Predictions for GT350 production beyond 2017?

[tdzee]

In order for "halo" cars to have the intended effect, they must offer a lot of news worthy content and be limited in nature. Remember, the objective is not selling out all the halo cars, it is selling out all the regular Fords related to the halos. Hard to believe you can make people want your product my making it not available . But that actually works.

Anyone remember the note in the UAW contract re future update to the 5.2? No one ever explained that (to me anyway). My sales guy is telling me they intend to use the 5.2, at lower compression, with the new 2.9L blower for the new GT500 (or whatever they call it). Proto cars running at 800hp, will be detuned for reliability (and to be higher than 707, of course). 350 done in MY17, new GT500 slated for MY18. He further suggests 350 production must hit 3500 by end of MY16 (I think they are there already, or very close) and says the 500/5000 numbers will be for all 3 MY's (15, 16, 17).

Who knows. Time will tell. Higher numbers do not help me. Lower numbers makes my car worth more, maybe.

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[garagelogic]

In order for "halo" cars to have the intended effect, they must offer a lot of news worthy content and be limited in nature. Remember, the objective is not selling out all the halo cars, it is selling out all the regular Fords related to the halos. Hard to believe you can make people want your product my making it not available . But that actually works.

Anyone remember the note in the UAW contract re future update to the 5.2? No one ever explained that (to me anyway). My sales guy is telling me they intend to use the 5.2, at lower compression, with the new 2.9L blower for the new GT500 (or whatever they call it). Proto cars running at 800hp, will be detuned for reliability (and to be higher than 707, of course). 350 done in MY17, new GT500 slated for MY18. He further suggests 350 production must hit 3500 by end of MY16 (I think they are there already, or very close) and says the 500/5000 numbers will be for all 3 MY's (15, 16, 17).

Who knows. Time will tell. Higher numbers do not help me. Lower numbers makes my car worth more, maybe.

I foresee the next GT500 being a twin-turbo V6 and all-wheel drive, personally. Time will tell.

 

[jjw]

In order for "halo" cars to have the intended effect, they must offer a lot of news worthy content and be limited in nature. Remember, the objective is not selling out all the halo cars, it is selling out all the regular Fords related to the halos. Hard to believe you can make people want your product my making it not available . But that actually works.

Anyone remember the note in the UAW contract re future update to the 5.2? No one ever explained that (to me anyway). My sales guy is telling me they intend to use the 5.2, at lower compression, with the new 2.9L blower for the new GT500 (or whatever they call it). Proto cars running at 800hp, will be detuned for reliability (and to be higher than 707, of course). 350 done in MY17, new GT500 slated for MY18. He further suggests 350 production must hit 3500 by end of MY16 (I think they are there already, or very close) and says the 500/5000 numbers will be for all 3 MY's (15, 16, 17).

Who knows. Time will tell. Higher numbers do not help me. Lower numbers makes my car worth more, maybe.

There are extremely few Ford Sales people who know anything about future products. The 500/5000 is not for all 3 years, its for each year… so I have a hard time believing your guy knows anything about the GT500. If the demand for the GT350 continues, they will build more… possibly concurrently with the GT500.

I foresee the next GT500 being a twin-turbo V6 and all-wheel drive, personally. Time will tell.

No way. AWD is extremely unlikely. TTV6 slightly less unlikely. I'm guessing a 5.2 CPC DI… possibly with "Hot Vee" turbos instead of an SC. I'd love to see a Hot-Vee setup… and if they go TT that may be the only way to package it.

 

[Caballus]

She be done in '17. The "Halo" Mustang will return, whatever that is. Most assume "GT500." And "Mach 1" will take over as the corner carver. However, wasn't "Mach 1" actually a drag race focused car back in the '60's?

That's my guess.

First model was 69. Racing reputation centered on rallies and endurance runs. Otherwise, was street muscle, though owners obviously took it to the strip. Correct that it wasn't known for its handling.

 

[tdzee]

There are extremely few Ford Sales people who know anything about future products. The 500/5000 is not for all 3 years, its for each year… so I have a hard time believing your guy knows anything about the GT500.

It is interesting to note how quickly posters here will state their own, totally unsupported position as fact (like 5000/500 for every model year, clearly not true for MY15), and dis everyone offering alternate info. I will note, that Ford could be using this as a free marketing effort to keep them in the news, control the message and to insure high exposure. Absent that, us lowly customers have to try to figure out what is true by piecing together the facts.

