GT350 Production Ending

[lateinthegame]

Maybe the Mach 1 will be something good with engine options

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[PP0001]

Wait, what? In 1971 The 426 Hemi was still 10.25:1cr rated at 425 hp gross, the LS-6 454 was still 10.1:1 rated at 425 hp gross. 1972 was when it all went to shit.

Disclaimer: I dislike both engines haha.

Agreed on the '71 Hemi cars (as I was thinking of the 440 cars that had a small decrease in CR from '70 to '71) but the LS-6 cars had a CR of 11.25 to 1 CR and 450 HP for 1970 and then dropped down to 9.0 to 1 CR and 425 HP for 1971 and with the 454 Monte Carlo only having 8.5 to 1 CR therefore that was my point.

Back in the day I was around both of those engines a great deal and respected them a whole lot in spite of being a Blue Oval guy but did own an A12 Road Runner and an L78 RS/SS Camaro for many years as they were fast cars back in the day as well.

 

[nmp1]

After selling my 2000 R last year i have been toying around with the idea getting a 350R to have something more modern and just as unique. after seeing that this is the last year for the GT350 i started going full throttle with the research until i just started seeing all these 2020 engine failures, seriously WTF? i hope this was just a bad batch of valves because if ford doesnt get a handle on this i will likely not buy one. my dealer usually has allocations and while i wait to hear back im assuming i can order one up until around sept/oct or so. i really hope ford fixes this problem as this could very well be the last manual trans shelby ford makes and the flat plan crank really makes the car special.

 

[zzrat]

nmp1, If a slightly used 16' R would be of any interest to you you may want to contact PP0001. He just posted of a friends for sale. Sounds like an outstanding car!

 

[ShelBoss]

This is an especially sad day: not because the GT350 was the fastest, most powerful, or even the most affordable sports / muscle / track car that's being discontinued - even though it rates highly in all of those categories. It's sad because the 2015-20 GT350 and it's R variant were the closest thing produced by an American car company to Carroll Shelby's 1965-66 GT350. IMHO it's the only car produced worthy of carrying the Shelby name since Shelby American production ended in 1970 (maybe even since Shelby moved out of the LAX airport hanger).

I'm not knocking the GT500; it's fast, extremely powerful, and no doubt will do well. But I'm a small block guy, prefer naturally aspirated engines, and need a manual transmission. Without launching into supercar & hypercar territory, the 2015-20 GT350 blazed a trail, and provided the world with a new Shelby - one Carroll himself would have liked. It's got street cred and track cred, carries the Ford & Shelby banner well, and is just one bad ass car. I like my front fender vents, carbon fiber wing, menacing front end ("face") and red GT350 badge - which this car is worthy of wearing along with those LeMans stripes that are "oh so Shelby". Throw in an all business cockpit with Recaros that grip you like a woman's thighs - it's everything I needed.

I think Ford dropped the ball on the Voodoo engine. It's should have been raced, researched, refined and improved. It could have been a legendary race winning engine a la Ford's 289 HiPo, Boss 302, 2.3l SVO Turbo & Coyote-Roadrunner. Perhaps the Predator took the budget that the Voodoo should have received. It was clear when I heard in 2016 or 2017 that Ford had stopped racing the Voodoo that the GT350 program would only go so far. If only Shelby American had played a bigger part in modern Shelby Mustangs ...

This makes me pivot to volume and value. I made a conscious choice to buy a brand new 2019 GT350R. I knew that used ones were available and wondered if that was a smarter choice (let someone else take the depreciation, no loan, etc.). But I wanted to get a virgin one - and was lucky enough to be able to. I've heard people say that Ford stopped production because they produced too many. I can't believe that Ford cares that much what the resale value of the vehicle is; they don't get paid on that. While exclusive is good, the GT350 is not cheap, but is an incredible value for a car of this caliber. They should sell a lot of them.

So join me in a salute to the Voodoo engined 2015-20 GT350: a modern recreation of Shelby's wildlife, worthy of its name.

