Test drive = Allocation?

[cjgt350]

Only 5,000 GT500s? Really? Just a little FYI my friend, they built 11,000 GT500s in the 1st year alone which was more than double what the original estimates were from the boys at Ford. Ford obviously was up to the task of building more of these "limited production" Shelby vehicles and overcame all the supply chain hurdles you speak of. Lets face it Dude, many of you early adopters are paying a dealer imposed premium and are clinging to the limited production myth as a means of justifying your over expenditures. Spend your money as you will, enjoy your misconceptions, but don't throw bricks at those of us here who know how it always goes. There will be a GT350 for every single willing and financially capable buyer whether ADM payers like it or not.

That's all you got, huh? We have covered this so many times...go read some threads. Ford won't repeat 2007. But then again I am probably wasting my time with you but others hopefully are not paying attention to your lock on the past.

One more time so the new folks reading this can figure it out for themselves....

Jim Owens, Shelby Brand Manager for Ford stated in a recent interview.

Speaking of the Boss 302, Jim was asked about the production-number rumors floating around the Internet. He didn’t give an exact figure, but he did put the projected numbers in context with the last couple of high-performance production Mustangs.

“I would say it would be safe in saying it would be somewhere in between the Boss 302 and the GT500,” Jim said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the R was akin to the Boss 302 Laguna Seca—if I get my way.”


Below was posted in an article which coincides with what Jim Owens stated in the interview referenced above.

2016 Shelby GT350 Mustang Production Numbers

According to the now-removed Facebook post(Mustang Manny), production of the 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 will be limited to 5,000 units, while the higher performance Shelby GT350R Mustang will be limited to just 500 units. In the grand scheme of things, 5,500 cars might not seem like very many examples of the new Shelby Mustang, but if Ford sells all 5,500 Shelby GT350 units during the 2016 model year, it will be far more successful (in terms of sales) than the previous generation Boss 302 or Shelby GT500.

In searching around the internet, it looks as though the common annual Boss 302 production totals indicate that Ford sold 4,016 Boss Mustangs in 2012 and 4,273 Boss Mustangs in 2013. Of those units sold in 2012, 3,249 were the standard Boss 302 while the other 767 were the higher performance Laguna Seca package and in 2013, 3,526 were the Boss 302 while 747 were fitted with the Laguna Seca package.

Based on those figures, Ford plans to build significantly more 2016 Shelby GT350 Mustangs than they did 2012 or 2013 Boss 302 Mustangs, but the company plans to build significantly less of the higher performance GT350R models when compared to the 2012 and 2013 Boss 302 Laguna Seca Mustang.

It should also be noted that during the 2012 and 2013 model years, prospective Mustang buyers could also pick the pricier and more powerful Shelby GT500 Mustang. Ford sold 4,834 examples of the GT500 in 2012 and another 4,885 in 2013, so when you add those figures to the production numbers of the 2012 and 2013 Boss 302, Ford sold a total of 8,850 high performance Mustangs in 2012 and 9,158 in 2013.


Thanks Five Oh Brian:

If anyone cares, dealers can not order as many GT350's as they want; we are limited to the allocations that Ford gives us. For example, my dealer gets just two '16 GT350's for the entire 2016 model year. Each dealer has been told by Ford how many they get. Add up the allocations for each dealer and you'd almost have the entire production expectation - almost.

Ford doesn't allocate the entire model year's production upfront. They keep a reserve (probably a few hundred in the GT350's case) unallocated for later use in case a car is scrapped at the factory, destroyed in transit, lost in a natural disaster while awaiting shipment to the dealer, etc. As the model year progresses, especially near the very end of the model year, Ford will start to allocate what's left of the reserve.

Some historical examples from my dealership: in 2006 we were told we'd get 5 '07 GT500's. We got a 6th one allocated to us at the end of the model year. In 2012, we were allocated 3 '12 Boss 302's and got only the 3, yet in 2013 we were only allocated 2 '13 Boss 302's, yet managed to get an additional allocation near the end of the model year. So, sometimes extra allocation is there to hand out, sometimes it isn't.

