From Mustangs to Cobras to GTs to F-150s, here are the 8 best Fords from Amelia Island 2026. Which one is your favorite?
The Amelia Concours 2026
Amelia Island in March is the place to be for car lovers. The entire island is crawling with rare and priceless cars from all over the world. But some of the best were built right here in Detroit. As I roamed the Amelia concours, Radwood, and the auctions, I kept an eye out for some exceptional Fords. It wasn’t difficult. While there weren't all that many Ford trucks in the area, some of the rarest and most iconic Ford cars ever created were on hand. These are eight of my favorites from the weekend. Were you at the show? If so, please share your favorite Fords with us.
1. 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra
This stunning 427 Cobra has just 25,000 original miles on it. It also still has the original jack, grease gun, spare wheel, and factory weather equipment. The car has a hardtop and an original set of Pete Brock-designed Sunburst wheels. For over 20 years this car was part of “Mr. Cobra” Lynn Park’s collection. Shortly after I photographed this car it sold at auction for $1,402,000.
2. 1968 Shelby GT500 KR
Everyone loves a barn find, and that's exactly what this 1968 Shelby GT500 KR is. It was still covered in dirt and dust, which made it stand out among the other pristine cars surrounding it. This “King of the Road” fastback is powered by a 428 cu-in Cobra Jet V8 and has travelled 60,483 miles. This rare and unique car sold at auction for $263,200.
3. 2019 Ford GT Carbon Series
There was no shortage of Ford GTs to ogle over the weekend. In fact, I probably could have made this entire list nothing but GTs. But I wanted to have a bit of variety, so I limited it to just a couple, and I selected this beautiful 2019 Carbon Series car. Only 50 Carbon Series GT cars were made. What distinguishes these cars is the extensive use of carbon fiber that cuts about 40 pounds of weight compared to the regular Ford GT. This car is finished in Ingot Silver with the Carbon Red graphics package. Only 963 miles on the odometer. This car sold at auction for $923,500.
4. 1966 Ford GT40 MkII
If anything can top the Ford GT Carbon Series, it's this 1966 Ford GT40. This is the car that helped Ford win Le Mans. The car pictured here was driven by Graham Hill and co-driver Brian Muir in the 1966 race. It retired before the end of the race, but this car is still a legend. This one was not for sale, but we can only guess at its astronomical value.
5. 1970 Boss 429
The 1970 Boss 429 is one of the most iconic Mustangs in history. And that is a history spanning more than 60 years. You won’t find many that are in condition like this one at Amelia. The heart of the car is, of course, the NASCAR-ready 429 cu-in V8 engine that was officially rated at 375 horsepower. The true power figure is north of 500. Of the 1,358 Boss 429s made in 1970, only 12 were painted in Grabber Green. This is one of them.
6. 2026 Shelby GT350
I don’t often include brand-new cars on a list like this, but the Shelby GT350 is special. This supercharged version makes 810 horsepower, and you hear every one of them thanks to the Borla exhaust. The upgrade list to turn a Mustang GT into a Shelby GT350 is an extensive one. A short throw shifter, front and rear sway bars, lowering springs, aluminum hood with center vent, 3-piece lower front splitter, rear ducktail spoiler, and flow forged wheels are just some of the highlights.
7. 1966 Shelby GT350
Do you like the classic GT350s better? No problem, here is a stunning 1966 GT350 painted in classic Wimbledon White. There is just something simple, pure, and awesome about these first-generation Shelby GT350s. Even surrounded by cars that are worth several times what this GT350 is worth, the Shelby has a way of standing out and stopping traffic. What a machine.
8. 1999 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning
I had to include a truck on this list, and what better truck to include than one of our all-time favorites, the second-generation F-150 SVT Lightning. I spotted this example on display at Radwood, which was right across the street from the Amelia concours. Even after nearly 30 years, these trucks still look imposing. We just wish Ford would make a real F-150 Lightning again.
Images: Joe Kucinski
