How about a Shelby GT ...

[puzzle13]

A short in the Raleigh N&O yesterday informed the consumers of the new musclecar from Ford. The Shelby GT Mustang. Available in black and competition white with stripes they will have 325 hp instead of the 300 from the standard GT or the 500+ from the GT500. It is a Shelby and will most likely have snakes all over it with a SVT logo or two. Will they be allowed to be members?

According to Ford's website it is a retail version of the Shelby GT-H that is renting at the Hertz rental sites. That means ... a little better suspension than the Mustang GT, the Shelby GT500 styling, a different gearing for quicker response, and 25 more HP than the Mustang GT. So ... what do you think the price will be?
And how many of these will be made?

[Levi]

Shelby (http://www.shelbyautos.com/ShelbyGT.asp)

[Blown96Snake]

I think this will be a cooler car than the GT500 because more people will have a chance to own one of these. It sounds like a great track car out of the box!!

I can't wait to see them.

Dave

[ProfChaos]

I think this will be a cooler car than the GT500 because more people will have a chance to own one of these. It sounds like a great track car out of the box!!

I can't wait to see them.

Dave


In the auto industry, that technique is called the "bait and switch" (we're out of that model, but do try this one instead): Before presenting this so-called "Shelby" option package, Ford already knew that it was going to tank-out on the SVT Program and the Shelby Cobra/GT-500 Program (to save money). So, Ford is now apparently trying to ride the wave of the attractive aesthetics of the Shelby GT-500 merely to sell the "popular" image of a legend--without including also the actual balls and character of the real thing. "Caveat emptor": "let the buyer beware" of premium option packages, especially when they are mostly show and very little go...A "fat" (overweight) car with 325 hp is not really that impressive, even if it does have racing stripes...Just ask Chrysler regarding their new 340 hp "R/T" that is also an overpriced tub-of-lard in comparison to the engine-to-weight ratio that you see on, say, a 1996-1998 naturally-aspirated SVT Cobra (with K&N filter, X-pipe, and long-throw headers), or on a 2003-2004 super-charged SVT Cobra (hold onto your hat). Racing stripes are nothing in the long run: eat too many beans, and you might even get a few racing stripes in your shorts. :D

...Needless to say, as a Cobra officianado, I find it to be both disingenuous and tasteless on Ford's part to pretend to be pro-Shelby at the same time that they are actually phasing-out the "King Bee," the Shelby Cobra, and all other SVT vehicles. I love my '96 Shelby-Cobra (whatever you actually want to call it, it rocks!), but i don't necessarily need to love Ford. ;)

In fact, before falling for such an out-of-integrity "bait-and-switch" option package, I'd much rather buy a high-mileage '95 Cobra with copious quarter panel dings (most of you Gen-1 SVT Cobra owners know what I mean by quarter panel dings) and then spend some of the rest of the money by throwing a Sean Hyland Motorsports Cammer engine in it, and then spend just a few hundred of the balance (of probably well over $10K) by having the quarter panel dings removed at the local Dent Doctor. :D

Rock on, Carrol Shelby!

cheers,
--Professor Chaos

[Angel]

A short in the Raleigh N&O yesterday informed the consumers of the new musclecar from Ford. The Shelby GT Mustang. Available in black and competition white with stripes they will have 325 hp instead of the 300 from the standard GT or the 500+ from the GT500. It is a Shelby and will most likely have snakes all over it with a SVT logo or two. Will they be allowed to be members?

According to Ford's website it is a retail version of the Shelby GT-H that is renting at the Hertz rental sites. That means ... a little better suspension than the Mustang GT, the Shelby GT500 styling, a different gearing for quicker response, and 25 more HP than the Mustang GT. So ... what do you think the price will be?
And how many of these will be made?
Many on these Forums have a great impression of what a true SVT Vehicle should be.

IMO a Shelby GT to bridge the gap between the S197 GT and the GT500, should have a combination of Handling, Power and Styling. As in the likeness of SVT vehicles, there should be a notable difference above the GT version.

A car with Shelby / Cobra or SVT badging is running a fine line between just image and character; as mentioned by ProfChaos. SVT Suspension, rear end upgrades, wheels and tires, shifter, power at around 350 - 375 NA and classic styling (but not too close to other SVT vehicles), is in my mind a good place to start with a design.