[AZ21GT500]

View attachment 361785

 

[OX1]

Overall, not sure where Ford and/or Shelby go from here. Kind of painted themselves into a corner with the latest 500 effort, making a Supercar for $80-100 grand (and virtually track perfected), that you now have to spend 250-300 grand (ish) to get a better one.

If they really have no option going forward except the coyote, then maybe spend a ton of money reducing weight. An all out effort of a 550 ish HP NA DH (with Shelby using it as a base for whatever they plan), but 3400 lbs-ish, would at least make it significantly more special in one regard. And the lower weight would make it easier to make it's weight lower (IE smaller brakes, since it's not as much of a fatty).

 

[Tatonka]

From FB:

View attachment 361583 View attachment 361584

I read this as damage control and nothing else. It was just a way to guilt people into stop speaking ill of the released car and the company. I agree they have now painted themselves into a corner.

 

[Goose17]

I read this as damage control and nothing else. It was just a way to guilt people into stop speaking ill of the released car and the company. I agree they have now painted themselves into a corner.

I saw it in a different light. We have a great group of members here that can debate and disagree all while remaining civil towards one another. Sadly, this isn’t always the case across social media. Sounds like some people were chucking spears on FB and something needed to be said to chill the keyboard warriors.

 

[COBRA THERAPY!!!]

Care to expand on your headline…?

Well, they are OVER PRICED mustang gt cars with that stupid mt82 transmission. There is nothing ground braking about them.

 

[OscarMayer]

...damage control...
...guilt into stop speaking ill of the released car and the company.

...great group of members here that can debate and disagree all while remaining civil.
...sadly, this isn’t always the case across social media.
...Sounds like some people were chucking spears on FB and something needed to be said to chill the keyboard warriors.

I read it as both above.

 

[mavisky]

SA has built multiple GT350's over the years. In the 60's they were GT's with mods, in the 80's they were GT's with mods, in the 2010's they were GT's with mods. The problem is that they let Ford take the GT350 name and vastly exceed anything they had ever done in the past or could likely do in the future in the 20-teens.

I'm sure the car makes a great modded GT, but in the previous generations it was anywhere from 20-30 years between GT350 releases. Someone in their marketing team decided to re-use the name to bring a car to market only 5 years down the line and the memory of the award winning car that shared the name is still fresh in everyone's minds. I don't think anyone needs to stoop to name calling or personally attacking people, but people are just seeing this as a step backwards. I don't remember any of the GT350 hatred like this in 2011. Hopefully they learned from this and don't try to release a GT based GT500 in 2027 for the 60th anniversary of the GT500 being released.

 

[03reptile]

SA has built multiple GT350's over the years. In the 60's they were GT's with mods, in the 80's they were GT's with mods, in the 2010's they were GT's with mods. The problem is that they let Ford take the GT350 name and vastly exceed anything they had ever done in the past or could likely do in the future in the 20-teens.

I'm sure the car makes a great modded GT, but in the previous generations it was anywhere from 20-30 years between GT350 releases. Someone in their marketing team decided to re-use the name to bring a car to market only 5 years down the line and the memory of the award winning car that shared the name is still fresh in everyone's minds. I don't think anyone needs to stoop to name calling or personally attacking people, but people are just seeing this as a step backwards. I don't remember any of the GT350 hatred like this in 2011. Hopefully they learned from this and don't try to release a GT based GT500 in 2027 for the 60th anniversary of the GT500 being released.

An accurate evaluation, Kyle. It's too bad Shelby American wasn't able to take the 2015 through 2020 GT350 that Ford Performance produced, and improved upon "that" vehicle. Obviously, Ford stopped production of their GT350 in 2020 so it's a mute point at this time. Now, SA only has the current GT to utilize as their base. Our 2015-2020 Ford Performance GT350's possessed numerous differences from the Mustang GT, which made them so unique and a departure from the predominantly cosmetic add-ons that SA is now producing. True, there are different offerings in the engine choices, but otherwise, not a whole lot of departures from the Mustang GT. I'm just lucky that I bought my GT350 one year before they were history.

