FORD SHELBY GT500KR ROARS INTO PRODUCTION ON AUTOMOTIVE LEGEND'S 85TH BIRTHDAY

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 11, 2008 - Automotive legend Carroll Shelby shares his 85th birthday with a new performance standout - the 540-horsepower 2008 GT5000KR, which begins production today.

The GT500KR or "King of the Road" Mustang is the fourth limited-edition Mustang that Shelby Automobiles and Ford have brought to market since resuming their collaboration in 2001. It builds on the performance and success of the 500-horsepower Shelby GT500 - the most powerful production Mustang ever.

The new GT500KR will be available at select Ford dealerships this spring. Production is limited at 1,000 units.

"It is simply magic when Shelby and Ford team up and deliver products like the GT500KR," said Mark Fields, Ford's president, The Americas. "Collaborations like this have helped Mustang remain at the top of the sports car segment for 22 straight years - and running - and help inspire people who truly want and value performance."

Carroll Shelby, who was actively involved in the GT500KR's development, said: "My energy and passion for performance products has always been strongest when I am working with Ford. I'm always looking to up the ante when it comes to performance, and bringing back the 'King of the Road' Mustang is just what we need."

Delivering the "King of the Road"

Each Shelby GT500KR begins life as a GT500, built at AutoAlliance International Inc., in Flat Rock, Mich. From there, the cars are shipped to Shelby Automobile's facility in Las Vegas, where a Ford Racing performance pack, exhaust system and short-throw shifter are installed. The GT500KR also is fitted with body, chassis and interior components. Every GT500KR will be hand customized and delivered to each customer in an enclosed transporter, just like the legendary Ford GT.

To fine-tune the GT500KR's chassis - stiffened 50 percent to deliver increased body control - SVT engineers and Shelby put the GT500KR through a rigorous testing program developed specially for SVT products, including a 12-hour racetrack durability test. The result is a car with increased performance capability that is still comfortable to drive on the street.

The GT500KR's aerodynamics were fine-tuned to add 50 pounds of downforce over the front axle and move the center of aero pressure forward in the vehicle to improve high-speed balance and downforce under high-speed braking. A new front splitter design works with the hood and revised rear spoiler to deliver these benefits. The bottom line: the GT500KR sets new performance standards for Mustang handling and straight-line performance on the racetrack, slalom course and skidpad.

"Because the Shelby GT500 strikes a great balance between ride and handling, we knew that the GT500KR had to be even better," said Jamal Hameedi, chief engineer at Ford SVT. "We used a holistic approach, having chassis engineers work closely with the engine specialists to develop a tuning suspension that optimizes the engine enhancements."

Added Gary Davis, vice president production for Shelby Automobiles: "We aren't fixing our attention on one or two attributes, but working on the vehicle as a whole. The throttle response, power delivery, exhaust note and handling all work together to deliver a great total driving experience."

To deliver that balance, the ride height has been lowered to the optimum setting for limit handling, which equates to a 20 mm ride height reduction in the front and 15 mm in the rear.

The Shelby GT500KR team sculpted a modern interpretation of the original's bulging hood scoop, a visual indication of the extra horsepower packed beneath it. The hood is secured by a pair of stainless steel, twist-down hood pins.

To save weight, the hood borrows design elements from the ducted aluminum/carbon fiber clamshell on the Ford GT. Developed through intensive use of analytical tools including Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA), the design optimizes the structural properties of carbon fiber delivering panels at a wafer-thin 0.8 mm. The hood saves 15 pounds versus its aluminum counterpart in the GT500.

Unlike most traditional designs, the hood has three components: the outer panel, an integrated airflow duct which spans the entire hood and the inner panel. The duct serves three purposes: to channel supplemental fresh air into the new cold air intake, to relieve high-speed underhood pressure and to move air from the front intake and engine compartment to the rear extractors.

