A top-secret Mustang ute has been brought out of the shadows for the first time by a manager at Ford after spending years hidden away from public view. Built from an S550 fastback pony car, it was never intended to be driven, let alone put into production, and now sits in the lobby of the brand’s world headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan.

Matt Korczyk, who manages Henry’s Heritage Fleet, brought the one-off to light on Instagram last week and explained that it was created in order to give workers a challenge: build a concept car that’s unlike anything the famed Mustang badge has seen before.

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“The latest addition to the Ford Heritage Fleet, this Mustang ‘Ute’ Concept,” Korczyk wrote as he posted shots of the car in a roped-off area, finished in a striking Cyber Orange paint job with what appears to be a short tray grafted onto the rear.

“This concept was built by the team in the Ford EVB [Experimental Vehicles Building] Metal Shop, as a way to train apprentices by allowing them to get real world, hands on experience by way of building a concept car.

“The team took a normal Mustang, and turned it into a hand crafted, one-off concept “Ute”. Hundreds of hours went into this build and it serves as a great reminder of how skilled trades of all kinds are integral to the Company.   

“It also showcases the raw talent and skill of not only the apprentices who honed their craft on this vehicle, but also the talent of those who helped teach them. Until now, this concept has never been shown outside the walls of Ford EVB!!”

The Mustang appears to be standard from the doors to the nose, and a close inspection reveals that the rear fenders are completely remodelled and widened in order to accommodate the tray. 

Korczyk’s big reveal left Ford fans gobsmacked and wanting more. Comments on the post included remarks like “It’s perfect! The amount of debt I’d go into for a factory V8 manual Mustang UTE” and “That’s it, I’m selling my Maverick! I need one!”

Of course, this isn’t the first time Ford has gone out in a radical direction with the Mustang. Earlier this year, Car & Driver reported that an off-road “Baja” version of the pony car could still be on the cars after it was shown to dealers in the States.