Cars - Shelby Mustang

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	Cars - Shelby Mustang

The Shelby Mustang was a tuner sports car from the 1960s. It was a series of Ford Mustangs which were specially modified by Carroll Shelby's company and sold as a series. The program was factory-sponsored and production was eventually moved in-house. The spirit of the series continues today in the special Mustang Cobra models.

1965

The first Shelby version of the Mustang appeared in 1965. All '65 Shelbys were painted white with (optional) parallel blue stripes from nose to tail. They also featured rocker panel stripes with the GT350 name. The engine was a modified K-code 289ci Windsor V8 with special "Cobra" valve covers, tri-Y headers, a special intake manifold and Holley carburetor increased power from 271 to 306 hp (162 to 228 kW).

1966

The 1966 was differentiated in body color (non-white versions were introduced - colors included blue, red, green and black, as well as the original white) and trim. The "LeMans" stripes were continued as an option, as in 1965. It featured special quarter-panel windows and rear air scoops on each side and an optional automatic transmission. A fold-down rear seat was now standard as well. Where early 1965 cars had black engine blocks, 1966 and later cars had the 289 engine was painted blue.

Shelby struck a deal with the Hertz car rental company to produce a special line of GT350s for rent. These GT350H cars are quite rare and sought-after today. Shelby produced 1000 of these cars; 800 in black, and 50 each in red, white, blue and green. The black cars all had gold stripes, whereas the colored cars only had Shelby side stripes, without the LeMans top stripes. Shelby would repeat this trick in 1987 with the Shelby CSX-T.

1967

The new 1967 Mustang was followed with a new Shelby. It featured a 1967 Mercury Cougar tail light panel minus the chrome trim, a flip-up spoiler, and two sets of air scoops on each side. This was also the first American car to feature a factory roll bar.

This year also saw the introduction of the GT500 alongside the continued GT350. The new GT500 featured a 428 in³ (7 L) FE Police Interceptor Big-block V8. This is also one of the most famous Shelby Mustang's. A modified GT500 clone, known as Eleanor, featured along side Nicholas Cage in the 2000 remake of 'Gone in Sixty Seconds'.

1968

Shelby lost the lease for their factory at Los Angeles International Airport in late 1967 so production of the Shelby cars was moved to Ionia, Michigan under Ford Motor Company control.

1969 & 1970

Carroll Shelby terminated his agreement with Ford in the summer of 1969. The GT350 and GT500 for the 1969-70 model years received extenisve facelifts. Ford was heavily involved with design and style decisions, with Shelby having very little input. Production of Shelby Mustangs ceased with the 1970 model year. The 1970 models were in fact leftover 1969 models.

2007

Shelby and Ford will return with a Shelby-branded Mustang, the Shelby Cobra GT500 for 2007. Introduced at the 2005 New York International Auto Show, the GT500 uses a 5.4 L Modular supercharged V8. 475 hp (354 kW) and 475 ft·lbf (644 N·m) will be available, designed to outperform all previous Mustangs. A Tremec 6-speed manual transmission, suspension tuning, a body kit, and 18 inch wheels will complete the car.

The right to purchase the first 2007 Shelby GT500 was auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction on January 21, 2006 in Scottsdale, Arizona for $648,000. Proceeds will benefit the Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation.

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