Ford Shelby GT500 will be the fastest production Mustang ever

Ford Shelby GT500 will be the fastest production Mustang ever
Dan Wiese
Advertising Dept. Automotive Writer
02/08/2006

Available as a coupe and as a convertible, the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 boasts a supercharged, 475-hp V-8. The coupe gets LeMans-style racing stripes, the rag top doesn't.





Ford Shelby GT500 will be the fastest production Mustang ever
Dan Wiese
Advertising Dept. Automotive Writer
Wednesday, Feb. 08 2006

DETROIT - The story is the stuff of legend.
Back in 1964, Ford Motor Co. Chairman Henry Ford II, proud as he could be of
his new, hugely successful sporty car, asked racing legend Carroll Shelby what
HE thought of the Falcon-based Mustang.
"I think it's a secretary's car," Shelby is purported to have replied.
Somewhat non-plussed, the Deuce challenged him to make it better if he could.
He could.
The 1965 model year saw the 306-hp Shelby GT-350, whose V-8 was tuned to 360 hp
in GT-350R race tune. Two years later the GT500, with its 350-hp, 428 street
V-8 arrived. Then, midway through the following year, it was dropped in favor
of the awesome GT-500KR "Kind of the Road," boasting a Ram Air 428 Cobra Jet
V-8. Its output was officially listed as a politically correct 335 hp, but word
on the street was that it was actually a bit over 400. In 1968 a convertible
Shelby arrived, and by 1970 the party was over with the production of the last
of the Shelby Mustangs.
Until now.
At last month's North American International Auto Show here, Ford unveiled the
2007 Shelby GT500, a 475-hp muscle pony whose board of consultants included the
great man himself, who called the new Shelby "a remarkable achievement."
"It's one thing to put (475) hp in an exotic supercar," said the 83-year-old
Shelby. "It's another to put that much power in something as affordable as a
Mustang."
Or, as Mark Fields, Ford executive vice president, said with a grin: "This is
no secretary's car."
It is, in fact, the fastest production Mustang ever.
Power is courtesy of a supercharged V-8 that, at 475 lb.-ft., makes as much
torque as horsepower. It mates exclusively to a torque-taming six-speed manual
transmission that's already proved its mettle in Mustang Cobras of the recent
past.
A race-tuned suspension carries the mail. Shocks and springs have been
re-engineered and recalibrated for the GT500, while beefed-up stabilizers are
posted at both ends.
Among GT's unsprung weight are 18-inch high-performance tires, 255/45ZRs in
front and fat 285/40ZRs out back.
Available as a coupe and convertible, both cars boast twin heat extractors on
the hood, the Cobra logo offset to the driver's side on the grille and a
spoiler out back. Only the coupe, however, gets the LeMans-style racing
stripes. In homage to the original Shelby convertible of 1968, which eschewed
the look, the 2007 also goes sans stripes.
Inside, the tach and speedometer have traded places compared to a standard
Mustang to give the driver a better view of the rpm status, while the seats get
serious lateral bolstering to keep the driver well anchored in athletic
maneuvers.
Chrome trim has been jettisoned in favor of satin aluminum finishes.
Built in Flat Rock, Mich., the Shelby GT500 goes on sale this summer at a price
that's said to be in the low $40,000s.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/au...424A212C0DF2E0038625710D005769DA?OpenDocument

 

It's gonna be a great car...but I think I'll wait to seriously consider
buying one...until I can get one from some "early adaptor"/"investor" who's kept it
preserved, sealed up in a plastic bag for me, while eating that initial
depreciation--both the "ADM" and that from MSRP.

After a '93 R and an '00R, I'm hoping I've learned some patience, eh? ;>{D

Dave

 

Still lamenting the fact that well over invoice pricing will keep one out of my garage until a used one might pop up. SEE Y'ALL
>
> From: "Dan Drury" <dan_drury (AT) midamcorp (DOT) com>
> Date: 2006/02/08 Wed PM 06:33:42 EST
> To: "Dan Drury" <dan_drury (AT) midamcorp (DOT) com>,
> "CARMEMORIES" <shelbymustang (AT) carmemories (DOT) com>
> Subject: Ford Shelby GT500 will be the fastest production Mustang ever
>
>

 

Me too.

Put my name in with four local dealers as soon as production was confirmed on
these, at one I was supposedly #2 on the list. Only one dealer updated me
via email about once/month with status updates, nothing from the other three.
When I heard second hand that dealers were taking deposits, I contacted those
who's list I was on. One dealer said they were indeed taking deposits and read
me the legal contract stuff but had no record of my name on the list. They
said the price would be about $25K over sticker. Another said they couldn't
take deposits yet because it was illegal in WA to do so. Confusion. Turns out
three of the dealers never had a list, just lip service. The dealer that
actually emailed me with updates had a list, stuck to it, and only took deposits
when they knew how many cars they would get. They also decided to charge a
flat $10K over MSRP. Unfortunately I was pretty far down on their list but given
their ethical, open handling of the situation I will probably buy my next
vehicle from them.

OK, feeling better now.
Dave

In a message dated 2/8/2006 7:22:11 PM Pacific Standard Time,
lmathias (AT) bellsouth (DOT) net writes:

> Still lamenting the fact that well over invoice pricing will keep one out
> of my garage until a used one might pop up. SEE Y'ALL