Guys, how important is the “Shelby” name to the enjoyment of your car?

[MAGS1]

It honestly seems a bit disingenuous at this point as Shelby didn't make the S550 "Shelby" cars. It was Ford Performance and the hand built engine done at the FP Romeo plant which is even shut down now. It was just a licensed name. Even dropping your car off at Shelby to get a real Shelby upgrade is kind of name only at this point. That is why I will be surprised if there is even a S650 Shelby...they seem to be wanting to push Ford Performance and the Dark Horse name instead to start a new legacy in racing/performance. A DH350 or DH500 might be what's around the corner. Not hating on Shelby...I would love to have had a 22 Code Orange GT500 but they were hard to get and I wasn't ready to spend that amount of coin for the car.

Some of the rumors out there are that the Cobra nameplate will get brought back, going back to the SVT days. No idea if that’s remotely true or not

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[DarthMalice]

I am headed to the 60th event at Barber next month...I imagine that is where they will show the next performance variant whether it is Cobra, Boss, DH something or another, but I don't think it will wear Shelby at all.

 

[NPTR]

Name is meaningless to me - I love the history and love the nostalgia, like any proud American should! But I’ll take the other side and say, if anything, the company / brand on this car was a negative for me, and something I had to struggle a bit to overcome a few years back when I first started taking them seriously. I love German engineering, German precision, Japanese reliability, etc. In 2010 I sold my ‘03 Mach 1 and never looked back. I missed the big NA V8, but that was about it. The 350 changed the game for me, showed me that Ford still had what it took to take on the best of them and still come out on top (crappy panel gap and plastic interior aside). Because of that, I overlooked the name and chose a 350R over a GT3 or Limerock Park Edition M3, and rhat says a lot to me about how special this car truly is.

This is a Ford Performance car at heart - and in all fairness, Ford isn’t hiding that. Badge on the sill plate, badge on the strut tower, etc. Shelby is alive in the spirit of the vehicle, the inspiration for its existence really, but I think folks buying the car merely because it’s a Shelby died a decade ago when the newly resurrected GT500 matured.

Guys like me bought this car for what it is - and that’s a truly special, unique machine. I wouldn’t care if it had a Honda badge on it - I see cars objectively for what they are, and this car is epic.

 

[wingnutt]

I am headed to the 60th event at Barber next month...I imagine that is where they will show the next performance variant whether it is Cobra, Boss, DH something or another, but I don't think it will wear Shelby at all.

 

[falcongtho3]

I love my '03 Mach, I really like my 13 Boss 302, but I've driven Shelbys from '66 to the last version of the GT500. I've always said that I hope one day to have a Mustang with a snake on it for myself. I was fortunate enough to meet THE MAN and have always been a fan of the cars he brought to us. From the Cobra to the Daytona Coupe, which brought this country its first world championship in international racing competition, there is so much to be in awe of in the legacy that goes with the name, I can't imagine a car world without the imprint of the name SHELBY.

 

[ShadesOfBloo]

When did Carroll Shelby and Ford last collaborate on a Mustang? 1968
Edit: I removed the rhetorical question mark. The 1969 GT350s and GT500s were mostly styling mods to a stock Mustang, with an optional (stock) engine. Carroll Shelby was no longer involved in the Shelby GT program, and the design was done in-house by Ford.

Since then, Ford has been using the Shelby name with his approval.
...Or in the case of the S550, with the approval of his estate.

If Shelby didn't agree to it, what would be different about the cars?
Badges. And maybe a lower price.

 

[stanglife]

My wife has an 01 Cobra.. When they first started leaking GT350 info (before we knew the name), I hoped it would be called SVT Cobra again. I do think there's a good chance it will return. After owning a GT350R (2) - it would need to be pretty special for me to be interested.

 

[Lorne34]

My take is this: I test drove S550 mustangs, was not overly impressed. Partially since my ride at the time was a C7 Z06. I was looking for a ”drivers” car (N/A, manual, track oriented). As I got serious, It came down to a 718 GT4 or Shelby GT350. (variety of critera and constraints). I went with GT350 as best choice for me and it all came down to driving experience…the name could have been anything and I wouldnt have cared. It’s all about what it is and the experience is provides. Function over form…or name. At least for me. Reminds me of another post about street ”cred”…just don’t get that mind set.

