Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Magnante

Content provided by Barrett-Jackson

One of 29 convertibles produced, this 2006 Saleen Mustang SC281 Extreme Roadster (Lot #990) is the only one in Lizstick Red. From the Jack Miller Mustang Barn Collection.

Jack Miller loves Mustangs as much as he loves good food, relaxed dining and running a chain of 75 Ale House restaurants in over 10 states. That love of Mustangs inspired Miller to create an amazing herd of nearly 100 desirable Mustangs and classic Fords over the years, many of which he acquired at Barrett-Jackson auctions.

While many car enthusiasts and collectors focus primarily on vintage models, Miller was among the first to understand the incredible performance ‒ and historical significance ‒ of newer Mustangs. In particular, he collected an unparalleled assortment of limited-edition Shelby, Saleen and Roush specialty cars based on the 2005-2014 S197 Mustang platform.

And why not? When William Clay Ford Jr. unveiled the prototype of what would become the 2005 Mustang, the world once again fell in love with Ford’s pony car. With its smart blend of retro styling cues and modern technology, this new breed of S197 Mustang played a major role in launching the “retro revolution” that has spread throughout much of the global auto industry.

Just as the classic Mustangs of the ’60s made perfect canvasses for Carroll Shelby’s GT350 and GT500 supercars, in 2006 Carroll Shelby thought so much of the new Mustang that he rebooted his line of special editions, starting with the Shelby GT-H. But while Shelby pretty much held a lock on specially constructed Mustangs back in the ’60s, by 2005 Steve Saleen and Jack Roush were in on the game as well.

Through it all, Jack Miller knew something special was happening. He realized that, as great as the icons from the ’60s were, these modern Mustangs were faster, handled better and stopped quicker. And when transformed by Shelby, Saleen or Roush, they are just as desirable. So he began buying. In particular, Miller sought first editions and even had Saleen build some one-off examples just for him.

Before long his collection needed a home, so he opened Jack Miller’s Mustang Barn in Jupiter, Florida. Open by appointment, Miller shared his herd with appreciative car clubs, school groups, friends and fellow enthusiasts.

Now the time has come to set some of these stallions free. Offered entirely at No Reserve, 39 featured attractions acquired from the Mustang Barn Collection will cross the block at the 2016 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, grouped by type and sold in sequence. Barrett-Jackson Vice President of Consignment Gary Bennett says, “I’m honored to handle the sale of these cars and I’m honored to know Jack. For him to gather together such a collection of significant contemporary Mustangs was very smart, and to offer this many modern muscle cars originally from that collection in one setting at auction is unprecedented.”

Among the gathering will be no fewer than seven Shelby GT500s and GT500KRs, 10 Saleen Mustangs ‒ including S302 Extreme fastbacks and roadsters, Dark Horse fastbacks and roadsters, SC281 fastbacks and roadsters ‒ and 16 Roush Mustangs, including BlackJacks, speedsters, roadsters, 427Rs, RS3s, P-51Bs and others.

A key detail that sets most of these Shelby, Saleen and Roush Mustangs apart is that they are virtually brand-new with (typically) less than 150 actual miles since they were parked in the Mustang Barn (see each vehicle description for exact mileage figure and condition). Many have been autographed by their builders and some are even still “in the wrapper,” having never been given the dealer-prep treatment. As the years pass, cars like these become more and more scarce.

Oh, and yes ‒ several of the Mustang Barn’s vintage Ford classics will also cross the block. Among them are a 1957 Skyliner Retractable hardtop/convertible (Lot #1030.3), a 1967 Mustang GT 390 (Lot #1030.2), a 1968 Mustang custom convertible (Lot #1030.1), a 1968 Shelby GT500 convertible (Lot #1413), 1969 Mach 1 428 SCJ (Lot #1030.4), and, from 2003, a Mach 1 (Lot #393) with the Shaker hood and a mere 825 miles.

Think back to the ’70s. If you’re of a certain age, you probably remember how car collectors back then hunted for antique autos from the 1920s through ’50s. To many, the muscle cars of the 1960s were simply “too common” or “too new” to ever be of popular interest. Now look at things. The same 1969 Ram Air GTO or ’71 HEMI ’Cuda that was ho-hum in 1979 is at the top of the food chain today. Here’s a word to the wise: history repeats itself.

