Just read this article on the allocation rules for the upcoming GT 500: All Ford Division Dealers Subject: SVT Distribution Plan The purpose of this communication is to announce the following: • Revision to the SVT distribution policy • Allocation plan for the Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500 As we go forward, our goal is to expand our lineup of Ford performance oriented vehicles. One such example is the Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500 which is scheduled for production next summer. As we expect to have a strong line-up of performance products in the future, the cadence of these products necessitates a change to our distribution policy. Accordingly, the Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500 and all future products engineered by SVT will be available to all dealers who complete the necessary certification requirements. This will further strengthen the Ford brand by providing us with a greater opportunity to drive showroom traffic by leveraging halo products in all our marketing communications. This will also help achieve compliance with various state laws by providing all dealers who become certified the opportunity to sell performance oriented vehicles. Certification Requirements to Sell SVT-Engineered Products SVT-engineered products will be available to all dealers who complete the certification requirements. A unique certification plan will be announced for each SVT engineered product at a later date. Similar to Escape Hybrid, certification will likely include sales consultant training, technician training and purchase of special service tools. As in the past, this opportunity will be open to all dealers who enroll in the SVT program and who meet SVT program requirements. Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500 Allocation Plan Dealers will be required to complete certification requirements to receive any type of allocation for the Shelby Cobra GT500. In recognition of their commitment to the program, current SVT dealers and SVT Focus dealers will receive preferential allocation for the Shelby Cobra GT500 for the first model year. At current projections, we expect around 7,000 units to be produced for the 2007 model year. Allocation will be as follows: • Two incremental units for current full-line SVT dealers (605 dealers) • One incremental unit for SVT Focus-only dealers (700 dealers) • One unit for any dealer who completes certification requirements • One unit for 2005 President's Award winners (343 dealers) • Remaining production will be allocated based on a Mustang share-of-nation formula Allocation Example: A current full-line SVT dealer who wins the 2005 President's Award will receive four units plus any units for Mustang share-of-nation. Example: Full Line SVT Dealer: 2 Completed certification: 1 2005 President's Award: 1 Mustang share-of-nation: TBD Managing Customer Expectations We are already receiving customer inquiries about GT500 availability as well as reports of dealers holding deposits for this car. Dealer allocation will not be announced until the first quarter of 2006. Despite the extremely high market interest in this product, it is important to appropriately manage the expectations of your customers according to your actual allocation. Now, if I'm not mistaken, 1 Unit = 1 GT 500! That's not good for those of us who are not #1 or #2 on a waiting list! BTW, what's an "incremental unit"? Does that mean I get parts of the car only? Some Assembly Required!? What the Hell's going on!?
This is going to be funny, I remember when the Viper came out and people were paying over $100,000 for them now look how much they are. The rich think I got to have one before anybody else, then a few years later us average joes pick your car up for half price. Good luck.
To: Rshelby, can you set up that poll for how much people would be willing to pay. I tried to figure it out but couldn't I think it would be interesting to see. Thanks
"incremental Unit" might be related to the number of units sold in the previious year by that dealership. Meaning if they sold 4 cobra mustangs last year, they will get 4 of the GT500's to sell... but that is just a guess on my part. Im sure someone here will have a better answer to that question. But that might be the share of nation allocation also.. To me it sounds like if they were already a full SVT dealer they will get 3 cars for sure. 4 if they won the pres award.. and depending on how many cars they sold the previous year, that may add a unit or two to the number of GT500's they will recieve. So if i were to get on the list at a FULL SVT dealership, you need to be no lower than 4th on the list to get the 07 model at that dealership. And anywhere else you better be #1 or #2 on the list to have a chance at the 07 model year.
I just talked to 25 dealers in the NY/NJ area trying to find an open ordering slot. I did manage to find a single open slot, and I jumped on it. Every one of those dealers knew exactly how many cars they were getting, and also knew if they were getting none. Every one of them also had customer orders to cover the allocated slots, and waiting lists of anywhere from 10 to 30 people in case a slot opened up. Not one of those dealers indicated that the slots were just tentative at this point. I would say that the official announcement of the allocations is more formality than anything else, They all seem to be very confident already in what they will be getting. I'm hoping that Ford will no let that happen. I don't think that it will, but I only say that because it would be detrimental to their stated plans for the SVT program over the next few years.
