Shelby American produces the Shelby Baja Raptor, a performance truck that can tackle just about any terrain and speed-bump the atmosphere throws at it. A very special one-off Barrett-Jackson edition of this vehicle sold for $325,000 at the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Auction, with 100 percent of the money benefitting the Carroll Shelby Foundation and the Arican Parks Foundation of America.
The Ford F-150 Raptor is the kind of pickup truck that, not too long ago, enthusiasts could only dream about. Beginning with the 2010 model year, the F-150 Raptor gave off-road enthusiasts a vehicle to get their inner desert racer on. At the time, the 5.4-liter V8 put out 320 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, with an optional 6.2-liter V8 upping the respective ratings to 411 and 434. Of course, chassis and suspension mods were a part of the package. If that wasn’t enough, a race version called the Raptor R offered 500 horses from the 6.2.
For 2017, the F-150 Raptor was introduced for the new-gen F-series truck, upping its game while reflecting modern times thanks to a new, twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. Sure, V8 fiends may have been hurting, but the 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft was akin to replacing an Atari with a PlayStation.
A third-generation F-150 Raptor arrived for 2021, with the twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost now offering 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. A Raptor 37 performance package added 37-inch tires, though the truly insane moved up to the Raptor R, a V8-powered desert destroyer that utilized a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 with inspiration from the Mustang Shelby GT500. At the time, it was rated at 700 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque, though the current iteration offers 720 horses.
So, what happens when Shelby American gets ahold of a F-150 Raptor? It’s like a wand that casts magic dust all over and christens it Baja! “The 2024 Shelby American Baja Raptor redefines the boundaries of off-road excellence,” say the Shelby folks. The EcoBoost gets nudged to 550 horsepower and features an open-air performance intake with high-flow filter, aluminum intercooler, and one-piece heat shield; opt for the Baja Raptor R and you’ll receive a blown V8 that exceeds 900 horses. Both receive a serialized engine plaque and 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty!
The Baja Raptor’s exterior features a hood with both intake and extraction vents, power running boards with rock guards and entry lights, and custom grille insert with LEDs, among other upgrades. The suspension is modified with a Shelby by BDS lift and rolls on 18-inch Flow Forged Wheels wrapped in 37-inch mud terrain tires, plus two full-size spare mounts on the bed. Inside, you’ll find full leather Shelby seats with red accents and embroidery, billet pedals, embroidered floor mats and, of course, a Shelby serial number plaque.
This Shelby Baja Raptor R Barrett-Jackson Edition takes off where the Baja Raptor R ends thanks to the signature Agate Black metallic and red Barrett-Jackson regalia—the only one built like this. Not only did the winner of this vehicle benefit the Carroll Shelby Foundation and the African Parks Foundation of America, but (s)he also won a luxury safari adventure in Rwanda with Journeys by Design & Wilderness.
Will the Shelby Baja Raptor R be able to traverse East Africa as part of the safari? Stay tuned!