I can relate to your post...
Motor Trend Did a review of the GT350 and said it was not a "shelby" ... they said shelby passed away (rest in peace) and that this car was produced by ford performance not shelby america. The Shelby name does not that important to me. It was the driving experience.

 

[Tomster]

My wife has an 01 Cobra.. When they first started leaking GT350 info (before we knew the name), I hoped it would be called SVT Cobra again. I do think there's a good chance it will return. After owning a GT350R (2) - it would need to be pretty special for me to be interested.

Well, at least there is still one Ford left in the family. Lol

 

[TonyNJ]

@young at heart to your original post..

I like the way it looks and drives. The Shelby name is just a bonus. Been following and watching Shelby cars being produced since the 2005 GT500 model. That goes for the Shelby American iterations, the KRs, Hertz cars, all of them. Never got one because it just didn't do it for me, regardless of the name. The interior and suspension just weren't right for me.

But the S550 line... they hit all the right buttons. Ford did a fantastic job with both the GT350 and the GT500. So yea, the name is cool and more than a worthy successor to the 1960s namesake. But it's the car, not the name.

 

[young at heart]

@young at heart to your original post..

I like the way it looks and drives. The Shelby name is just a bonus. Been following and watching Shelby cars being produced since the 2005 GT500 model. That goes for the Shelby American iterations, the KRs, Hertz cars, all of them. Never got one because it just didn't do it for me, regardless of the name. The interior and suspension just weren't right for me.

But the S550 line... they hit all the right buttons. Ford did a fantastic job with both the GT350 and the GT500. So yea, the name is cool and more than a worthy successor to the 1960s namesake. But it's the car, not the name.

Tony, I get it and understand what you’re saying.

But without “the name” would the car still have the cachet and appeal that it does? Would the S550 Shelbys still be such a juggernaut in the resale market?

I‘m not so sure…

 

[TonyNJ]

Tony, I get it and understand what you’re saying.

But without “the name” would the car still have the cachet and appeal that it does? Would the S550 Shelbys still be such a juggernaut in the resale market?

I‘m not so sure…

They'd have my money.

 

[NPTR]

Tony, I get it and understand what you’re saying.

But without “the name” would the car still have the cachet and appeal that it does? Would the S550 Shelbys still be such a juggernaut in the resale market?

I‘m not so sure…

Yes, that’s what just about everyone is saying above this post. The amazing ones (like the 350 and 500s that followed) would be. The value of these cars lies in just how amazing the cars are. The badge is a nice added bonus, but not a necessary condition for the value. I feel like the days of enthusiasts blindly buying brands are somewhat behind us - people now hunt for best in breed way more than in the past. My dad was a die hard Ford guy, blindly loved everything they made, even the ones with blown transmissions at 30K in the 90s. Me, I’m not - I want the best vehicle in the class that fits my needs at the right price. If Toyota made the 350R, if Honda made the GT3, it would make them worth no less to me, and that’s seemingly consensus amongst just about everyone posting here…which should tell you something!

 

[Brisvegas]

@young at heart to your original post..

I like the way it looks and drives. The Shelby name is just a bonus. Been following and watching Shelby cars being produced since the 2005 GT500 model. That goes for the Shelby American iterations, the KRs, Hertz cars, all of them. Never got one because it just didn't do it for me, regardless of the name. The interior and suspension just weren't right for me.

But the S550 line... they hit all the right buttons. Ford did a fantastic job with both the GT350 and the GT500. So yea, the name is cool and more than a worthy successor to the 1960s namesake. But it's the car, not the name.

Thats one gorgeous performance car there and they could call it whatever they like and i'd still buy one if i could fwiw but being australian its not really available at a ' reasonable ' price so i will be turning my GT into one mechanically and asthetically and ultimately it will mean zero to me that it isnt a " shelby "
This is what we need to pay here and i can build a similar specced car for half this , i aint paying 150k for a shelby badge

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2019-ford-mustang-gt-fn-auto-rwd-my19/OAG-AD-22290265/

 

[falcongtho3]

When did Carroll Shelby and Ford last collaborate on a Mustang? 1968?
Since then, Ford has been using the Shelby name with his approval.
...Or in the case of the S550, with the approval of his estate.

That would have been the '13/'14 GT-500, with a well covered approval from the man himself with its 662hp 5..8 DOHC V8.

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