You can choose to believe what you wish, but everything this guy has told me has come to be true. Perhaps its because he has been specializing in selling Ford specialty vehicles for 30 years. With that experience, you develop useful connections. I will also note that every post was greeted with a sadly similar response.

Good luck to all trying to predict the future. I would be happy to know what going on now with my build. :shrug:

 

[PP0001]

First model was 69. Racing reputation centered on rallies and endurance runs. Otherwise, was street muscle, though owners obviously took it to the strip. Correct that it wasn't known for its handling.

With all due respect this is the first time that I have ever heard of the Mach 1 having a reputation centered around rally and endurance racing. Maybe I missed some of this back in the late 60's but all I remember about the Mach 1 was watching them at the drag strip and of course racing from stop light to stop light on the street.

Growing up with the Mach 1 back in 1969 in my opinion it was the finest Mustang street racer of it's day especially if it was equipped with the 428 CJ or the 428 CJ-R with a "Shaker" hood.

:ford:

 

[Swamp Yankee]

Wouldn't it be interesting if the new Mach1 came with factory options and packages that would let a buyer optimize it for either type (road course monster or drag strip monster) depending on their choices. I know, not likely. But a man can always dream.

 

[Westfalia]

What about this article/rumor from the front page?

"While we are still awaiting official word from Ford about how many 2016 Shelby GT350 and GT350R Mustangs will be produced as well as how many model years the Ford Performance vehicles will run, we may have just gotten the unofficial word from a major Mustang dealership.

According to Manny Galvin (“Mustang Manny”) of Gaudin Ford in a Facebook post that has since been removed, the 2016 GT350 Mustang production numbers were released (to the dealership, we presume) and they will be:

GT350 Mustang: 5,000/year
GT350R Mustang: 500/year
He also states that Ford plans to make the GT350 Mustang a 5-year production vehicle.

Of course, nothing is official until we hear it directly from Ford, but based on his track record, this could be a good indication of what to expect."

This makes me extremely happy! Sure hope it is true. I'm building a house currently and all my excess money is going there.

 

[Westfalia]

In order for "halo" cars to have the intended effect, they must offer a lot of news worthy content and be limited in nature. Remember, the objective is not selling out all the halo cars, it is selling out all the regular Fords related to the halos. Hard to believe you can make people want your product my making it not available . But that actually works.

Anyone remember the note in the UAW contract re future update to the 5.2? No one ever explained that (to me anyway). My sales guy is telling me they intend to use the 5.2, at lower compression, with the new 2.9L blower for the new GT500 (or whatever they call it). Proto cars running at 800hp, will be detuned for reliability (and to be higher than 707, of course). 350 done in MY17, new GT500 slated for MY18. He further suggests 350 production must hit 3500 by end of MY16 (I think they are there already, or very close) and says the 500/5000 numbers will be for all 3 MY's (15, 16, 17).

Who knows. Time will tell. Higher numbers do not help me. Lower numbers makes my car worth more, maybe.

You have a vested interest then. Hard to be objective when you are rooting for production to end and make your car more valuable.

 

[krt22]

I wouldnt hold your breath or bet any money on that. That info was "leaked" by the snake mustang manny and was subsequently deleted shortly after the fact. But of course not before click-bait city horsepowerkings reposted it.

 

[tdzee]

You have a vested interest then. Hard to be objective when you are rooting for production to end and make your car more valuable.

Well, I bought one, so I guess I do have a vested interest. Not sure what the fascination about the actual number is. I don't care what it is, because it will have no real affect on the value of my, or anyone else's car. If it were 3000 or 5500, it wont really matter in the end. It is, however, an interesting fact to chase for any "limited" product (esp for those who, incl me, have been parted from their money because of it).

 

[mattlqx]

Well, I bought one, so I guess I do have a vested interest. Not sure what the fascination about the actual number is. I don't care what it is, because it will have no real affect on the value of my, or anyone else's car. If it were 3000 or 5500, it wont really matter in the end. It is, however, an interesting fact to chase for any "limited" product (esp for those who, incl me, have been parted from their money because of it).

But, but mine is 1 of 5 in blue, white stripe, radio, heated seats, non-black roof and delivered in Arizona, on a Friday! HELLA VALUE!