The Shelby GT500KR will ride on all-new Goodyear tires, which make their North American debut exclusively on this new Mustang. The Supercar F1 tire, made of a new performance compound, resulted from a special collaboration between SVT and Goodyear.

Each GT500KR model is identified by a special 40th Anniversary badge on the fenders and grille, distinctive body colored mirror caps and Shelby lettering stretching across the front of the hood and along the rear portion of the deck lid. a special Shelby VIN tag is affixed to each vehicle, mounted in the engine compartment.

The all-leather interior features Carroll Shelby signature embroidered headrests and an official Shelby CSM 40th Anniversary GT500KR dash plate mounted at the top of the center stack.

Other standard equipment includes HID headlamps, an interior ambient lighting package, wrapped and stitched instrument panel, center console and armrests, as well as an electrochromic rearview mirror. Optional equipment includes a Shaker 1000 audio system and DVD navigation system.
The GT500KR's 5.4-liter V-8 Gets the Royal Treatment

Just like its namesake, the 1968 GT500KR, the 2008 "King of the Road" packs a walloping dose of Ford performance. The Ford SVT-engineered 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 is enhanced with a Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack that boosts horsepower to an estimated 540-hp and torque to 510 ft.-lbs. The added power comes thanks to revised ignition and throttle calibration and a cold air intake system that replaces the stock unit. The Shelby GT500KR cold air intake seal was designed in unison with the new carbon fiber hood to prevent hot engine compartment air from reaching the air intake.

Calibration modifications include advancing the ignition timing as well as re-mapping the electronic throttle settings to provide quicker throttle response for better off-line and mid-range acceleration. Increased throttle response will be met with a sharper roar from the Ford Racing-inspired exhaust system.

Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission and 3.73:1 rear axle ratio, compared with the GT500's 3.31:1.

To perform optimally on track and during performance driving, the Shelby GT500KR has been fitted with an elevated axle vent reservoir to prevent axle fluid expulsion. Gear selection is courtesy of an all-new Ford Racing short-throw shifter making its debut on the GT500KR. Topped with a white ball, the new shifter throws are 25 percent shorter than the unit on the GT500 providing for crisper, sharper shifts. [Source: Ford]

Photo credit: Curtis Walker

A follow up report from CBS-11 in Dallas, which broke the story, confirms what we heard from an ex-employee about the company not paying wages. The company apparently owes something like $40,000 in back pay to employees.

The picture painted of the final days by the former employees at Unique Performance is bleak, with management apparently telling employees that they should continue to make cars and that they would be paid "probably in an hour, probably by the end of today, three o'clock today, four o'clock today and nothing, but please keep building this cars."

A lawyer for Doug Hasty, the CEO of Unique Performance, said "Many of those matters are in bankruptcy court and the decisions about who gets paid what and when belong to the bankruptcy court and the bankruptcy trustees." So who knows when or if these people will get paid.

Though businesses frequently go under and in many cases don't tell employees about what's going on until the end, this particular story is so gripping because of how easy it all seemed. There's such a strong desire for specialized cars, specifically muscle cars, that a small company was able to convince dozens of buyers to put down hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of dollars for cars endorsed by Chip Foose and Carroll Shelby, two names intimately associated with American muscle car performance.

And though the original intention of the company was probably not to deceive, the money involved seemed to allow the deception to go on for months before finally coming to a head with the police raid last month. We even did a story in January about Foose Mustangs going on sale at Ford dealerships, though it looks like the company might have been experiencing problems before then.

