Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Ford
Third Shelby Mustang to be released by year's end
Ford is keeping the 83-year-old Caroll Shelby very busy according to The Detroit News, which is reporting that a third Shelby Mustang following the GT500 and GT-H will be released later this year. Ford announced the news to its dealers at a meeting in Vegas this week, but very few details are known. The official announcement will come in the next documentary webisode released on FordBoldMoves.com. Despite the lack of details, The Detroit News is guessing the new Shelby Mustang will be similar to the GT-H in terms of power and more affordable than the GT500. It's possible the newest Shelby is being produced as a response to enthusiasts who have been begging Ford to sell the rental-only GT-H to the public. We'll keep an eye on FordBoldMoves.com and let you know when the newest webisode hits the net.
[Source: The Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Alex Nunez 7:28AM (8/03/2006)
Hmmmmm. GT350, anyone?
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yedkar 7:35AM (8/03/2006)
Ford is obviously out to milk every cent off this Mustang. But thats not necessarily a bad thing, seeing as how it is one of the only shining vehicles in its portfolio. Plus, an affordable halo car might just bring people into the showrooms. Although I doubt young Mustang-would be buyers are going to walk out the dealerships with a Crown Vic key.
Now all they need to do is get the rest of the portfolio back on track, and they might just be fine. The new Expedition is a start, as is the Fusion. A Five Hundred replacement would do good, as would a Focus replacement. The GMT-900 platform from GM might give Ford some headaches, but I think the F-150 will pull through. I understand, however, that revamping a lineup is not something companies generally do over the weekend. Having said that, however, Ford needs to do something, fast. Going down 35% doesnt really sound very 'healthy' to me.
My take on this is, if theres enough of a market, why not milk it?
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Nick 8:04AM (8/03/2006)
Alex, that's what I'm talking about. GT350 would be sweet.
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Jeff the Baptist 8:10AM (8/03/2006)
"as would a Focus replacement"
Yes, by all means bring over the Euro Focus. Also update the Ranger, since higher gas prices make small trucks very appealing and the Ranger is the last compact truck on the market.
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Elliott 8:10AM (8/03/2006)
"My take on this is, if theres enough of a market, why not milk it?"
Over milking can leave the teat sore, chafed, and irritated. And that my friend, will ruin your weekend.
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MikeInNC 9:03AM (8/03/2006)
Spotted a Mustang GT-H day before yesterday in Birkdale (an outdoor shopping comminity near Lake Norman/Cornelius in North Carolina). At first I thought it was a Stang with some sort of kit from a distance. Looked prety good I have to say. Not a big fan of the cable connectors on teh hood pins but everything else floated my boat nicely.
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chemp 9:54AM (8/03/2006)
good news!
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mk 10:01AM (8/03/2006)
A GT350 would be very cool. But there are some requirements.
Don't block of the rear quarter windows. that was the trademark of the 65-66 Gt350, that the 2+2 Fastback's quarter vents were turned INTO windows...
More distinct bodywork otherwise. GT-H's hood is nice. An integrated ducktail spoiler would be welcome. Wide tail lights (like cougar tail lights on original 67+ Shelbys, and the Mustang GT concept car that was the forerunner to the S197 Mustangs...
Weight loss. A coupe that weighs nearly 4k lbs is a bit rediculous.
Power update might be good, even if it is just a bump up to 320... something to differentiate it from the Mustang GT.
and for the love of PETE, PUT IRS in the thing! Throw us a BONE, here! ALL of the mustangs, even the wildly expensive albeit powerful GT500 has a live axle. Some of us live in the real world, and don't want our sporty cars to ride like SUVs over expansion joints on the road. The rear suspension may be better than before, but it still isn't as smooth and handling-competent as a good IRS, which the platform should have been designed to accept from the beginning, considering it's DEW98 (T-bird/LincLS) roots.
Oh, and better interior textures and a steering wheel that isn't five miles away from the driver's seat would help, too.
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Dubbedinenglish 10:08AM (8/03/2006)
http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/shelby_cs6.asp
Maybe that?
http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/04/shelbycs606_05.jpg
We can only hope..... a GT350 would be nice too
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Scotty 10:30AM (8/03/2006)
mk said "... which the platform should have been designed to accept from the beginning, considering it's DEW98 (T-bird/LincLS) roots."
Contrary to popular belief, he isn't actually the case. The current mustang platform is based of a heavily modified version of the C1 (think Mazda3) platform.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_D2C_platform
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Brad 10:37AM (8/03/2006)
More info at http://forums.bradbarnett.net/showthread.php?t=51208
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Ren 10:56AM (8/03/2006)
Could this be the Boss described last week here on Autoblog?
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CL2 11:20AM (8/03/2006)
Although my son really likes his 06 Mustang with the current V-6, wouldn't it be a really "Bold Move" if the put the new V-6 that's going into the Edge.
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mk 12:04PM (8/03/2006)
In that case, Ford cheaped out. The car needs 21'st century handling. That is singly the LARGEST reason I am not considering buying a Mustang.
The new "Duratech 35" 265hp 3.5 liter "clean" V6 (will be in Edge, and other new product...) would be a natural for the V6 Mustang. MUCH BETTER than the truck engine in the current lineup. I doubt it will happen in the Mustang until the proposed re-fresh/design update in '09
I have a 2000 Ranger with the OHV predecessor to that SOHC engine, and my father has an 05 V6 Mustang. He likes it too. I like parts of it, but the engine is rough and heavy for only having 200-210hp, and a 3500lb+ car with a live axle. It reminds me too much of my truck.
Amazing that such a large and heavy coupe/convertible can share suspension designs in common with a FWD sporty-ish economy car (mazda 3)
It will be interesting to see what indeed this third proposed shelby will be. I do have to wonder why we are seeing so many mustang variations, when there seems to be NO variants for Lincoln or Mercury. No new Cougar/Capri, no new Successor to the Lincoln Mark VIII.
Certainly no RWD compact-to-midsize sport sedan. (DEW98 Lincoln LS SHOULD have spawned THAT, at least in a re-design instead of being cancelled when everyone else is going back to RWD...) Even the Aussie Ford Falcon V8s...
THAT one would pull me into a F/L/M dealer again. As it is, I am probably going to an AWD Subaru Legacy GT blue oval with stars, rather than script, instead. Not only is the new Mustang too raw, I really could use two more doors with my performance car.
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ricers blow 6:26PM (8/03/2006)
i dont think that the duratec 35 will fit in the mustang, and the mustang platform is not a variant of the mazda3 platform thats a fwd platform, and it is much to small for the mustang, the mustang is based on a shortened, and much changed version of the lincoln ls platform, (macpherson struts, instead of control arms to make room for 4.6 litre engine etc..) The solid rear axle is the only suspension that can be built cheaply enough for a 18k car, and still withstand the forces in a 300hp car. The platform is designed to accept irs,but it adds more weight and cost, apparently the handling benifit isn't worth the weight gain, and cost increase
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Christian 11:24PM (8/03/2006)
Live axle doesn't handle? BOOHOO. How mnay of you guys know that Mustang won the drivers and manufacturers title in Grand Am Cup last year ON THAT AXLE, racing against M3s and 997s?? Doesn't handle, my arse.
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