The Shelby Mustang needs little introduction. Built by Shelby American from 1965, the high-output Ford Mustangs quickly earned their reputation as race-bred performance heroes.

The 289ci GT350 was joined by the GT500 in 1967, powered by a 428-cube FE V8 topped with two Holley four-barrel carbs.

This particular GT500 was owned by Bobby Rogers, founding member of Motown vocal group, The Miracles. It’s believed he purchased the car either brand new in 1967, or shortly thereafter. Rogers died in 2013, passing the Mustang to his son. By then, it had sat in the same garage for over 30 years.

Rogers’s brother-in-law Reggie enlisted the help of the Shelby Research Group to document the car, who invited YouTube’s Auto Archaeology along to cover the process.

The Research Group were quick to note the lack of a Shelby VIN plate, immediately making the authentication process more difficult. They also noted weld marks in the engine bay, suggesting the Mustang was involved in a crash at some point. The theory was backed up by the non-matching driver’s door, which wore a number tied to a Dearborn-built coupe, rather than a correct San Jose-built fastback. It’s possible the valuable Shelby tag was pilfered during the repair, or on one of the numerous occasions the car was stolen in Chicago.

While the 428ci V8 was GT500-correct (as was the Shelby-specific bracing and outboard driving lights), it lacked the original air cleaner.

After some more hunting, the Shelby Research group was able to link the transmission number to a Shelby VIN, cementing this Mustang as a real-deal GT500.

The car itself was worse-for-wear, with the roof caved in from either storage boxes or an unscrupulous plumber using the car as a stepladder. Adding to its woes was a sub-par restoration job sometime in its past, in which the body was brazed together and a barely-matched respray performed.

Following a comprehensive report by the Shelby Research Group, the family chose to sell the GT500. Auto Archaeology reports it was purchased and taken for proper restoration. However, the buyer has since passed away, leaving the GT500s fate once more unknown to the Internet.

If the car is someday restored to its former glory, the Research Group suggests it could fetch around US$200,000 (AU$284,000).