It's a sad story and the victims seem to be both the unpaid employees that built the cars and the wealthy customers who may never see them. [CBS 11]

UPDATED 'KNIGHT RIDER' REVS UP TO RETURN TO NBC FOR SPECIAL TWO-HOUR MOVIE EVENT ON FEBRUARY 17 AS NEW KITT CAR IS REVEALED "Knight Rider" Cast Justin Bruening, Deanna Russo, Sydney Tamiia Poitier and Bruce Davison Participate at the Unveiling Event Showcasing the Customized KITT Ford Mustang to Be Featured in Movie Dave Bartis ("Heist," "The O.C.") and Doug Liman ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "The Bourne Identity") to Serve as Executive Producers; David Hasselhoff, the Star of the Original "Knight Rider" Series, Appears as a Special Guest Star in His Original Role as Michael Knight NBC Also Forms Partnership with Ford Motor Company That Provides for Unique Content Opportunity BURBANK - December 12, 2007 - As "Knight Rider" — NBC's iconic 1980s television classic that became a runaway success, comes roaring back to life on the network with an updated sequel that will air as a two-hour movie event on Sunday, February 17 (9-11 p.m. ET) — NBC unveiled the new customized KITT Ford Mustang to be featured in the series in a press event held at NBC's Burbank Studios today. The movie stars Justin Bruening ("Cold Case," "All My Children"), Deanna Russo ("NCIS," "The Young and the Restless"), Sydney Tamiia Poitier ("Veronica Mars," "Grindhouse") and Bruce Davison ("Breach," "Close to Home"). In addition, David Hasselhoff (NBC's "America's Got Talent") — who starred in the popular lead role as Michael Knight for four seasons during the original series — returns as the same character in a special guest-star appearance. Will Arnett (NBC's "30 Rock," "Blades of Glory") will provide the voice of KITT. Dave Bartis ("Heist," "The O.C.") and Doug Liman ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "The Bourne Identity") serve as executive producers. NBC also has an arrangement with Ford Motor Company that provides for a unique content opportunity that makes the Ford Mustang one of the stars of the movie. The three cars to be employed in the series include the KITT Hero — a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR that is playing the part of the everyday Hero car with 540 horsepower; the KITT Attack — a super high-speed version of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR Hero car that transforms into Attack mode with the help of air-ride technology and specialized body parts — and a KITT Remote, which is a driverless Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR version of the Hero vehicle.

As the original story resumes, the new KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) is absolutely the coolest car ever created: its supercomputer capable of hacking almost any system; its weapons systems efficient; and its body — thanks to its creator's work and nanotechnology — is capable of actually shifting shape and color. Plus, its artificial intelligence makes it the ideal crime-fighting partner: logical, precise and possessing infinite knowledge. It is the ultimate car — and someone will be willing to do anything to obtain it.

Sarah Graiman is a 24-year old Ph.D candidate at Stanford University, following in her genius father Charles' (Davison) footsteps. But when men attempt to abduct her, Sarah receives a mysterious call from KITT warning her that he's a creation of Charles, who also invented the first KITT 25 years ago — and that her father is in serious danger.

Sarah and KITT track down her best friend from childhood, Mike Tracer (Bruening), a 23-year-old ex-Army Ranger, whom Sarah hasn't seen since he left home at 18. Having served in Iraq, Mike is now jaded and lost and initially resistant. Eventually he agrees to help Sarah and the two set out to discover who's behind the attempt to procure KITT and find Charles. Along the way, Carrie Rivai (Poitier) plays the agile yet tough FBI agent who has a long-standing friendship with Charles and Sarah. Due to those ties, she is brought into the mix to help in the search.

David Andron is supervising producer and writer. Steve Shill ("Dexter," "The Tudors"), also a co-executive producer, directs the two-hour movie from Universal Media Studios and Dutch Oven Productions.