 

[jjw]

It is interesting to note how quickly posters here will state their own, totally unsupported position as fact (like 5000/500 for every model year, clearly not true for MY15), and dis everyone offering alternate info. I will note, that Ford could be using this as a free marketing effort to keep them in the news, control the message and to insure high exposure. Absent that, us lowly customers have to try to figure out what is true by piecing together the facts.

You can choose to believe what you wish, but everything this guy has told me has come to be true. Perhaps its because he has been specializing in selling Ford specialty vehicles for 30 years. With that experience, you develop useful connections. I will also note that every post was greeted with a sadly similar response.

Good luck to all trying to predict the future. I would be happy to know what going on now with my build. :shrug:

I wasn't counting '15. I have spoken to the gt350 project manager in person. Beyond that, I also have some connections in the Ford/Shelby world.

 

[Spectre]

Wow, I'm very pleased to see such a response in just over 24 hours. Thanks, fellas.

Lots of dissenting opinions, and let's be honest, very few (if any) hard facts for EITHER scenario (stop production after 2017, or plow ahead).

All that talk about recouping costs and what not makes sense, but apparently Ford is well known for these 2-year runs. Just look at their most expensive one to date: 2005/2006 Ford GT. That cost a pretty penny to R&D and produce, yet still only had a 2 year run.

So do I believe an even lesser priced car, but still very special, will also have a 2 year run?..... Well, I'm practically making a near $60k bet(after fees/taxes) that it won't make it past 2017, by trying to get a 2016/2017 GT350

Your Ford GT argument may have been the best one I've read in this forum AGAINST ongoing production of the GT350. However, very different programs: the Ford GT was built at a loss of every one sold, and even then the car failed to hit Ford's target of 4500 units sold worldwide (just over 4000 sold). It didn't make any sense for them to continue the halo project when they couldn't even hit their initial sales targets in the allotted time frame of close to 3 years.

Gt350 production ends in 2017. I have heard this numerous times from various Ford personnel and the dealers who have a grip of somewhat. Ford said in the beginning about 5000 cars TOTAL. I am assuming we have to be at 3500 or so at end of 2016 production. My dealer knew his 15-17 allocation up front. Most dealers did with the possibility of getting another 1 or 2 maybe depending on their dealer sales. Also my dealer really didn't care much for the Shelby because Ford's other halo vehicles are tied to this program like the Escort RS which my dealer had 8 allocated, Raptors which they really really want because they sell more trucks and 1 GT on the board. The program is tied to some special deal allocations as well on standard vehicles. That is where the profit is on this kind of program. Take 1 Shelby and get 5 trucks with an extra $1000 incentive or so. This is also what Dodge did on SRT before the program changed.

I'm pretty sure Ford's going to hit 5000 sold for 2016 alone, based on the numbers already available, so I highly doubt the "5000" total argument.

Production ends in 2017. This is the smart thing to do - keep the brand prime with low volume exceptional cars. They can bring in a new Mach 1 or GT500. You don't want the market saturated - it makes the brand less special. Let the Ford F-150 make the big profit margins and let the Shelby and Ford GT do the marketing (which follows into huge sales for all Mustang variants).

Porsche has Cayennes and Boxsters for the masses and the profit margins - let the 911 pull them all in.

Porsche makes huge profits on every car they make, but Boxsters and Caymans (of which I own a GTS) sell in such poor numbers, I think they only reason they continue to offer them is for their hardcore fanbase (and for street cred, seeing as these are the only "affordable" sports cars in their entire lineup).

@Spectre also the 2003/2004 SVT Cobra (Terminator) was only a 2 year run (owned two, loved those cars). As stated, this is Ford's MO.

Yeah, about that...

Worth noting that that was at the tail end of the platform. Same thing with the Boss. The GT350 is at beginning. GT500 was at the beginning as well. I could see them continuing to make them until 2019 or so when the S650 is on the horizon.

... what ^^^he^^^ said.

Also, the SVT Cobras didn't require wholesale re-engineering. It was the same 4.6 L block as the GT cars, albeit *heavily* reinforced and modified. I would guess the most expensive R&D on that car was its IRS, or did it come wholesale from another Ford?

What about this article/rumor from the front page?

"While we are still awaiting official word from Ford about how many 2016 Shelby GT350 and GT350R Mustangs will be produced as well as how many model years the Ford Performance vehicles will run, we may have just gotten the unofficial word from a major Mustang dealership.

