Shelby American shows off GT350 and GT350R at Barret Jackon - well kind of

[Rated R]

What this car tells me is that Ford is done w/ paying Shelby for licensing fees in producing any future GT350/500's or any other Shelby cars going forward. Shelby American could not wait to have total control of the name back under its own guidance. What they've done with it is uninspiring to say the least, and through the release of this car tells me that there's nothing innovative at Shelby American. All they care about is making enough money to keep the lights on it appears.

There are so many other concepts they could have pursued but they chose the easy route that any other shop could do, that's why it not special and not compelling to even consider. They didn't even bother to put a Tremec in it. It's a hopped up GT with stripes, that's it.

Ford will likely have something soon that will make this Shelby American badge car irrelevant. 5.4 or 7.3, or something different than just a blown Coyote.

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[robvas]

A Shelby Super Dark Horse would have been a lot more appealing.

Dark Horse is proven. Shelby would just stick a blower on it or try to upgrade things but not actually make them any better.

 

[9secondko]

It likely means Ford wouldn't let Shelby American take a Dark Horse, slap on some bolt ons, and call it a Shelby.

It's too bad, though. That's what SA did with the S197 Super Snakes. Started with a GT500 from Ford, modified it, and. called it the Shelby GT500 Super Snake.

A Shelby Super Dark Horse would have been a lot more appealing.

more likely, any dark horse parts would be rendered moot as they were removed and replaced with better components.

Shelby would have simply wasted money going the dark horse route. Better to spend less and end up with the same exact car, AND keeping the better looking GT front end.

 

[Q6543]

Maybe Ford is playing 5D chess with Shelby and people now will realize what a bargain a 70-80K Dark horse is

 

[midtownz06]

These really are just money grab tuner cars selling a nam and a sticker pack GT. Still mt82? complete disgrace. Sad.

 

[kagemusha2662]

Maybe Ford is playing 5D chess with Shelby and people now will realize what a bargain a 70-80K Dark horse is

I own a dark horse and even I know that’s not true. I made an emotional decision and I stand by it, doesn’t mean it was the best financial decision

 

[9secondko]

??? Foreshadowing the end of the dark horse era???

hopefully they just roll the dark horse engine and suspension into the GT like it should have been from the start.

 

[9secondko]

Honestly, I think the gt350 is a bit of a mistake to launch.

the Super Snske is a serious work of art. It looks so good in addition to being seriously capable.

In my opinion, it’s the best looking mustang of this generation and the best looking Shelby American car ever.

Whereas the SS had Shelby’s longtime designer really do wonders in transforming his style for a modern era, The 350 is very minimal effort. Just a GT appearance.

Just about the only part I don’t like on the SS is the duckbill on the trunk. But I imagine they didn’t want to lose old school buyers while appealing to broader audiences.

I hope Ford isn’t done with Shelby in terms of factory cars. There’s really no better heritage combination.

this generation, I think we will probably just get the dark horse and the cobra to close it out.

hopefully next gen, we see a return to Shelby cars, with ford shooting for the stars with a new platform.

With the s550 generation, we saw the Shelby name equate to exceptional engineering snd new, high performance inclusions such as the DVT and FPC with serious suspension capabilities that elevated the mustang far beyond what we have been conditioned to accept. Would be a shame to see that kind of effort relegated to one generation.

 

[MidwayJ]

Dark Horse is proven. Shelby would just stick a blower on it or try to upgrade things but not actually make them any better.

Better than modifying a GT and having a car that's worse than a Dark Horse. I think a blower, body kit, seats, exhaust, etc. on a Dark Horse would at least have some appeal, even though I'm sure it would be vastly overpriced like everything else they do.

 

[MidwayJ]

more likely, any dark horse parts would be rendered moot as they were removed and replaced with better components.

Shelby would have simply wasted money going the dark horse route. Better to spend less and end up with the same exact car, AND keeping the better looking GT front end.

Shelby must love that there are people out there who actually believe this.

 

[Bikeman315]

Still mt82?

I’d bet there are contractal reasons why Sheby isn’t using the Tremec. Also likely that Ford had no interest in selling Dark Horses to Shelby as they wouldn’t want them using the name. There is usually a reason when something doesn’t happen.

Better than modifying a GT and having a car that's worse than a Dark Horse. I think a blower, body kit, seats, exhaust, etc. on a Dark Horse would at least have some appeal, even though I'm sure it would be vastly overpriced like everything else they do.

Again, Ford most likely wasn’t willing to sell Dark Horses to Shelby. We continue to make assumptions about Shelby without taking into effect what the current relationship is with Ford. Shelby can only build what Ford is willing to sell them.

 

[Bikeman315]

Shelby must love that there are people out there who actually believe this.

How about believing that Ford had no interest in a Shelby Dark Horse?

 

[MidwayJ]

There are so many other concepts they could have pursued but they chose the easy route that any other shop could do, that's why it not special and not compelling to even consider. They didn't even bother to put a Tremec in it. It's a hopped up GT with stripes, that's it.

They had already done this with the S550 and S650 Super Snakes. But calling these new ones the GT350 and GT350R is more egregious because of what Ford did with those nameplates.

 

[9secondko]

Shelby must love that there are people out there who actually believe this.

buecause it’s true.

 

[MidwayJ]

Again, Ford most likely wasn’t willing to sell Dark Horses to Shelby. We continue to make assumptions about Shelby without taking into effect what the current relationship is with Ford. Shelby can only build what Ford is willing to sell them.

My reply you quoted was responding to what robvas said, hypothetically, about what Shelby would do to a Dark Horse. My Intent wasn't to imply Ford would allow it. I agree with you they likely would not.

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