Autoblog

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Radio Shack gets exclusive right to sell Mio Knight Rider GPS

Chris Shunk — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Technology, Ford

Click above for high-res gallery of the Mio Knight Rider GPS

The Mio Knight Rider GPS is coming soon to a store near you, as long as that retailer is a Radio Shack. The tech store and Mio struck an exclusive deal for the $279 navigation system, which features the original voice of KITT, William Daniels. We were able to try out the Knight Rider GPS when we had KITT in the Autoblog Garage, and it scored some extra novelty points while also working well as your standard, run of the mill nav system. Anyone who went for a ride in our KITT Shelby GT500KR tester was almost as interested in the talking nav system as the car itself. It's a little disappointing, however, that you can only get one at Radio Shack, though the sub-$300 price tag makes it all better.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: KITT Shelby GT500 KR

[Source: CNET]

Radio Shack gets exclusive right to sell Mio Knight Rider GPS originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

GT500KR underrated? 5.0 Mustang dyno tests the King of the Road

Drew Phillips — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ford, Shelby

Click above for a high resolution image

There's horsepower, and then there's dyno-tested, can't-lie-to-your-friends horsepower. If you want to know how much power a car really makes, you've got to strap it to a dyno and spin it to redline. The guys over at 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords are always eager to find the true horsepower of a car, and so when they took delivery of a GT500KR to review they headed straight to the dyno to see how much power the supercharged V8 is putting out. What they found was somewhat surprising -- the KR produced 509 horsepower and 467.7 lb.-ft. torque to the wheels. Adjusting for an estimated driveline loss of 15 percent, the actual output at the flywheel is 589.82 hp and 550.24 lb-ft torque -- nearly 50 more horsepower and 40 more lb-ft than Ford is claiming. Take that Z06!

Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Shelby GT500KR Part 2

[Source: 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords]

GT500KR underrated? 5.0 Mustang dyno tests the King of the Road originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Markup Much? Dealer demands $155k for Shelby GT500KR

Chris Shunk — Mon, 19 May 2008 10:02:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Auctions, Ford

When I first gazed upon the Shelby GT500KR at a Ford event, I leaned over to fellow blogger Sam Abuelsamid and told him that dealers would try to get $100k for the limited edition road-ruling 'Stangs. Well, as it turns out it wasn't even a ballpark guess, as Lone Star Ford is looking to fetch $155k for his allotted KR on eBay. That's almost double the KR's $79,995 MSRP, but with only 1,000 special edition GT500's scheduled for this year, there is bound to be drastic markup. It is worth pointing out that the Ford GT's MSRP was roughly $155k, and for the same price you can get a BMW M3, a Mustang GT500, and one hell of a vacation.

If money means little to you and you're seriously thinking about shelling out $155k for this Shelby GT500KR, you won't find out a whole lot of information on the eBay page. Part of the reason for that is because Lone Star Ford hasn't yet taken delivery of the 540 hp Mustang that's up for auction. It also explains why the dealer has a photo of a standard GT500 sticker instead of that of the $80k KR.

Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Shelby GT500KR

Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Shelby GT500KR Part 2

[Source: eBay via Carscoop]

Markup Much? Dealer demands $155k for Shelby GT500KR originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 May 2008 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

And you thought $79,995 was crazy...GT500KR for sale on ebay for $154,991.00

Drew Phillips — Sun, 04 May 2008 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Auctions, Ford, Shelby

When Ford announced the GT500KR's based price of $79,995, many of you thought that it was pretty steep for a Mustang. Even though it's a limited edition Shelby with 540 horsepower, $80,000 can buy a lot of really nice cars. What's even more insane is that we know people will not only buy the KR, but they will pay tens of thousands of dollars over MSRP just to have one. The only question was how much dealers would try and gouge. That question has been answered. Lone Star Ford in Houston, TX has put up a red GT500KR on eBay Motors with a "Buy It Now" price of...$154,991.00. That's nearly double the MSRP. Who knows if anyone will actually buy it at that price, but going off what happened with the standard GT500, then it's quite possible. While we enjoyed our first drive in the GT500KR (check out Part 1 and Part 2), we can think of quite a few cars we'd rather have for $150,000.

[Source: eBay Motors]

And you thought $79,995 was crazy...GT500KR for sale on ebay for $154,991.00 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 May 2008 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

First Drive: 2008 Shelby GT500KR, Part 1

Drew Phillips — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:03:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ford, Shelby

2008 Shelby GT500KR - Click above for high-res image gallery

I have to admit, the Shelby GT500 was somewhat of a letdown. I have no complaints about the 500 horsepower or the muscular lines, but at nearly 4,000 pounds, it's got a serious weight problem. The iron block, 5.4-liter V8 and the addition of a supercharger puts much the weight in the worst possible place -- the front -- so the GT500 feels unmotivated around the corners compared to a regular Mustang GT. Other complaints include a suspension that doesn't seem up to snuff to handle the prodigious power, as well as a vague and rubbery shifter. Despite its shortcomings, the GT500 is one of the world's best performance bargains. Never before has such a powerful car been available for so little cash (although the Ford dealers did a pretty good job of ruining its value with markups). Still, one couldn't help but think that the GT500 could have been better.

Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Shelby GT500KR

Check out First Drive: 2008 Shelby GT500KR, Part 2 by clicking here.

Continue reading First Drive: 2008 Shelby GT500KR, Part 1

First Drive: 2008 Shelby GT500KR, Part 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

First 2009 GT500KRs roll out of Shelby Automotive

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:01:00 EST

Filed under: Tuners, Performance, Ford, Shelby

Click on the image for more live shots of the 2009 GT500KR

We got a chance to visit Shelby Automotive out in Las Vegas a week or so ago to witness the first 2009 GT500KR going through final assembly. Although the KR was originally intended to be an '08-only model release, demand for the new King of the Road was high enough that Ford and Shelby decided to keep on rollin' for another year and plans to offer an additional 746 units for 2009. As a refresher, these beasts are powered by a 540-horsepower version of the GT500's supercharged V8. If you love special edition versions of the Mustang like this one but aren't ready yet to buy, fear not... we have a feeling that there will be many more to choose from in the coming years.

Gallery: First Shelby GT500KR's

Gallery: 2008 Shelby GT500KR - LIVE

Travel and lodging for this media event was provided by the manufacturer, as were the photos, since our camera was stolen on this trip.

First 2009 GT500KRs roll out of Shelby Automotive originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pair of KITTs, right to last KR sells for $300,000 at Barrett-Jackson

Drew Phillips — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:42:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Ford, Shelby

While we wouldn't give high ratings to the Knight Rider pilot movie on NBC, we are still fans of the star of the show, KITT. When Ford and Barrett-Jackson announced that a pair of KITTs would be sold in Palm Beach this year, we immediately went to check the balance in our savings account.

The two cars auctioned were not actually KR models, but regular GT models made to look like the KR for the movie. The "hero" KITT still has quite a few upgrades, including a Whipple supercharger system, Brembo brakes, upgraded suspension and exhaust, and an interior with props for the movie, while the "attack" mode KITT has the stock motor with an automatic transmission and a KR body kit with two-tiered spoiler.

The auction, which will donate all proceeds to the Salute to Education charity, started slowly but climbed steadily to $160,000. At that point, Mark Fields of Ford got on the microphone and announced the winning bidder would also get the rights to a single allocation of the 1576 GT500 KRs. That doesn't mean they would get the car for free but at msrp - a significant savings. With that announcement, the bidders had renewed interest and the highest bid climbed up to $240,000. However, Ford and Shelby had one more twist. The single GT500 KR allocation was not just a random KR. It would be the LAST KR produced in 2009 - #1576. At that point, the bidding turned into a fight for the last KR and the two KITT movie cars were forgotten. The final bid ended at an even $300,000, with the winner writing a check directly to charity.

Gallery: The new KITT - OFFICIAL PHOTOS

Pair of KITTs, right to last KR sells for $300,000 at Barrett-Jackson originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2008 Barrett-Jackson: #0001 Ford Shelby GT500KR features Glass Roof

John Neff — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:56:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Auctions, Supercars, Ford

click above to view more high-res images of the #0001 Shelby GT500KR

The gavel will fall for a number of #0001 production vehicles this Saturday at the 2008 Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, including the first Corvette ZR1, Dodge Challenger and Ford Shelby GT500KR. Ford has announced a new addition to this particular Shelby GT500KR that's destined for the Barrett-Jackson stage, which we expect will add thousands of dollars to the bidding war that's guaranteed to ensue. The auction model will feature a fully glass roof, just like the new Glass Roof Mustang we showed you at the Detroit Auto Show. The giant, tinted transparent roof will let a little extra light in while keeping the UV rays out. The GT500KR's racing stripes have also been permanently etched into the glass roof so as not to break up the pair of lines that stretch from bumper to bumper.

Though the GT500KR is already considered a rare car due to its limited production volume, the fact that this particular one is the first production example and will be sporting an exclusive feature makes it as rare as rare can be. We'll eager to find out if it will sell for more at auction than the first Shelby GT500 and Shelby GT Mustang that were auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson the past two years, respectively, both of which went for around $600,000. We should also note that Ford and Carroll Shelby donate the auction money for these cars to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

[Source: Ford]

Gallery: Ford Shelby GT500KR Glass Roof

Continue reading 2008 Barrett-Jackson: #0001 Ford Shelby GT500KR features Glass Roof

2008 Barrett-Jackson: #0001 Ford Shelby GT500KR features Glass Roof originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2008 Barrett-Jackson to offer first GT500KR, Corvette ZR1 and Challenger SRT8

Drew Phillips — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:54:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Auctions, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford

Barrett-Jackson has been the king of muscle cars the last few years. Hemi Cudas, Shelby Mustangs, and Yenko Camaros have commanded high dollar bids from car collectors all around the world. Coming this January, Barrett-Jackson will not only have some of the best classic muscle cars, but the best new ones, as well.