Bosses, Shelbys, and SVT's have always been allocated. Other SE's (Mach 1's, Bullitts, & GT/CS's) were not. Allocated cars typically don't see big upticks in production beyond the initial allocation. Oh sure, additional model years may come about (like the GT500's being offered from 2007-2014 instead of the initial few years originally anticipated). But, the annual production numbers typically don't go up much, if any.

I've worked at the same Ford dealership for 16 years and have been involved and doing the ordering for our Mustangs, SVT's, and Shelbys that whole time. Ford is quite predictable in how they'll handle the GT350's for 2016 & 2017 based on what they told us when we signed up for the program and what they've done in the past with similar models. What isn't as easy to predict is what Ford will do after 2017; will they continue offering GT350's or will another model replace it? We can only speculate about the 2018's and beyond.

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[cjgt350]

I was being sarcastic.

I read that wrong. I thought you were referring to krt22. Sorry man, my bad.

 

[Magpul]

I read that wrong. I thought you were referring to krt22. Sorry man, my bad.

No problem! And thanks for the info up top. Good stuff. :cheers:

 

[PP0001]

Yes it is the Track Tour, and I'll be there at Sebring Raceway October 13. I've done hundreds of laps at this track, and am excited to see how this car performs. And as to your other point, about SA being uninformed, that seems accurate. Prior to telling me his dealer wanted $20k extra for the R, the guy I talked to yesterday told me that I probably know more about the car than he does. I, the Porsche guy, then proceeded to inform this Ford salesman all about the wonderful Mustang his employer was producing.

Mark, great to hear about you being at Sebring on October 13th for the GT350 North American Track Tour.

I have been lucky enough to speak to participants/friends that attended the Laguna Seca event and I am told their track/informational sessions were first class and that this vehicle performed beyond their initial expectations.

In addition recent feedback from the various automotive journalists was all very positive to say the least for this new Shelby GT350.

I will be at Sebring just the day before you (October 12th) and since you know this road course so well it would have been nice to get some tips from you even though I will be lucky to get only a couple of hot laps in the drivers seat?

Certainly with no disrespect to the regular GT350 I hope that we get a chance to ride and drive an "R" model?

Being an ethusiast of the tremendous Porsche brand please provide us with your thoughts and commentaries as to this new Shelby GT350R once you have had a chance to gather your thoughts?

If you have an opportunity to be in Sebring on the Monday as well that would be great as we could maybe compare notes on these two great brands of automobiles!

Harry

:cheers:

 

[Texican1911]

Agreed. Complete BS from thin air pretty much.


And OP sounds a bit odd unless Ford withheld a few locations from dealers to give out (say only gave out 4900 and held back 100 for some special promo like this). Otherwise, Ford can't dictate who the dealers sell to or even for how much. I wouldn't put too much stock in what salespeople say. I had to basically tell my dealership back in December how to order their own brand's car and what codes were what options; they knew nothing really and said a lot of flat out wrong stuff about the options and car.

Wait til you see how the GT is going to be sold. :gossip::gossip:

 

[Mark Dreyer]

Mark, great to hear about you being at Sebring on October 13th for the GT350 North American Track Tour.

I have been lucky enough to speak to participants/friends that attended the Laguna Seca event and I am told their track/informational sessions were first class and that this vehicle performed beyond their initial expectations.

In addition recent feedback from the various automotive journalists was all very positive to say the least for this new Shelby GT350.

I will be at Sebring just the day before you (October 12th) and since you know this road course so well it would have been nice to get some tips from you even though I will be lucky to get only a couple of hot laps in the drivers seat?

Certainly with no disrespect to the regular GT350 I hope that we get a chance to ride and drive an "R" model?

Being an ethusiast of the tremendous Porsche brand please provide us with your thoughts and commentaries as to this new Shelby GT350R once you have had a chance to gather your thoughts?

