Rare Colors

[mavisky]

Here's an obscure rare color/model combination fact - there never was, and never will be, an orange base R. Unfortunately, it turns out that I'm the reason for that.

I was searching all over for an open allocation that I could spec out to my taste. Having owned a former Bondurant car, I really wanted orange. Well, once I got connected with a dealer who could make it happen (thanks @Tomster), I wimped out and went Magnetic with matte black stripes - a striking combo in its own right, but also a "safe" color in my opinion, as it has across the board appeal.

We'd cut the deal and they confirmed that I could change it from an electronics car to a base model, but they could only give me a couple days to decide on color. I'd never seen Orange Fury in person, so I found a dealer that had a Mustang GT in that color - unfortunately it was outside and it was a crappy day, so the color just didn't pop like I'd expected. To make it worse, the dealer wanted a huge deposit on the car if I was going to order a base model (no AC in Florida) with orange paint!!!

As we now know, the last base Rs were built in March '18 (JR265 was one of the last few base models down the line - that's another story, all together). Starting on April 1 of that year the federal mandate for rear view cameras kicked in and meant that all Rs built from that day on would be electronics cars. And, while the earlier cars were offered in Competition Orange, that color wasn't available on the R, meaning that 2018 was the first year you could get an orange R.

So, '18 was both the last year for the base R and the first year for orange Rs. Had I gone through with the order the way I'd planned, it would have been a one-of-one car. Unfortunately, I choked at the last minute and the rest is history.

And, that's the story on why there never was and never will be an orange base-R (fury or otherwise). Sorry to all the future collectors...... it's my fault.

Such a shame as the Orange really does pop. I bought mine on an overcast day as well and was shocked at how the metallic comes out in the sun.

To everyone else's point though, getting the base color you want is key. I hated the white pin stripes on the black stripes against an orange car and ditched them for satin black and satin dark silver pin stripes. Little did I know that Ford would make the exact same decision in 2019 and all 2019 Orange Fury cars come with gloss black stripes with gloss silver pinstripes.

The big advantage of going aftermarket though was getting the stripes to actually go to the edges of most of the body panels whereas the factory stripes came up shockingly short in many areas.

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[libtrucker]

I bought a 2020 Twister Orange GT sight unseen. I thought it looked good online and rolled the dice. Had to fly from Florida to North Carolina to pick it up, and was nervous the whole way. But I'm glad I did, it looks great, and IMO is the nicest and most Orangey Orange.

Plus for a Mustang GT, its the only color you have to pay up for, so simple economics tells me that will probably be one of the more rare colors...

 

[mavisky]

Twister Orange is more orange, but lacked the depth of Orange Fury. Would have loved to see the Twister Orange with a metallic finish mixed in.

 

[ScreaminV8]

It really is a terrible time to be in the market for a car, especially something rare-ish, manual, and cool. I wish you luck in your journey to GT350 ownership!

I appreciate it! I have been looking at many cars over the past 2 years, diesel trucks, vettes, BMWs, and shelbys.... everything is going up. I definitely will not be buying anything in this market unless its a steal! Time will tell however. Most of these might not ever drop.

 

[ScreaminV8]

I bought a 2020 Twister Orange GT sight unseen. I thought it looked good online and rolled the dice. Had to fly from Florida to North Carolina to pick it up, and was nervous the whole way. But I'm glad I did, it looks great, and IMO is the nicest and most Orangey Orange.

Plus for a Mustang GT, its the only color you have to pay up for, so simple economics tells me that will probably be one of the more rare colors...

That color sounds nice! Do you have any pics?

 

[ScreaminV8]

Twister Orange is more orange, but lacked the depth of Orange Fury. Would have loved to see the Twister Orange with a metallic finish mixed in.

Goals!!! Orange looks too good!

 

[ScreaminV8]

Grabber Lime will be one of the “Rare” colors being a 1 year only option

I like this color too, very bright. I have only seen it on Rs however.

 

[mavisky]

Goals!!! Orange looks too good!

I wish both were mine, but sadly the GT500 was just a friend who was visiting.

 

[ScreaminV8]

I wish both were mine, but sadly the GT500 was just a friend who was visiting.

Personally, I would take the 350 over the 500, but definitely wouldn’t refuse a 500!

 

[Kramerica]

Grabber Blue perhaps? One year only color as well.

 

[ScreaminV8]

Grabber Blue perhaps? One year only color as well.

Wantttt 2017 only correct? I would do Grabber any day, any stripe or without. Super clean car, I like the number on the side too!

 

[Kramerica]

Wantttt 2017 only correct? I would do Grabber any day, any stripe or without. Super clean car, I like the number on the side too!

Yup 2017 only. All told they made 369 non-R Grabber Blue GT350s. 134 with black stripes, 168 with white, 67 stripe delete. 2nd lowest production total for the year.

 

[WD Pro]

Plus for a Mustang GT, its the only color you have to pay up for, so simple economics tells me that will probably be one of the more rare colors...

Do I understand that correctly, all colours other than one are effectively free for the USDM ?

If so, that’s the other way around over here i.e. normally only one free colour and everything else is a varying level of how much they take your pants down …

WD

 

[ScreaminV8]

Yup 2017 only. All told they made 369 non-R Grabber Blue GT350s. 134 with black stripes, 168 with white, 67 stripe delete. 2nd lowest production total for the year.

Wow! Top tier color in my book, especially being one year only. Yours is the first I’ve seen with no stripes. Although there is a no stripe grabber blue on brings trailer that sold a whole back.

 

[ScreaminV8]

Do I understand that correctly, all colours other than one are effectively free for the USDM ?

If so, that’s the other way around over here i.e. normally only one free colour and everything else is a varying level of how much they take your pants down …

WD

Lol gotta pay for beauty sometimes

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