Lot #1300 will feature the very first 2008 Shelby GT500 KR offered for sale, which will be one of around 1,000 built for the year. Next up is Lot #1316, the "first retailable unit built" (whatever that means) 2009 Corvette ZR1, just days after the car's official launch at the Detroit Auto Show. Last but not least, Lot #1331 will feature the first production Dodge Challenger SRT8 to come off the assembly line. Best of all, the proceeds from the sales will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), The United Way, and the notMYkid charity.

If previous years are anything to go by, the first of any collector car commands high dollars, and these three should be no exception. We expect six and possibly even seven figures for the right to own the very first of these modern day muscle cars. Be sure to watch for our live coverage of the show with auction results and photo galleries.

[Source: Barrett-Jackson]

Gallery: 2008 Shelby GT500KR

Gallery: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Gallery: 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8

2008 Barrett-Jackson to offer first GT500KR, Corvette ZR1 and Challenger SRT8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Shelby cancels license for 33-year-old SAAC car club

Chris Shunk — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:06:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Ford, Shelby

In the eyes of many automotive enthusiasts, Caroll Shelby is a legend with few peers. His breathed upon Mustangs are so coveted, they routinely sell at auction for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Shelby Cobras are truly special icons of the muscle car era, but when Caroll and Ford parted ways, he left the keys to the Shelby Mustang kingdom to the throngs of enthusiasts and car clubs across North America.

[Source: Mustang Evolution]

Continue reading Shelby cancels license for 33-year-old SAAC car club

Shelby cancels license for 33-year-old SAAC car club originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford to dealers: Sell the F-150 and you may get to sell the Shelby GT500KR

Chris Shunk — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 21:03:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Truck, Ford

The Ford F-Series has been the top-selling nameplate in America for a staggering 29 years, and in spite of ever-increasing competition, the folks from Dearborn will stop at absolutely nothing to keep that title alive for a 30th year. Ford already has up to $4,007 in customer cash on the F-150, and now it is giving dealers some serious incentive to offload as many full-size trucks as possible. The dealer incentive isn't a cash stipend to the dealer or salesman, but a slot in a lottery to sell one of the 50 Shelby GT500KRs being made for the 2009 model year. Total production for the KR is only 1,000 units, so the markup will likely run into the tens of thousands of dollars, making any dealer very pleased. For moving pickups, dealers are also getting special edition F-150 die-cast models (Ford loves giving away die-cast models) and dealers also have a chance to host a Toby Keith concert.

Ford has repeatedly said that it will retain its full-size pickup leadership, and the Blue Oval is coming up with some innovative ways to keep its most important product moving off the dealer lots. Right now the F-Series is up 45,000 units on the all-new Silverado. Let's see if that lead holds once GM begins using more cash incentives.

[Source: Auto News - sub. req'd]

Ford to dealers: Sell the F-150 and you may get to sell the Shelby GT500KR originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 21:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

New York Preview: 2008 Shelby GT500KR - The King of the Road returns!

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 11:05:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Performance, Ford

Click above for a gallery of high-res images

This morning, Ford announced that the mighty King of the Road Shelby GT500KR will be making a return in the spring of 2008 -- just in time to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original. Only 1,000 of these special Mustangs will be built, and they will definitely be the fastest ones yet! The team at SVT is tweaking the 5.4L supercharged V-8 with new calibrations, a cold-air induction kit and 3.73:1 final drive ratio. The KR will be rated at 540hp/510lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful Mustang ever.

The suspension has been recalibrated to give improved steering feel and crisper handling. An underhood cross-brace is added to improve chassis stiffness, which also helps the steering feel. Visual changes include a new carbon composite hood with scoops patterned after the original KR's and new Shelby-designed wheels. The show car is equipped with 20-inch rolling stock, while the production version sticks with 18-inch versions of the same design. The lower front valence features a pair of air intakes leading to functional ducts to cool the front brakes.

The Cobra badges will get special 40th Anniversary branding and an individually numbered plate will sit in the center of the dash to remind everyone that this car is one of only 1,000 units. There will be no convertible model and pricing won't be announced until closer to production almost a year from now, although you can probably expect an MSRP somewhere close to $50,000 and retail prices well above that. The old chicken farmer, Carrol Shelby himself, will be on hand for the unveiling in New York on Wednesday.

[Source: Ford]

Gallery: 2008 Shelby GT500KR

Continue reading New York Preview: 2008 Shelby GT500KR - The King of the Road returns!

New York Preview: 2008 Shelby GT500KR - The King of the Road returns! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Mar 2007 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments