Rare Automotive Prototypes Rediscovered and Restored

Several rare automotive prototypes, once thought to be lost or destroyed, have been rediscovered and restored. The 1963 Ford Mustang III 'Shorty' was ordered to be destroyed by Ford, but it was hidden and later recovered. 9-liter V8 engine. The 1960 Plymouth XNR, designed by Virgil Exner and built by Ghia in Italy, survived a civil war in Lebanon and was later restored in Canada.

The 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, which won at Sebring, was stored in a garage for 30 years before being rediscovered and is now on display at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia. Other restored prototypes include the 1979 Aston Martin Bulldog, the 1955 Chevrolet Biscayne, the 1939 Citroën 2CV TPV, the 1970 Mazda RX500, the 1898 Porsche P1, and the 1974 Maserati Quattroporte II prototype.

These vehicles have been preserved and are now on display in various museums and collections. Sources: Hemmings, Sotheby’s, Simeone Foundation, Porsche Museum, and manufacturer archives.