And so it will be with the Shelby, Saleen and Roush Mustangs of the last decade. When these special editions from the Miller Mustang Barn cross the block in Scottsdale 2016, be ready to bid, and bid seriously. It’s your chance to own tomorrow’s red-hot collector cars … today.

 

Here is a complete list of the cars from the Jack Miller Mustang Barn Collection that will be crossing the block at the 45th Anniversary Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction:

Lot 393: 2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1 – 825 Actual Miles

Lot 713: 2007 Shelby GT500 Convertible – Less Than 100 Actual Miles

Lot 714: 2007 Shelby GT500 – Less Than 100 Actual Miles

Lot 714.1: 2007 Shelby GT500 – Less Than 100 Actual Miles

Lot 714.2: 2010 Shelby GT500 Convertible – Less Than 125 Actual Miles

Lot 714.3: 2010 Shelby GT500 – Less Than 125 Actual Miles

Lot 714.4: 2008 Shelby GT500KR – 60 Actual Miles

Lot 714.5: 2008 Shelby GT500KR – Less Than 150 Actual Miles

Lot 984: 2008 Saleen Mustang S302 Extreme – Rare Lizstick Red

Lot 985: 2009 Saleen Mustang Dark Horse – Serial #006 of 25

Lot 986: 2008 Saleen Mustang S302 Extreme 25th Anniversary – Serial #012 of 25

Lot 987: 2008 Saleen Mustang S302 Extreme 25th Anniversary – Serial #016 of 25

Lot 988: 2009 Saleen Mustang Dark Horse Roadster – Serial #001

Lot 989: 2008 Saleen Mustang S302 Extreme – Less Than 100 Actual Miles

Lot 990: 2006 Saleen Mustang SC281 Extreme Roadster – Serial #040

Lot 991: 2008 Saleen Mustang SC281 Extreme – 61 Actual Miles

Lot 992: 2007 Saleen Mustang S302 Parnelli Jones Edition – Less Than 250 Actual Miles

Lot 993: 2008 Saleen Mustang S302 Dan Gurney Edition – Less Than 100 Actual Miles

Lot 1030.1: 1968 Ford Mustang Custom Convertible – Supercharged 302ci V8

Lot 1030.2: 1967 Ford Mustang GT S Code Fastback – 1 of 1

Lot 1030.3: 1957 Ford Skyliner Retractable Hardtop – Survivor

Lot 1030.4: 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 428 SCJ Fastback – 1 of 1

Lot 1226: 2009 Roush Mustang BlackJack Convertible – Serial #001

Lot 1227: 2008 Roush Mustang Speedster – Serial #001 of 100

Lot 1228: 2007 Roush Mustang Roadster – Less Than 100 Actual Miles

Lot 1229: 2009 Roush Mustang RTC – Serial #001 of 100

Lot 1230: 2007 Roush Mustang BlackJack – Less Than 100 Actual Miles

Lot 1231: 2007 Roush Mustang 427R Convertible – Less Than 100 Actual Miles

Lot 1232: 2008 Roush Mustang BlackJack Convertible – Less Than 100 Actual Miles

Lot 1233: 2009 Roush Mustang 429R – Serial #001

Lot 1234: 2008 Roush Mustang 427R Track Pack – Serial #001

Lot 1235: 2008 Roush Mustang 428R – Serial #001

Lot 1236: 2006 Roush Mustang BFGoodrich Edition – 1 of 1

Lot 1237: 2011 Roush Mustang 5XR Convertible – Serial #001

Lot 1238: 2010 Roush Mustang Barrett-Jackson Concept – Less Than 125 Actual Miles

Lot 1239: 2009 Roush Mustang P-51B – Serial #51 of 51

Lot 1240: 2009 Roush Mustang P-51B – Serial #001 of 51

Lot 1241: 2012 Roush Mustang RS3 Convertible – Serial #001 of 25

Lot 1413: 1968 Shelby GT500 Convertible – 428ci V8