Shelby GT500 Ute Renderings Add a Little Utility to Ford’s Speedy Snake
What if Ford decided to build a Shelby GT500 ute and claim the crown as the world’s quickest and fastest such creation?
In Australia, utes are all the rage, and they have been for years. Meanwhile, we Americans have admired them from afar as automakers continue to refuse to sell them to us. At least since the Ranchero and El Camino last roamed the earth years ago, that is. And while many of the modern Ford Falcon ute variants sold Down Under are already pretty quick, it’s worth asking – what if Ford decided to go all out and build something like this Shelby GT500 ute?
That’s precisely the question that artist Rostislav Prokop was pondering recently, and it led to these renderings. The premise of the rather realistic art is pretty simple. Take an existing Falcon ute and essentially blend the Shelby GT500 into it. The result is a a familiar shape fitted with the front and rear ends of the modern-day ultimate Mustang.
Amazingly enough, the lines of these two very different vehicles actually match up quite well, unlike a lot of other model mashups. The front end looks quite at home with its open, aggressive face and large front lip. The fenders were left wider than the actual cab, which only adds to that aggression. And out back, the modern Mustang’s rear looks like it was designed to go there in the first place.
Prokop even added a cool tonneau cover that features a raised middle section like the cowl hood. A roll bar and rear spoiler cap it all off nicely, along with a set of very wide, deep-lipped wheels. He did make a few changes to the exhaust tips, however, which are now wide oval units nested in that familiar rear diffuser.
If Ford was to actually produce a Shelby GT500 ute, it would immediately become the most powerful one in history. And likely the quickest and fastest, too. Heck, we can certainly make a case for its existence, given America’s current fascination with trucks and SUVs/crossovers. But in reality, there’s little chance this would actually happen.
Regardless, that’s why we’re glad that artists like Prokop are here to dream them up. It gives us a chance to wonder “what if?” and explore some interesting ideas. And ultimately, whether you like them or not, that’s certainly a fun exercise.
Photos: Rostislav Prokop