Ford Puts a Price Tag on 2007 Shelby GT

We like Carroll Shelby and loved driving the new GT500; it’s an amazing machine with 500 hp for under $45,000. Then we heard a more mild-mannered Shelby GT was coming for 2007 and got even more excited, expecting it to be priced much closer to a regular Mustang GT – which starts at $27,995 for a leather-equipped coupe. There are only 25 additional horses under this new pony’s hood compared with that standard GT's 300 hp and of course lots of cosmetic and suspension upgrades, but we’re a bit surprised at the MSRP of $36,970. Compared to the GT500 coupe’s $42,975, it’s not a lot more to move up to GT500 and its additional 175 hp. However, it is a substantial bump from the well-equipped GT Premium package.

Ford says the numbers of the Shelby GT will be very limited — there will be fewer of them than the Shelby GT500 — so shoppers are actually buying more of the collectible rather than what’s underneath the skin, but they're not far off the going rate for gussied up Mustangs.

Aftermarket companies like Saleen have been building hot-rodded Mustangs for years and sell them through select Ford dealers. They don’t come cheap either, with a 345 hp version starting at more than $42,000. The Shelby GT isn't looking like so bad of a deal now, is it?

The Shelby GT will start arriving at dealers at the end of January.

Related:
Ford Announces Mustang Shelby GT
More on the Ford Shelby GT

Comments

"The Shelby GT isn't looking like so bad of a deal now, is it?"

Um, Yes it is. You can certainly do a lot worse though; and I'm sure Ford won't have any trouble selling these.

Shelby did what looks like a wonderful job of tuning the Mustang when he created the CS6. He got 350hp by bolting a supercharger to the V6; the brakes, suspension, and wheels were all upgraded; and the bodywork, in my opinion, makes it the most aesthetically pleasing 'Stang out there (ignoring the paint and decals). Shelby sells a kit for $15K so theoretically it's can be cheaper than the GT.

Ford could produce a version of the CS6 at around the same price point as the GT. It's sleeker look would be a great compliment to the GT500's most-muscular-car-ever styling; plus they could rightly call it the GT350. Or would that make too much sense?

Note to Ford: If you're not going to develop new products could you at least develop new names.

well if you think about it the cosmetic stuff like the hood scoop, grille and other body panels would be around $2K. Intake and exhaust system would be another $2K roughly. And I don't know about the suspension and brake mods. You're basically paying that extra few grand for the collectible factor and Shelby name. Which isn't a bad thing. Oh and a Ford warranty.

As for the CS6 its a kit you have to get installed so that would cost a lot more than $15K sticker. Plus I don't like the V-6 in the base mustang as much as the V-8. My bet is a Boss or GT350 will debut in the 2008 model year before they changeover the design.

Considering that the GT500s are selling for $10-20k over retail, $37K for a GT looks pretty good. Of course there will probably be an insane mark-up on it as well.

For me the numbers don't add up, but I can't fault Ford for doing something profitable.

No matter how you cut it you are paying for the Shelby name. For some this won't be an issue while others expect it. In my mind any Mustang over $30k is not money well spent unless you don't want anything else but a Mustang. For my cash I would rather buy a well taken care of used Porsche. Either way a good article on what appears to be a well done car. And that Shelby name does have a nice ring to it...

For that kind of money, I would either put it into a STI or EvoIX. I got similar power, 2 more doors, 2 more usable backseats, and 4 wheels moving the car.
The Shelby name is just not enough to make me think so un-logical. Especially when I think of I am living in the snowing states.

I was disappointed when the all-new 2005 Mustang didn't include Advancetrac, even as an available option. I'm still disappointed that it doesn't have it two years later. With list prices above $30,000, I think the lack of stability control is inexcusable.

Ford seems to have this problem across their product line--the F150 and Dodge Ram are the last two full-size pickups that don't offer ESC, the Ford Fusion is one of the few midsize sedans that don't offer it in any trim level.

It's simply amazing that Ford still does not offer stability control on most of it's vehicles. My wife's 2001 Maxima GLE has it. I think when you buy a GM, Ford, or Chrysler product you certainly don't get cream of the crop in terms of automotive engineering. I guess that's why Toyota is growing like gang busters while GM-Ford-Chrysler are trying to think of new ways to discount their cars and trucks. Either way the Shelby Stang is a nice car, but I would never pay that much for it.

Considering that people are paying twice that for the exact same car in auctions from the Hertz rentals, it's worth it. Considering that there are what...3 different V8 options from Chrysler, it makes sense from a competitive standpoint. Considering that the Camaro and Challenger are on the horizon, it's totally sensible to establish a range now while Ford has the jump on the others. The price for the Shelby, compared to the price of the GT, is a bit high however. You can massage more than 25 horsepower from the 4.6L with several *hundred* dollars. As for the STi and EVO - you don't mention the fact that insurance is about 1.5 times that for a Mustang.