R Model chassis number question

I borrowed these pictures from an Ebay auction. I've never seen a 16 R model chassis number that didn't start with "GR". This one starts with just a G.
Any thoughts?

Mistake?

That is indeed highly unusual.

One of for sure.

The real question is... Why is it at a Chevrolet dealer?

Nearly 10,000 miles so likely traded it in, oddly enough the VIN matches the chassis# as well

and it has almost 10,000 miles on it.
Link to auction http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Mustang-SHELBY-GT-/182202677644?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2a6c20398c:g:ypwAAOSwYSlXhAIo&item=182202677644

IIRC, this is one of the Ford owned Rs bought at the Mannheim auction. It had 9,900 miles on it when purchased. I recall Ray Skillman Ford buying it at auction and having it on Ebay not long ago asking $95k.

I am wondering if car was originally a GT350, but the order was cancelled mid build and then converted by the factory to a GT350r? My dad was talking to a guy at Galpin Ford and they were mentioning they had a GT350r in stock that was created under similar circumstances.

That might make sense if it was a standard GT350 dash plate

JRoman said:

IIRC, this is one of the Ford owned Rs bought at the Mannheim auction. It had 9,900 miles on it when purchased. I recall Ray Skillman Ford buying it at auction and having it on Ebay not long ago asking $95k.

Click to expand...

Yes, you are correct that this 2016 R model was in fact a Ford owned vehicle and was probably used as a static display/fleet promotional vehicle used by numerous Ford employees at various promotional events.

I suggest that this 2016 R model was built in early July and in fact may have even been built prior to the 37 R models for the 2015MY as I believe most of them were assembled during the week of July 20th and July 27th last year?

It is my understanding that in June and early July in 2015 there was still some concern as to how the chassis numbers should read and in particular for the GT350R models.

Assuming that this R model was in fact built in early July this chassis number certainly confirms that there was some early confusion as to how the chassis numbers should read after which time all R models read "FR", "GR" and now "HR" and then of course the chassis build number.

Whatever the case I think that this is really a cool car and just proves that with this unique chassis number that there are some unicorns out there when it comes to Ford owned vehicles and I would be very happy to have it in my stable of ponies.

I purchased this vehicle recently on eBay from a private seller in NY.

After purchasing the Certificate of Authenticity package from Ford Performance, the certificate shows the chassis # as GR015 while the chassis plate in the vehicle shows the last four of the VIN as the chassis #.

Also, it shows the production date as 08/03/2015. The included window sticker indicates this vehicle was sold to Ford Motor Company VOGO (Vehicle Operations General Office) and shipped to Fomoco/Qual Test Fleet.

As the car currently sits, it wears black over the top stripes instead of the original white stripes. The previous owner had the paint corrected and completely wrapped in Xpel. The black stripes were installed over the Xpel.

I am looking for any additional information and would greatly appreciate any input.

Welcome! It’s cool you reached out here & thanks for posting your info :cheers:
Other members, more knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the R,will be chiming in shortly .

What I have learned over the last year or so with respect to the very early 2016 R models that were assembled in early August 2015 is that Ford was still undecided as to what chassis number designation that they would go with regarding any R models that were built after the 2015MY.

I believe that the 37 R models built in late July 2015 for the 2015MY (built 8 to10 days before your car) also did not have an "R" indicated on the chassis plate as in "F0001 thru F0037" therefore suggesting that your car may fall under this same scenario.

The VIN series (last 6 digits) for your car certainly confirms that it is a pre production vehicle along with the information provided on the WS.

I was fortunate to drive PP003 which is also a 2016 GT350R pre production vehicle which had the same 200XX VIN series as your car. All new generation pre production Boss 302's had a 199XXX VIN series assigned to them.

Once the decision was made to use an "R after the year designation for all subsequent R models (G,H,J) it could be possible that a subsequent chassis number was assigned to your car after the fact thus a different chassis number indicated on the Certificate of Authenticity but again only speculation on my part.

Either way welcome to the R model club and a base model at that.

:cheers:

Yes indeed, a real beauty and a unique story to go along with it. That car, although not a '15, is even more rare in that it is probably a PP as pointed out. To me, that is a very collectable car. Keep it original and enjoy it for the rest of your life.