According to Manny Galvin (“Mustang Manny”) of Gaudin Ford in a Facebook post that has since been removed, the 2016 GT350 Mustang production numbers were released (to the dealership, we presume) and they will be:

GT350 Mustang: 5,000/year
GT350R Mustang: 500/year
He also states that Ford plans to make the GT350 Mustang a 5-year production vehicle.

Of course, nothing is official until we hear it directly from Ford, but based on his track record, this could be a good indication of what to expect."

Obviously, I want this to be true.

But the fact Mustang Manny had to take that info down from Facebook, and Ford did not officially renounce those comments by stating outright the GT350 will be a (generally accepted) 2 year production, is what leaves me to believe Ford will continue production into 2018 and beyond. Ford keeping mum about this is probably just a way to appease their large dealer network so they can continue to ADM us all to death.

In order for "halo" cars to have the intended effect, they must offer a lot of news worthy content and be limited in nature. Remember, the objective is not selling out all the halo cars, it is selling out all the regular Fords related to the halos. Hard to believe you can make people want your product my making it not available . But that actually works.

Anyone remember the note in the UAW contract re future update to the 5.2? No one ever explained that (to me anyway). My sales guy is telling me they intend to use the 5.2, at lower compression, with the new 2.9L blower for the new GT500 (or whatever they call it). Proto cars running at 800hp, will be detuned for reliability (and to be higher than 707, of course). 350 done in MY17, new GT500 slated for MY18. He further suggests 350 production must hit 3500 by end of MY16 (I think they are there already, or very close) and says the 500/5000 numbers will be for all 3 MY's (15, 16, 17).

Who knows. Time will tell. Higher numbers do not help me. Lower numbers makes my car worth more, maybe.

There are extremely few Ford Sales people who know anything about future products. The 500/5000 is not for all 3 years, its for each year… so I have a hard time believing your guy knows anything about the GT500. If the demand for the GT350 continues, they will build more… possibly concurrently with the GT500.

Again, my bias wants me to agree with jjw. Also, I don't know how much stock I would put in any one dealer or sales associate.

I wasn't counting '15. I have spoken to the gt350 project manager in person. Beyond that, I also have some connections in the Ford/Shelby world.

I don't suppose you can go into more detail about these connections, can you?


Also, in the "I'm now going to quote someone who knows someone else" department, here's something that was posted on teamshelby.com Feb 1 (before the announcement of the 2017 changes). If who he's quoting is the real deal, would that also not lend credence to Ford continuing the GT350 much like they did the GT500 from 2007 until the end of theS197s altogether?

Mark Schaller, Director of Mustang for Ford, did confirm to me this weekend that this will not be a close ended run, and that 2017 will happen and they will continue to build to meet demand of the market. So, yes, if you wait, you will get your build for a reasonable price, and even better, as with all other long run builds they have done, they make changes every year or two and the new ones are even better. So it's likely you're gonna be able to get a 2018 or 2019 gt350r that is gonna be better than the 2016, for a much better price.

There is also another high HP mustang on the horizon, and while I heard it referred to as the new GT500, it hasn't been decided that it will be called that. Didn't get any other details on it though. Just good info for guys like Mike who want Ford to go back to that straight line monster. They also are working to make sure the base GT ups it's game to compete with the new Camaro. I was very happy to hear that.

 

[jjw]

DubbsFaris
Mark Schaller, Director of Mustang for Ford, did confirm to me this weekend that this will not be a close ended run, and that 2017 will happen and they will continue to build to meet demand of the market. So, yes, if you wait, you will get your build for a reasonable price, and even better, as with all other long run builds they have done, they make changes every year or two and the new ones are even better. So it's likely you're gonna be able to get a 2018 or 2019 gt350r that is gonna be better than the 2016, for a much better price.

Based on what I know and the legitimacy of the poster, this sounds about right. However, I would interpret "much better price" to mean easier to order and cut a deal on… not a lower MSRP. I (and others with a clue) have been saying there will "eventually be plenty to go around" for well over a year. Many people refused to believe it and instead chose to believe the dealers charging large ADMs. I have been telling customers 1-2k adm max on non-R's. R's are definitely a different situation.

Original Shelby Mustangs and Cobra's were never artificially limited. The sold what they could. There was a time when new 427 cobra's sat in the back of dealers covered in dust because they couldn't get 3k for them.

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