This is horrible news for anyone waiting for a new car or, at least, hoping to get their deposit back. This development leaves some questions remaining, like what's going to happen to the seized cars and what, if any charges will be filed. There are also some new questions this raises, namely who does the company owe money to besides those who put deposits down for new cars? [AutoWeek]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - October 26, 2007 - Carroll Shelby will sell his 1969 GT500 convertible, which he has owned since it was new, at No Reserve during the 37th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event on Jan. 12-20, 2008, in Scottsdale, Ariz. It is the only Ford-based Shelby Mustang that he has owned continually since it rolled off the assembly line. The historic muscle car will be showcased during the SEMA show in Las Vegas from Tuesday, Oct. 30 - Friday, Nov. 2, 2007, in the Barrett-Jackson booth (#20765), located in the "Racing and Performance" area of Central Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

"Barrett-Jackson attracts the most important collector cars because it is the greatest stage in the world to buy and sell these fantastic pieces of history," said Barrett-Jackson Auction Company Chairman/CEO Craig Jackson. "Last year, we sold the only 427 Shelby Cobra built specifically for Carroll in Scottsdale and now we have the only Shelby Mustang that he's owned for the past three decades. This is an opportunity to be the second owner of a premier car and purchase it from the man himself on the weekend we celebrate his 85th birthday. This special car will also be a highlight of our SEMA display, which will be more impressive than ever this year."

One of only 246 Ford Shelby GT500 convertibles built in 1969, Mr. Shelby's personal 428 c.i.d. Cobra Jet powered car has only 69,725 miles and came originally equipped with automatic transmission, GT equipment group, white interior and top, intermittent wipers, power steering, power brakes, tilt steering, factory A/C, AM-FM stereo radio, tachometer and trip odometer.

The red convertible was recently restored under the direction of Stephen Becker, a world-renowned collector and broker of vintage Shelby Cobras, GT350s and GT500s. Becker engaged well known and respected Shelby restorer Jim Cowles at Shelby Parts & Restoration in Green Bay, Wisc., to complete a Concours rotisserie freshening of the car.

"The only other Shelby that Carroll has owned longer than this GT500 is the first Cobra, CSX2000," noted Steve Davis, President of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company. "With its recent restoration by one of the premier shops in the country, this historical GT500 would be a monumental acquisition for any serious collector."

Another car slated for the Barrett-Jackson auction block in Scottsdale that will be featured at SEMA is the one-off 1963 Corvette "Rondine," which will be staged in the AutoWeek booth (#20715). The Pininfarina-bodied concept car was designed by Tom Tjaarda and unveiled at the 1963 Paris Auto Show. Barrett-Jackson will also sponsor the Overhaulin' Studio, where they will display three Scottsdale-bound cars in the silver lot.

"SEMA is a haven for gearheads and the industry's most influential players, making it the ideal venue to showcase our lineup for Scottsdale," added Davis. "Barrett-Jackson has taken enormous strides in the past few months to further establish our position as the world's leading producer of collector car auctions."

[BJ via The Mustang News]

2007 Mustang [Ford Direct via Autoblog]

Related:
Question Of The Day: What Would You Do With A Shelby GT500 Convertible And A Full Tank Of Gas?; Farago Doesn't Like the GT500; Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Shelby GT500, Part 1 [internal]

To Americans, this question is almost as defining as red state or blue. Actually, perhaps more so. And why is that? Obviously, these companies are the hometown heroes. They build our trucks, our muscle cars and in the case of the Z06 and GT500, the stuff of dreams. They used to even build our sedans, wagons, economy cars and minivans, but times change. Still, Calvin is rarely seen pissing on Mopar. And like yesterday's Ferrari vs. Lambo discussion, everyone's got an opinion. We're reserving ours for press cars a variety of reasons. What do you think? – Jonny Lieberman

[The Jalopnik Question of the Day is red, white and blue. Though, sometimes yellow. Do you have a question you want answered? Email it to tips@jalopnik.com with the subject line "QOTD"]

Related:
Ferrari Or Lamborghini?; Ad Watch: Chevrolet Silverado Takes On Toyota Tundra With A "Demonstration" Of Its Own; Snake-Spotting: 725 HP Shelby GT500 Super Snake Slithers Out Into The Open!; The Jalopnik Question of the Day [Internal]

We're loving the fact that you readers are taking over the Question of the Day, as we aren't all that creative. Alex K wrote in with this:

Hi guys, long time since I've sent in a tip, but I had a brainstorm in a moment of sheer boredom at work: What is the cheapest route to 500 BHP? You know, excluding nitrous, what car and what mods yield the cheapest 500 bhp ride?