Thanks for this great memo information. I contacted (3) dealers today that I’m on the list at & (2) others I'm trying to get in on at. I got mixed answers all day as to how many they think they would get & one real bad answer with a damaging statement from a dealer in Wayland, Michigan. After I mentioned I had a copy of the FORD Dealers memo & quoted it word for word, he then finished my sentences I was reading with the same words from that sentence. He then copped an attitude & said the following quote unquote …. ”Why should I sell you a car or anyone else at sticker price when I can get 50k to 75k plus above sticker price for it at least, It has low production numbers of 7k & very high demand for a 1st year Shelby? All I have to do is order it & have the dealership own it & then I can sell it for more to someone who is willing to pay the price? (Supply & Demand Buddy) if I sit on it for a while, oh well, at least it will draw people in to the dealership to see it & then they buy something else like a regular mustang gt.” “Plus their is no way I or any other smart Ford dealership or Ford SVT Dealer will allow you to ORDER your own optioned car with a $1,000.00 deposit & give you a VIN. # & give up all that profit with a locked in price! Besides taking your deposit now doesn’t mean anything other than I offer you a chance to be one of the 1st people I offer it too at my asking price & if he doesn’t want it I’ll refund the deposit $$$ & I’ll go to #2 on the list, and so on” He also went on to say that "even the New FORD GT with low numbers of 3k-5k are bringing 200k-275k in California & the dealers are not selling them for anything less so why should I ?” THIS KIND OF NEWS IS CRUSHING MY HOPES OF FINDING A DEALER WHO WILL NOT CHARGE A ME 1-ARM, 2-LEGS & MY 1ST BORN TO GET THIS CAR. Please beware of these types of dealers & ask these questions up front & get their statements in writing if you do put a deposit down to avoid the MAJOR let down you might have when they say it has arrived but it's way more than I said it would be.
Greedy. With regard to supply and demand, the dealers could say "that's just business" and they're going to take whatever they can get, but it's a very disappointing attitude if you ask me. If Ford has any allegiance to their customers, you would think they would mandate some sort of compromise in the middle and not just let dealers charge whatever they want. But then, just wait a year or two and the price will go down. Limited numbers and all, I will guarantee the prices go down...just like the GT. We will see.
The key is to find the right dealer. I located a very small dealer 35 miles from me who happens to be a Presidents award winner. The dealership is so small that the owner was the one who greeted me. He said if he wins the presidents award again that I can get his one car at MSRP. He wrote something up stating this and I gave him a $50.00 deposit. If he doesn't get one I get my money back. I do not know if you can search for Presidents award winners, but I bet there are others out there. P.S. His information matches the info given in this thread as to availability and distribution.
My dealer said they are getting 10. If there is any big price mark ups SVT has a 1-800 number to call and report them.
True enough.....but if my dealer pulls that he will most assuredly be selling it, along with any other car on his lot, to someone else....I'll take the 50k I have in reserve and go buy a new Harley or non-Ford, non-Mustang car. I know it doesn't make any difference to them, but it does to me.
I have recently checked up with my local dealer in Windsor. I am currently sited to have the second car to be recieved. I have also dicussed the pricing with SVT representative at Carlisle PA Ford show and he stated that Carroll Shelby was fixed on the retail of the car going for $40k USF. Thats about $48k Canadian. He also mentioned that dealers that play games with the pricing can be disciplined by SVT by not getting more cars to sell. I should have got the 1-800-????? number. Does someone have that number if I need to call? Thanks
Face it, The Fat Rich guys will buy all they can first. then the price comes down. it always goes that way. Unless you just HAVE to be the first owner and plan to keep the car in a Plastic bubble until there is no more Gasoline to drive anymore, wait it out!
It's always nice to be the first one on the block with the newest hottest car on the market. But I agree with daltondavid; wait it out and the markups will come down or even disappear. Remember the introduction of the Vipers, VW Bugs, & even the absurd money paid over invoice for a PT Cruiser!!! I refuse to pay anything over invoice but I will probably be a shopper for a 08 GT500 when the hype cools down a bit. I really like the new GT500 but I don't consider it an appreciating collectible. Now, don't get me wrong - I really would love to own one but it's not going to be parked in my garage & covered up. Sure I'll take care of it but I would be driving the wheels off of it & if it's only worth 50% of the original purchase price in 5 years.....Well, who cares as this car is going to be alot of Fun Per Mile!!! But I may be wrong and no offense to those of you buying one as a collectible; never to be driven, as you may be the one laughing all the way to the bank in the near future. David
I agree dv67shelby, that the car is to be driven. It will be a collectable car for sure. I am buying one because I love the new mustang. That chance to own a zero miles shelby is "Icing on the cake". In 1965 I was not quite in the buyers market at the age of 6 years old. I remember following a 67 shelby around on my Mustang bike 8yrs old. I have owned a 70 Boss 429, own a 70 Boss 302, 70 351C coupe, a 69 351W coupe and a 95 GT. This new supercharged mustang will be the most awesome driving machine yet seen from Ford. You guys can have a ride next summer!! PS Any one have any garage space?