New Shelby American GT350

[mavisky]

Simply put, Shelby is a for profit company trying to make some money here - diluting the name? Potentially. But I don’t think any of this dilutes the value or special character of our cars…and I think that’s what many folks here are primarily concerned with, given our personal stake in it! At the end of the day, we all own incredibly special machines that will remain so no matter what SA does from here. Just go back to the other thread on here about what the Shelby names means to folks - at days end, this car is intrinsically special and an epic piece of engineering offering an experience no longer on sale. Who cares what SA offers / does, your 350 is still one of the best sports cars ever made and that won’t change!

If anyone ever needed more proof that dollar bills were SA's primary concern, see below. Wheels and body kits have always been part of their plan apparently.

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[dnstommy]

If anyone ever needed more proof that dollar bills were SA's primary concern, see below. Wheels and body kits have always been part of their plan apparently.

Jesus Christ! My eyes!!

 

[robvas]

Exactly what 60's Ford Mustang Shelby models are you referring to whether it be the small block or big block models which were launched in completely different model years?

Shelby American and Carroll Shelby in Venice/LAX only had control of the engineering, design, implementation and assembly for the first 3 model years (1965-1967) with the FMC and a new 3rd party taking complete control of engineering, design and production for the remaining 1968-1970 model years?

If I recall correctly you mentioned in one of your earlier posts that "the 500 usually got the larger engine"!

Do you not understand the many differences between the Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT500 models from back in the day (or recent model years for that matter) including the engine size?

Based on the above, I find it very difficult to take someone such as yourself seriously as your lack of knowledge and experience in the Mustang world is certainly lacking to say the least.

Again I suggest that it is time for you to move on or at the very least sit back and take note of those that know something about the evolution of Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 model over the last 60 years as there are many Mustang enthusiasts on this forum that could teach you a great deal.

Wow, you can't read.

Does anyone have any documentation on what was actually done to the 60's Shelby Mustangs?

Would like to see something official

I was literally asking about what the actual modifications were back then, because I don't know. I'm not making any statements about the older cars because I'm not knowledgeable about them, other than the GT500 did usually get the larger engine (which is true). I know the 350 and 500 are different.

I also know they are very different by year. Just like current times. Which was I said "engines depending on the year or model. "

I actually don't give two shits about 60's and 70's Mustangs at all. I like the Camaro for a 60's car and don't like pretty much anything from 72 to 77.

But please, enlighten us.

The older cars are irrelevant since we're talking about this $109k GT350 that's an overpriced joke.

 

[Bikeman315]

Exactly what 60's Ford Mustang Shelby models are you referring to whether it be the small block or big block models which were launched in completely different model years?

Shelby American and Carroll Shelby in Venice/LAX only had control of the engineering, design, implementation and assembly for the first 3 model years (1965-1967) with the FMC and a new 3rd party taking complete control of engineering, design and production for the remaining 1968-1970 model years?

If I recall correctly you mentioned in one of your earlier posts that "the 500 usually got the larger engine"!

Do you not understand the many differences between the Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT500 models from back in the day (or recent model years for that matter) including the engine size?

Based on the above, I find it very difficult to take someone such as yourself seriously as your lack of knowledge and experience in the Mustang world is certainly lacking to say the least.

Again I suggest that it is time for you to move on or at the very least sit back and take note of those that know something about the evolution of Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 model over the last 60 years as there are many Mustang enthusiasts on this forum that could teach you a great deal.

 

[robvas]

For having me on ignore you're still awfully infatuated with me.

 

[Bikeman315]

If anyone ever needed more proof that dollar bills were SA's primary concern, see below. Wheels and body kits have always been part of their plan apparently.

You do realize that many of these vehicles came to market based on input from Shelby customers. Obviously not too many on here but there are certainly enough to buy all they make. We can disparage them all we want. They know their customers and what they want. We’re just background noise.

 

[mavisky]

Forgot a few:

Those had actual performance though.

 

[robvas]

Those had actual performance though.

True - but depending on the year that Durango will take the Daytona in the 1/4. Some years of those only ran 16's

 

[Angrey]

I think we're getting lost in the minutia here.

Regardless of what Shelby has done in the past, the question remains, are the products they're releasing good value?

If I took a Mustang GT and put a body kit on it and sold it for $15k more than the price of the base mustang, is that a good value? Maybe, depends on whether you can purchase, prep, install and paint the same body kit for equal or lesser cost.

So when you break it down that way, SA products have generally been "questionable" value and much of the perceived value comes with the Shelby name and registry. They're not marketing to value conscious buyers. They're trading off their well established and well earned name and history.

The reason I mention that is you can only gamble on yesterday's winnings for so long. And Shelby is being pretty smart, they're not making a zillion of these things, they're making just enough so that people with a lot of money who either don't care or care LESS about value are gonna purchase and there's frankly enough of them in the consumer market to meet the supply they're making.

You also have to remember that the current business environment is a markedly different than it was when Shelby first started. There's a pile of things that you or I or any amateur/limited shop can do without much bureacracy and red tape. We don't have a giant name as a target for insurance liability. We're not monitored (as much) by the EPA and NTHSAA etc. And so if SA wants to make cars that can be sold in all 50 states, and DOT approved vehicles (not just race only offroad track variants) then a whole menu of options and possibilities comes off the table.

