as part of the development of the new car, TVR needed a 'test mule' to develop their ECU settings along with a myriad of other electrical necessities. The engine selected for the new car was the same as in the newly-released Ford Mustang so, a brand new V8-engined Mustang was ordered from Ford, imported to the UK, and allocated to Murray to use for development. LJ15 SXX is that car and one or two unique features, including the emergency power cut red button in the cabin, are still evident.
Our vendor has owned the car for 12 months and the V5 shows two former registered keepers including TVR. There is MOT history online back to 2018 with 3, 295 miles indicated and the current MOT (no advisories) is valid until August 2025.
Sensibly estimated, this could be an interesting car for any TVR aficionado or maybe you don't care for its TVR past and just fancy a serious bit of kit, with low indicated miles and a desirable manual gearbox. We would recommend that any potential bidders come along to our NEC Classic Motor Show Sale and have look at this fascinating car and accompanying paperwork and make up their own mind.
