Designed by George Saridakis and J Mays, it was envisioned as a front-engine, two-seat fastback supercar inspired by the legendary 1964 Shelby Daytona Coupe.

The most striking feature is its polished aluminum bodywork, which gives it a chrome-like, mirror finish. It features dramatic butterfly doors similar to those found on McLarens.

Much of its underpinnings, including the suspension and running gear, were borrowed from the Ford GT and the previous year's Shelby Cobra Concept.

The cabin blends vintage and high-tech elements, featuring carbon-shell seats and a "TireIQ" system that displays tire data and cornering G-forces.

While Ford initially intended the GR-1 to be a production-feasible vehicle to follow the Ford GT, it remained a one-off concept for over a decade due to financial concerns.

However, in 2019, the California-based manufacturer Superformance announced it had reached a licensing agreement with Ford and Shelby American to build a limited production run of the GR-1. These modern versions are planned to offer either aluminum or carbon fiber bodies, with the possibility of using the supercharged V8 from the Shelby GT500.