[AZ21GT500]

I guess a S650 GT500 isnt off the table yet

Ford and Shelby don’t have a contract for any further production. All future production will be done by SAI

Clearly SA owns the GT350 naming rights, I assume they also own GT500? I had thought they were under Ford's realm.
Interesting to note they won't even be built at SA. They will be built at Turn Key Automotive in Michigan & sold thru select Ford dealers. IF it were not for SA doing the intro today, my first thought would have been it sounded like more like a Ford program.

At $109k starting price puts it in prev gen GT500 price territory and a good $30-40k over a current DH. Clearly a significant performance improvement over the DH, but not enough for me to give up my current 500. Now IF I was unable to get a GT500, I would pretty much say, sign me up, this looks like a good replacement. Very imited production run though. What I still have to ask, is the Super Snake worth extra money given this competitor?

I think it's smart that Shelby is targeting the consumer who wants something between the DH & GTD and they are doing it before Ford does

Shelby Trust owns everything all names respectively GT500, GT350 etc. in effect SAI. The edgy snake is a partnership between Ford and Shelby for the S550. Notice the Snakes on this edition.

My initial take is I am not a fan. Generally speaking, I'm not a fan of the 650 anyway, but this seems like a Super Snake with alternate options and badging. I am and always will be a Shelby supporter and fan but this smells like a complete money grab to me. I pray that don't do the same to the GT500 name.

Ford won’t be producing any more 350/500 as of now. Everything if they bring back the 500 for the 1967/2027 anniversary will be done at SAI. This is a 1965/2025 Anniversary edition GT350.

It’t part of the survival of Shelby American

 

[AZ21GT500]

In the beginning

There was only Shelby Modified GT350/GT500 from production cars!

Now people turn their noses up at a the idea that they produce the very vehicles that make them a world wide company in the same way. It’s astonishing how fickle this car thing is.

 

[AZ21GT500]

I wouldn’t say that I for one “turn my nose up at the idea”. I think the foundation of the idea lives on and has for awhile but it is known as the Super Snake which definitely has its place and market. I think the outcry here and all over social media is that the collaboration with Ford to design, engineer and build the last 350 and 500 was very special and it showed it both cars. This has gotten people to redefine what they expect from these nameplates as a result.

Adding a Whipple to a 5.0 has become common place. So much so that it’s offered as a program on any GT from Ford with a warranty.
I’m not going to lie and say I’m a fan of the 650 but that is the current platform and that’s also fine, I simply think people expect something special now when you combine Shelby with those iconic titles of GT350 and GT500. Sort of like SA are victims of their own success and doing this makes it seem like they are kind of lost without Ford as a partner.

I do pray that this isn’t he fate of the GT500 in a couple years but that’s just my opinion.

The S550 GT350/500 program didn’t make Shelby American a dime until they started doing the upgrade program. Ford’s agreement with the Foundation was a flat donation per vehicle. The company can’t just sell t-shirts and tchotchkes to survive. This is their way forward and if they do the 60th Anniversary of the GT500 its most likely the plan. Going back to their roots and making cool stuff from production cars.

 

[AZ21GT500]

I don't think anyone here wants Shelby American to fail or not survive, but if you are going to sell a product tied to the Shelby name, I think you have to live up to prior year expectations. The Whipple Coyote is what everyone else is doing. In a way, Ford has done more to honor the Shelby name plate than Shelby American has.

Wouldn't it have been cool if Shelby American put the 7.3 Godzilla motor in the S650 or maybe kept the 5.0 Coyote and paired it with Turbos and a Motec system with configurations for both a "Drag Pack" and a "Track Pack". Heck, I wonder if they could have thrown in a flat-plane crank into the 5.0 Coyote with some R&D. Ideas like that are innovative and different. Case and point, the Code RED GT500 built by Fathouse Performance. Taking a platform to the next level is what the Shelby brand has stood for. This new GT350 is just a follower.

Well thinking like a business owner that all has to be built into the cost. If Ford isn’t making the GT’s with the truck motor then there’s a reason. If they had that option for the Mustang then I’m sure SAI would have considered it. People are already bitching about the price tag, I can’t imagine what the price would be if they were adding a specialty motor post production.

SAI is taking back their business model and going back to their roots. Trust me they won’t have any issues selling the 500 or so per year. They have sold out every SS, GT and truck every year. I’m sure they won’t have any issues selling these. Only the social media warriors won’t buy them because most already hate the S650. 🤷🏽‍♂️ Ya can’t please everyone it’s a business model these days.