Might be a fun QOTD – i mean, I'm sure a lot of the answers will be Camaro/Mustang variations, but really is that the cheapest way? I dunno, [but] I think the question needs to be asked.

[The Jalopnik Question of the Day is better when you supply the questions. Do you have a question you want answered? Email it to tips@jalopnik.com with the subject line "QOTD"]

Related:
What Would You Bury In Tulsa?; What Styling Cue Do You Want Back?; The Jalopnik Question of the Day [Internal]

Shelby GT500 Super Snake Pictures [Mustangevolution.com]

Related:
The 725 HP Shelby GT500 Super Snake Can Be Yours For Just $72,000!; Super Snake: Shelby To Create Bigger 'Stang With Longer Fangs and 725 Hp? [internal]

2008 Shelby GT500 Super Snake Package Parts

Performance

* Shelby Supercharger Upgrade 600- 725+
* Cold Air intake
* Shelby/Baer 6 piston caliper bake system
* Shelby short throw shifter
* Shelby/Eibach coil over suspension
* Shelby/Eibach sway bars
* Borla cat-back exhaust system

Exterior

* Shelby Super Snake Hood
* Carbon fiber front fascia splitter
* Carbon fiber mirror covers
* Carbon fiber rocker panels
* Shelby deck lid letter kit
* Super Snake badging on front grille and front fenders
* Sequential tail lights
* Super Snake striping
* Front brake duct kit
* Rear brake duct kit

Interior

* CSM consecutively numbered dash plaque
* CSM consecutively numbered plaque in engine compartment
* Super Snake door sill plates with CSM number
* Light bar with solenoid activated brake light (Convertible)
* Shelby floor mats
* Aesthetic engine kit with billet fluid caps and dip stick handle
* Center gauge cluster with Autometer Carroll Shelby Signature Carbon Fiber faced gauges (boost,fuel pressure,oil pressure)
* Aluminum Shelby map light accent
* Satin door lock knobs

Tires and Wheels

* 20″ Shelby Alcoa wheels (bright silver finish 20X9 front 20X10 rear)
* Pirelli P-Zero Nero 255/35ZR20 front 275/35ZR20 rear

Related:
Super Snake: Shelby To Create Bigger 'Stang With Longer Fangs and 725 Hp? [internal]

New Ford Mustang GT500 by Steeda

Over 600hp and uncompromised handling
Steeda Autosports President Dario Orlando chose the 2007 Camp Steeda / SVT Owners Association Open Track Event at the famed Sebring International Raceway for the world debut of the new Steeda GT500.

Steeda Autosports took the fine platform that Ford Motor Company's SVT Team developed and performed that special Steeda magic to further transform the stallion into an all out performance vehicle - perfect for the discerning performance enthusiast who wants only the very best in engineering and performance.

Not wanting to rest on their laurels, the Steeda Engineering Team took the GT500 to the "Ultimate Level" by using their sophisticated CAD/CAM engineering modeling intelligence, rapid design, and in-house manufacturing capabilities to deliver a completed vehicle worthy of the name: The Steeda GT500.

With powerful engine upgrades and the most extensive suspension upgrades available, the Steeda GT500 is the most finely tuned and best performing GT500 on the planet !

Included with this upgrade is the all new and patented Steeda Coilover Suspension System, derived from over one year of research and development, that greatly enhances aggressive performance driving without detracting from ride quality.