I think we'd all love to see a very thorough upgrade to parts and components but if Shelby is classified as an OEM, you can appreciate that takes a lot more work and effort than just you or me or the shop down the street tossing parts in the trash and replacing them with better components.

That's a long written way of saying, I get it. I'm not the target customer and Shelby has done okay doing what they do given their circumstances (and the desire to produce DOT/NHTSA/CARB compliant vehicles).

So regardless of what's been done in yesteryear, Shelby has to contend with the current environment and realities.

Now if they wanted to make a no limits, "offroad only" variant, I think their hands are less tied. Not only from a regulatory standpoint, but an insurance liability standpoint as well.

 

[mavisky]

You do realize that many of these vehicles came to market based on input from Shelby customers. Obviously not too many on here but there are certainly enough to buy all they make. We can disparage them all we want. They know their customers and what they want. We’re just background noise.

I'm sorry, but are you telling me that you think that Dodge Dakota and Durango owners were beating down the doors of the Shelby Automotive facility begging them to build them a customized vehicle?

....or did he just grab whatever Dodge had laying around and throw some parts on it? The Durangos were all pre-title cars so they weren't Durango owners buying them and sending them to Shelby. Same goes for the Dakota as well.

Carrol even said that the Dakota was launched because some of his golf buddy's daughters were driving these little sport trucks in the 80's instead of sports cars. Dodge didn't have a rwd sports car in the 80's so he built sport trucks since it was all they had.

 

[Strokerswild]

Those had actual performance though.

Especially this one.

 

[PP0001]

Totally agreed as it is pretty much impossible to make sense with stupid.

@mavisky

When Carroll and SA started working with Chrysler in the early 80's I believe that his first vehicle that launched was the 1984 - 1986 Dodge Omni GLH and waited for the final model year before I purchased a Red '86 model and went auto crossing with it along with my '87 Mustang 5.0 LX notchback.

Added some outstanding Yokohama A008R tires and lots of negative camber on all four corners and polyurethane bushings to my GLH after which time it humbled and surprised a lot of Pony Cars on the track back in the day.

Having said that, the fit, finish, paint and shifter linkage on my GLH was very poor and had water leaks in many areas especially around the rear back lights.

Agree with many of your comments but must mention that Carroll Shelby had a great deal to do with the conception and development of the Dodge Viper and suggest that may have been his greatest contribution to Chrysler back in the 80's.

 

[Bikeman315]

Totally agreed as it is pretty much impossible to make sense with stupid.

@mavisky

When Carroll and SA started working with Chrysler in the early 80's I believe that his first vehicle that launched was the 1984 - 1986 Dodge Omni GLH and waited for the final model year before I purchased a Red '86 model and went auto crossing with it along with my '87 Mustang 5.0 LX notchback.

Added some outstanding Yokohama A008R tires and lots of negative camber on all four corners and polyurethane bushings to my GLH after which time it humbled and surprised a lot of Pony Cars on the track back in the day.

Having said that, the fit, finish, paint and shifter linkage on my GLH was very poor and had water leaks in many areas especially around the rear back lights.

Agree with many of your comments but must mention that Carroll Shelby had a great deal to do with the conception and development of the Dodge Viper and suggest that may have been his greatest contribution to Chrysler back in the 80's.

Saw this when I was at Shelby in 2019. It was the shop managers car. Very cool.

 

[mavisky]

Totally agreed as it is pretty much impossible to make sense with stupid.

@mavisky

When Carroll and SA started working with Chrysler in the early 80's I believe that his first vehicle that launched was the 1984 - 1986 Dodge Omni GLH and waited for the final model year before I purchased a Red '86 model and went auto crossing with it along with my '87 Mustang 5.0 LX notchback.

Added some outstanding Yokohama A008R tires and lots of negative camber on all four corners and polyurethane bushings to my GLH after which time it humbled and surprised a lot of Pony Cars on the track back in the day.

Having said that, the fit, finish, paint and shifter linkage on my GLH was very poor and had water leaks in many areas especially around the rear back lights.

Agree with many of your comments but must mention that Carroll Shelby had a great deal to do with the conception and development of the Dodge Viper and suggest that may have been his greatest contribution to Chrysler back in the 80's.

Totally agree on the Viper and the badassedness of the old Omni GLH.

When I was 20 our dealership general manager had a lownmile GLHS with all the period correct Mopar and Shelby hotrod parts on it. Also agree that Shelby had a big hand in the Viper re-introduction. I was always shocked they didn't do more with them given the connection.

 

[PP0001]

Totally agree on the Viper and the badassedness of the old Omni GLH.

When I was 20 our dealership general manager had a lownmile GLHS with all the period correct Mopar and Shelby hotrod parts on it. Also agree that Shelby had a big hand in the Viper re-introduction. I was always shocked they didn't do more with them given the connection.

Yes, just 500 GLHS models were produced with all of them being light weight models and 175 HP based on a turbo and intercooled 2.2 L Turbo II engine which was some ~30 HP more than my GLH.

Recall an automotive review back in the day showing GLHS having quicker performance times than a Ferrari 308 as these were very quick and nimble pocket rockets.

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