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Reading the glowing reviews of the affordable Shelby GT, the latest Shelby to hit the production line after the GT500 and Shelby GT-H, I was expecting nothing less than a performance pony worthy of the Shelby name. After all it has Shelby’s name on it, it’s chock full of Ford Racing aftermarket parts and exhibits bold design qualities reminiscent of the previous Shelby models. Yesterday I was offered the opportunity, from my local dealer, to take a brand new 2007 Shelby GT for a test drive.
To understand my thoughts of the car you probably should understand a little about me. I am a car enthusiast. I haven’t owned a car that I haven’t modified in one way or another. My first car ever was a ‘69 VW bug that I literally blew the engine up on four separate occasions. My last vehicle was a Ford SuperDuty 4x4 lifted on 38’s and my current is a Ford Mustang GT that I have spent a fair amount of money modifying in the 4 months I have owned it.
Getting back on track, the first time you see the car it stands out from the rest. Even in the vast sea of Mustangs that was my dealerships corral, the stance, hood clips, billet grill and black bullet wheels grab your attention away from the other ponies parked around it. You can definitely tell there is something special about this car. A closer look at the latest Shelby reveals it has been equipped with a Ford Racing Power Pack and Handling Pack, a new computer calibration, Hurst shifter for those equipped with a 5 speed and dash plaque. If you are a Shelby enthusiast then this car is probably worth it’s $44K price tag as it’s definitely a better car than a $29K stock GT. If you are a car enthusiast, then don’t waste your time and money with this car. Design cues are reminiscent of the Cobra with riveted non-functional hood scoop, brushed aluminum billet grill without the fog lights and a front fascia to direct airflow and give the car an aggressive look it so desperately needs. Of course no Shelby GT would be complete without a pair of racing stripes and side stripes sporting the cars namesake. Of course the Shelby theme continues inside the car with floor mats and door sills
Pulling out from the dealership, you can immediately hear the difference in the sound of the tuned exhaust, although throttle response felt sluggish to me. The Hurst shifter is a nice option as it really shortens the throw between gears while adding a fair amount of nostalgic look to the otherwise plain GT interior. The seat of your pants acceleration that should be delivered by the upgraded 325hp GT motor is almost non-existent which is a major disappointment. I'm not sure what I was expecting but needless to say, it was not delivered.
Being that this car begins life as a stock Mustang GT and maintains its factory Ford warranty throughout its metamorphosis, the actual modifications being performed are minimal and don’t push the capabilities of the vehicle in anyway. Sure, the car looks, performs and sounds okay, but in my opinion, it’s no bargain unless you really only care about that dash placard with Carroll Shelby’s signature on it, which is something to consider if you are a car collector. That being said, if you are a car collector you might want to cast an eye towards the Shelby GT’s big brother, the Shelby GT500, which in no way compares to this vehicle other than the Shelby name.
My final conclusion is this. The car definitely serves a niche market, catering to that person who wants an edge over the Stock GT but isn’t interested in modifying the car at all. It’s also a limited edition vehicle that will retain its warranty and its value long after the modified GT’s of this world have had their warranty claims denied. In that respect the car is a bargain and great choice for the collector. For the car enthusiast and true Stang Banger attitude, the car is a disappointment and should probably have remained the Shelby GT-H (Hertz Rental Edition), allowing anyone with the cash to thrash on a somewhat modified rental Mustang GT. Bang for your buck the power just isn’t there. You can built a better mustang for at least $10K less than what you can buy the stock Shelby GT for.
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