 

[Tatonka]

If Shelby had marketed this as a Shelby GT this wouldn’t even be a conversation. It could have been an entry level custom Shelby vehicle and the only thing people would complain about is price. Unfortunately they tried to attach a commemorative date to it(like they do everything) and call it a GT350. Which when compared to the previous FP version isn’t any different than three other offerings on the market. I am curious to see how hard they push this vehicle now. But on another note, FP seems to really be ramping up marketing towards the international racing scene. Could you imagine if they had done this with the Shelby moniker attached to it? Talk about historic opportunity. People would be lined up to buy whatever trickled down to the commercial market. Unfortunately Shelby doesn’t have any presence on any racing circuits and the honeymoon is over with Ford Performance it seems.

 

[rxsamg]

If Shelby had marketed this as a Shelby GT this wouldn’t even be a conversation. It could have been an entry level custom Shelby vehicle and the only thing people would complain about is price. Unfortunately they tried to attach a commemorative date to it(like they do everything) and call it a GT350. Which when compared to the previous FP version isn’t any different than three other offerings on the market. I am curious to see how hard they push this vehicle now. But on another note, FP seems to really be ramping up marketing towards the international racing scene. Could you imagine if they had done this with the Shelby moniker attached to it? Talk about historic opportunity. People would be lined up to buy whatever trickled down to the commercial market. Unfortunately Shelby doesn’t have any presence on any racing circuits and the honeymoon is over with Ford Performance it seems.

Dean,
Agree with everything you & everyone else is saying. It seems that every in house production “special edition” now is throw a whipple on it and then primarily aesthetics after that. From Centennial edition to Super Snake to now GT350.
One thing Shelby did say though is they are entering Trans Am racing next year. What that will translate to retail is TBD (other than the GT350R which does appear initially to have more significant track only modifications)

Maybe we were spoiled by Ford Performance engineers of the last gen GT500/350 and gave SA too much credit?

 

[Tatonka]

I don’t believe anyone can say that the Ford Performance variations of the GT350/GT500 weren’t the greatest production Mustang to this point. This absolutely set the bar and stage. Lol we were spoiled for a solid seven years. Until Ford releases something with substance, a whippled 5.0 is the performance standard. Which we have SA, RTR, Saleen and Ford Performance all offering the same item. Pick your styling…. I think we have another 5.2 variant coming. That is what I’m hopeful for at least.

 

[Scottie24]

 

[Taco_Enum]

With all the Shelby badging, does anyone know why the steering wheel has the Mustang Pony vs the Shelby Snake? Start up seemed to have the pony as well. Not sure how difficult a task it would be but it would be cool to see the Shelby snake there too.

 

[Goose17]

With all the Shelby badging, does anyone know why the steering wheel has the Mustang Pony vs the Shelby Snake? Start up seemed to have the pony as well. Not sure how difficult a task it would be but it would be cool to see the Shelby snake there too.

Might be a liability issue messing with an airbag cover… if the car was in an accident later and it was determined the airbag didn’t function properly, SA might be held liable.

 

[TX13GT500]

With 850 HP and open to ANYONE with the money/credit to buy it. Shirley, there will be LOTS of airbags deploying

 

[Taco_Enum]

Might be a liability issue messing with an airbag cover… if the car was in an accident later and it was determined the airbag didn’t function properly, SA might be held liable.

Got it! Yea that makes total sense. I have seen some aftermarket covers like the one linked below and was curious on the limitations of doing something like that. But these are most likely NOT safety tested.

Custom Airbag Cover (Housing) — Carbon🔌Cartel

This fully custom Airbag Cover replacement is available in your choice of materials and colors. Airbag housing only, airbag inflator is NOT included.

carbonplug.com

 

[Goose17]

Shirley

🤣

 

[Kagey]

Got it! Yea that makes total sense. I have seen some aftermarket covers like the one linked below and was curious on the limitations of doing something like that. But these are most likely NOT safety tested.

Custom Airbag Cover (Housing) — Carbon🔌Cartel

This fully custom Airbag Cover replacement is available in your choice of materials and colors. Airbag housing only, airbag inflator is NOT included.

carbonplug.com

I've read bad things about this place. Buy at your own risk.

 

[AZ21GT500]

Might be a liability issue messing with an airbag cover… if the car was in an accident later and it was determined the airbag didn’t function properly, SA might be held liable.

100% Correct

 

[Taco_Enum]

I've read bad things about this place. Buy at your own risk.

Oh I have no intention of buying one. This was just the first result from my Google search. Thanks for the heads up nonetheless.