If you have an opportunity to be in Sebring on the Monday as well that would be great as we could maybe compare notes on these two great brands of automobiles!

Harry

:cheers:

I'll be sure to report back, and am quite sure the Gt350 will be significantly faster than my Boxster S. My bet is I could run with the fast driven GT3's with a GT350 R. Here is a couple laps at Sebring of me chasing some Mustangs. I caught one, but never could catch the other guy.

[ame]

 

[PP0001]

I'll be sure to report back, and am quite sure the Gt350 will be significantly faster than my Boxster S. My bet is I could run with the fast driven GT3's with a GT350 R. Here is a couple laps at Sebring of me chasing some Mustangs. I caught one, but never could catch the other guy.

Very nice video action and certainly gives me an idea of the Sebring road course.

I noticed that your best lap time was ~2:36 in your Boxster S.

Once you have driven the R model in October give us a guesstimate as to what lap times you think you could post in the new R and of course look forward to your first impressions of this track ready car?

 

[Mark Dreyer]

My fastest lap ever is a 2:32 in cooler time of year with some pro coaching. If the GT350R is as fast as the well driven 997 GT3's with whom I run, it should do a 2:20 give or take a few seconds. Absolutely I'll report back!

 

[smbstyle]

Yes it is the Track Tour, and I'll be there at Sebring Raceway October 13. I've done hundreds of laps at this track, and am excited to see how this car performs. And as to your other point, about SA being uninformed, that seems accurate. Prior to telling me his dealer wanted $20k extra for the R, the guy I talked to yesterday told me that I probably know more about the car than he does. I, the Porsche guy, then proceeded to inform this Ford salesman all about the wonderful Mustang his employer was producing. ��

Hey Mark, Scott with Chin Motorsports here. I'll be at the Track Tour event as well on the 13th.

Looks like the event is divided into 4 different groups across 2 days:
Day 1 - Media and Dealer (one before lunch, one after)
Day 2 - Mustang owners and Competitive car clubs (one before lunch, one after)

 

[Mark Dreyer]

Hi Scott, I'll look out for you. We can compare impressions of the car. And for those of you on this forum who are interested in tracking your Mustangs, Chin Motorsports offers DE track days at a bunch of tracks around the country. I've been participating with their events for several years, and can highly recommend them.

 

[B17drvr]

The afternoon sessions of the North American track tour invite Porche, Chevy, and other non Ford owners to try the GT350. They did that at Laguna Seca.

 

[smbstyle]

Hi Scott, I'll look out for you. We can compare impressions of the car. And for those of you on this forum who are interested in tracking your Mustangs, Chin Motorsports offers DE track days at a bunch of tracks around the country. I've been participating with their events for several years, and can highly recommend them.

Thanks Mark! Appreciate the kind words.

Can't wait to get behind the wheel of the GT350R. Staying at Chateau the night before (coming down from GA). What is ironic is we have our Sebring event Saturday and Sunday before the Track Tour event, however I'll be running our NCM Motorsports Park event on Saturday and Sunday in Bowling Green, KY. Going to be a hell of a drive down...

 

[Bossing]

I'll also be at Sebring on Tues. Oct 13th in the morning session.. looking forward to it!

 

[Mark Dreyer]

Thanks Mark! Appreciate the kind words.

Can't wait to get behind the wheel of the GT350R. Staying at Chateau the night before (coming down from GA). What is ironic is we have our Sebring event Saturday and Sunday before the Track Tour event, however I'll be running our NCM Motorsports Park event on Saturday and Sunday in Bowling Green, KY. Going to be a hell of a drive down...

You are welcome to stay at my place. I live in downtown Orlando. Save you a hotel bill and only 2 hour drive down to Sebring Tuesday morning.

 

[Mark Dreyer]

I'll also be at Sebring on Tues. Oct 13th in the morning session.. looking forward to it!

I like your vehicles. It's good to be you.

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