Shelby lowering price of $20k GT500KR hood after web outrage erupts

Chris Paukert — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ford, Earnings/Financials

Shelby GT500KR - Click above for high-res image gallery

When we drove the Shelby GT500KR at Miller Motorsports Park last May, we were impressed with the steps that Ford and Shelby had taken to make its new King of the Road a special vehicle. Not only was the KR a huge improvement over the GT500 (which led to the development of the 2010 GT500), but the car featured trick items like a carbon fiber hood and lightweight wheels wrapped with R-compound tires. At that time, Shelby also proudly told us that none of the KR-specific parts would be available for sale separately to ensure that owners of lesser Mustangs could not make shadetree replicas that might compromise the KR's image. Of course, all of this exclusivity and performance came at a price: $79,995 to be exact.

$18,400 for a new hood, $3,392.50 for a front spoiler, and $632.50 for a set of hood pins

Unfortunately, as one GT500KR owner has learned the hard way, replacement parts for this pony car can be surprisingly dear. After an unfortunate incident with a critter on the road resulted in a modestly damaged front end, the owner in question was shocked to learn about the high cost of his vehicle's replacement parts. And as is increasingly the way these days, he aired his displeasure on the web. That initial report has since touched off a firestorm in the online Shelby community, with the issue spreading to numerous forums and chat rooms.

So just why were these replacement parts such a contentious issue? In the main, it's a numbers thing. As in $18,400 for a new hood, $3,392.50 for a front spoiler, and even $632.50 for a set of hood pins, among other things. Further, the disgruntled owner informed a forum member that Shelby requires any damaged KR parts to be returned to their facility in Las Vegas before new replacements can be sent out.

Obviously, a bit of due diligence was needed to verify the claimed replacement pricing and parts return policy, so we got on the phone with Jim Owens, vice president of marketing and communications at Shelby to get the straight scoop. Click through to the jump to hear what we learned.

Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Shelby GT500KR Part 2

Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

[Sources: Spokentorque.com, Team Shelby]

Continue reading Shelby lowering price of $20k GT500KR hood after web outrage erupts

Shelby lowering price of $20k GT500KR hood after web outrage erupts originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carroll Shelby's personal GT500 coming to Barrett Jackson

Chris Shunk — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:33:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Auctions, Etc., Ford

Click the image above for more pics of Carroll Shelby's 1969 Shelby GT500

When the GT500 KR was unveiled at New York this past spring, we pressed Ford's SVT team as to why the SVT badging was absent from their creation. Their answer was so simple and obvious that it bears repeating. A 500 HP SVT Mustang doesn't sell for $30,000 over invoice, but if you add Carroll Shelby's name to it, a killer car becomes an instant sensation. Much of the street cred Shelby currently has was earned during the 1960s, when Carroll took the Mustang from a "secretary's car" to a hot-rod pony car.

Mr. Shelby is apparently too caught up living in the present to give much thought to what he did 40 years ago, as he plans on putting his 1969 Shelby GT500 convertible up for auction in January at Barrett Jackson. The vintage hotrod, which has nearly 70,000 miles on the odometer, is sure to fetch quite a premium over an already valuable '69 owned by some lucky schlep. The great-looking collectible is powered by a 428 Cobra Jet engine and has recently undergone a restoration. If you want to get in on the bidding action, make sure to get a lean on your mortgage, or just show up rich. It's gonna fetch a bundle. The press release is available after the jump.

[Source: Shelby via Jalopnik]

Gallery: Caroll Shelby's 1969 Shelby GT500

Continue reading Carroll Shelby's personal GT500 coming to Barrett Jackson

Carroll Shelby's personal GT500 coming to Barrett Jackson originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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