 

[morjo02]

its about time..... initial run was 2015-2017 and extended for Ford business and increased earnings

 

[johnny1]

its about time..... initial run was 2015-2017 and extended for Ford business and increased earnings

Agree and it was supposed to be a limited production which would have increased resale value. Instead every year we thought was going to be the last year therefore we would have a valuable limited production car. Instead just kept rolling them out to make money with high ADM fees to make even more at dealerships. And IF your lucky you still have one with matching numbers that the engine hasn't had to be replaced.

 

[Voodoo Velocity]

I read some confusing emotions to this situation. Just because the end of the GT350/R is in sight does not mean it was a bad car or even a result of the engine issues some unfortunate owners have experiences. It was intended to be a limited production model and some argue, over produced. Part of my desire for the Shelby GT350 was that it would be a limited run.

Further, marketing comes into play. I did not expect the GT350/R to run alongside the GT500 indefinitely. Then there is brand licensing agreements. Ford can only produce the named model (GT350/R and GT500) while it has branding agreements with Shelby. Similarly the Bullitt name is not owned by Ford and it's agreement with Warner Bros is due to expire. So that model will transition to Mach1 (which Ford does own). It is classic marketing to create buzz for a brand, sell the brand, and when demand tapers, or you have a new brand to entice the consumer, you transition to the new brand.

Who knows if another GT350/R will return under the Mustang guise? It does appear the Mustang model will continue and before we know it, there will be Mustang enthusiasts pining for a new generation GT350, a Bullitt, a Boss, etc, etc. And Likely Ford will find a way to serve up the brand in demand.

I bought my GT350 KNOWING it was not going to be a long run model. It does sadden me the NA Voodoo + Tremec 6 speed will not be offered to many more. But I am very happy I got mine before the run ended.

 

[PP0001]

its about time..... initial run was 2015-2017 and extended for Ford business and increased earnings

Curious as to how you understood that the GT350/R would be limited to only a 2 year production run (2016 & 2017) as that is something that I had never seen Ford publish back in 2015 when these cars were officially launched?

 

[lateinthegame]

I know I am a new comer, but I have read on here about all of the 2020 engines blowing under 1000 miles on the car. It is a little disconcerting, since I have bought a used GT350. Maybe mine is ok, maybe not.

 

[jpindustrie]

I don't know about the Voodoo going down in history as a great engine, but a good engine. Theres those that will say so but theirs a lot that won't. More then not drink oil like its water, the vibration tries to shake everything loose, Ford having to replace numerous engines according to posts here and other websites (but of course the first thing posted when thats brought up is wheres your proof, people only post problems and they say its only a small percentage, as if they know) and Ford knows theirs a problem there and ain't talking just replacing them with another one that could do the same thing without actually fixing the problem. But as far as the sound they have the best sounding exhaust on the GT 350 I ever heard.

100 HP per liter? in this day and age ? The worst I've seen my engine and others like it is eat some oil within the manufacturer's guidelines and slap pistons during warm up , very common things in race-y type engines. I consider that pretty easy going compared to other historically great engines like it from BMW, MB AMG, Chevrolet/GM... Porsche ...

I'm just happy to be driving something that is guaranteed to be in a history book, when I was younger all I did was read about them in library books and magazines

 

[PP0001]

Agree and it was supposed to be a limited production which would have increased resale value. Instead every year we thought was going to be the last year therefore we would have a valuable limited production car. Instead just kept rolling them out to make money with high ADM fees to make even more at dealerships. And IF your lucky you still have one with matching numbers that the engine hasn't had to be replaced.

So the reason that you 2 GT350's was based on these cars going to be a limited production vehicle and subject to increasing in value?

Lastly, I would like to know what is your confirmed source of information for all of the replaced engines that you speak of and exactly what are those failed engine numbers (%) in relation to the number of GT350/R's built over the last 6 model years?

 

[johnny1]

So the reason that you 2 GT350's was based on these cars going to be a limited production vehicle and subject to increasing in value?

Lastly, I would like to know what is your confirmed source of information for all of the replaced engines that you speak of and exactly what are those failed engine numbers (%) in relation to the number of GT350/R's built over the last 6 model years?

Nope got two cause I'm old and enjoyed driving them. And you know theres no sourse outside of those posting in forums (not just this one) cause sneaky Ford won't put out that data. Yea I know same ole same ole, only ones that post are ones with problems and a small few. They just replace the engine with another expensive one without actually fixing the problem. And you can talk this performance crap all you want. But for Ford to actually put out a letter to us saying its just fine if we use a quart of oil every 500 miles no matter how we drive it (slow and easy, fast as hell stc.) is just plain assinine. Hell I don't think my chain saw uses that much oil. I'm to old to be around to see it but wait, in a few years after production has stopped talk will be, remember when Ford came out with that engine called Voodoo. Well it sounded great, high rpm, ran like hell that is unless it blew up and Ford just kept putting them out there without fixing the problem just waiting till warranties ran out to get out from under them. It is honorable for Ford to replace the engines under warranty no questions asked (since they're so expensive) But its became pretty obvious they haven't did anything to correct the problem. So again just wait, in a few years a numbers matching GT 350 will be rare and expensive if found. And as I said they could at least have specialized Ford mechanics at specified dealerships to replace the engines so you don't get all kinds of scratches in engine bay and everything back together right by some mechanic in service that works on anything and every thing that comes in. Of course your gonna say wheres the proof but have you read how many service departments don't even research how to properly put the front splitter on and half ass do it and its no where put on right. That probably would be the same guy taking out and putting in your new engine duh!

 

[PP0001]

Nope got two cause I'm old and enjoyed driving them. And you know theres no sourse outside of those posting in forums (not just this one) cause sneaky Ford won't put out that data. Yea I know same ole same ole, only ones that post are ones with problems and a small few. They just replace the engine with another expensive one without actually fixing the problem. And you can talk this performance crap all you want. But for Ford to actually put out a letter to us saying its just fine if we use a quart of oil every 500 miles no matter how we drive it (slow and easy, fast as hell stc.) is just plain assinine. Hell I don't think my chain saw uses that much oil. I'm to old to be around to see it but wait, in a few years after production has stopped talk will be, remember when Ford came out with that engine called Voodoo. Well it sounded great, high rpm, ran like hell that is unless it blew up and Ford just kept putting them out there without fixing the problem just waiting till warranties ran out to get out from under them. It is honorable for Ford to replace the engines under warranty no questions asked (since they're so expensive) But its became pretty obvious they haven't did anything to correct the problem. So again just wait, in a few years a numbers matching GT 350 will be rare and expensive if found. And as I said they could at least have specialized Ford mechanics at specified dealerships to replace the engines so you don't get all kinds of scratches in engine bay and everything back together right by some mechanic in service that works on anything and every thing that comes in. Of course your gonna say wheres the proof but have you read how many service departments don't even research how to properly put the front splitter on and half ass do it and its no where put on right. That probably would be the same guy taking out and putting in your new engine duh!

Based on your dislike for these engines I am surprised that you bought 2 of these GT350's?

Did you replace the engine on both of your GT350's?

As far as you and I being around in a few years I hope that is the case for each of us as I am getting close to 70 years old and suggest that finding a matching numbers GT350/R a few years from now will be very easy in spite of your comments especially with the FRAP producing some ~25,000 GT350/R's over the last 6 model years.

 

[johnny1]

Based on your dislike for these engines I am surprised that you bought 2 of these GT350's?

Did you replace the engine on both of your GT350's?

As far as you and I being around in a few years I hope that is the case for each of us as I am getting close to 70 years old and suggest that finding a matching numbers GT350/R a few years from now will be very easy in spite of your comments especially with the FRAP producing some ~25,000 GT350/R's over the last 6 model years.

Never had to replace engines, both had less than 4,000 miles. Got lucky to that many miles even though mileage has no meaning on when/where its going or not going to happen. You'd have to flip a coin on whether who ever has them has had engine problems. And never said I disliked the engines. I think if Ford would have stopped and fixed the problem so many (oh! of course can't prove it) have had theres nothing more heart pumping then the feel of the flat plane crank. I'm 75 so more than likely neither of us will be around in a few years to agree to disagree on Voodoo replacement engines and matching numbers.

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