Performance modifications made to the vehicle include:

Engine:

* Steeda GT500 Pro-Flow Cold Air Intake
* Steeda /SCT Performance ECU Tune
* Steeda Upper Supercharger Pully

Exhaust:

* Steeda Axle-Back Stainless Steel System

Brakes:

* Steeda 13" Rear Brake upgrade Kit
* Steeda 14" Slotted Front Rotors and upgraded pads

Drivetrain:

* Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter

Suspension:

* Steeda Coilover Suspension System
* Steeda Performance Alignment
* Steeda Billet Rear Lower Control Arms
* Steeda Lower Control Arm Relocation Brackets
* Steeda Adjustable Panhard Bar
* Steeda Double Adjustable 3rd Link
* Steeda Competition Front Swaybar
* Steeda Billet Swaybar Mount Kit
* Steeda Competition Rear Swaybar
* Steeda Bumpsteer Kit - Product Link
* Steeda X5 Balljoints - Product Link

At an upgrade price of $13,995, the Steeda GT500 - simply the best performing and most exclusive GT500 available. Contact your local Steeda authorized dealer, call Steeda directly at 954-960-0774, or visit www.steeda.com for more information.

SHELBY AUTOS AND FORD RACING TO BUILD 600+ HP STREET LEGAL SHELBY GT500 "SUPER SNAKES"

Las Vegas - April 27, 2007 - Shelby Automobiles will use newly-developed Ford Racing GT500 performance packs to help transform a limited number of 2007 and 2008 Ford Shelby GT500's into fire breathing "Super Snake" coupes. The Super Snake post-title package will include enhancements to the Ford Shelby GT500's handling, styling and power; tuning options will range from a warranted 600 HP V8 to over 725 HP (unwarranted). Only a limited number of Super Snakes will be built per model year at the Shelby Automobiles facility in Las Vegas beginning in late 2007.

"My team at Shelby Automobiles is always working on new ways to build better performing cars" said Carroll Shelby. "I told them that I wanted to build a vehicle that could blow the doors off of most anything on the planet. By partnering with Ford Racing, we're giving enthusiasts a Mustang with that level of performance."

Working together at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and in Dearborn, Ford Racing and Team Shelby developed the aggressive suspension and engine package specifically for the car.

"Mustang enthusiasts are demanding more from both Ford Racing and Shelby Autos" said Jamie Allison, Manager of Ford Racing Performance Group. "The GT500 Super Snake package, with its higher horsepower levels and balanced track-inspired tuning, satisfies those demands and then some ... in a uniquely Ford - Shelby way."

In 1967, Shelby American built one 427-powered GT500 "Super Snake" for Mel Burns Ford. Carroll Shelby drove it at the Goodyear test track for tire promotion film production. That car reached lap speeds of over 150 mph and a top speed of 170 mph. The new Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake will be equally potent.

"The name 'Super Snake' is legendary because the one that Shelby built was the pinnacle of muscle cars in 1967," added Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles. "We're bringing that concept forward 40 years for customers who own a Ford Shelby GT500. We'll give their car amazing new capabilities."

Ford Racing and Team Shelby developed the GT500 Super Snake package which will include:
Ford Racing Supercharger upgrade kit (SuperPack 600) producing over 600 horsepower and 590 ft.-lbs. of torque
6-speed manual transmission with 3.73:1 rear axle ratio
Ford Racing performance exhaust system
Ford Racing Handling Pack offering unique performance suspension tuning including Dynamic adjustable dampers, lowering springs, tuned stabilizer bars, and front strut tower brace
Shelby-designed Alcoa 20-inch wheels
Ford Racing short-throw shifter
Baer 6 piston brakes with Shelby cast calipers and larger rotors
Front brake cooling ducts
Unique carbon composite hood featuring classic Shelby design
'Shelby' lettering across the front edge of hood and rear decklid
'Super Snake' vehicle badging
Carroll Shelby signature embroidered headrests and floor mats, and other Shelby designed components
Official Shelby CSM dash plate

In addition, while the full Super Snake package will be available exclusively through Shelby Automobiles, many of the products comprising the Super Snake package will be available from Shelby Automobiles and Ford Racing starting in June.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With more than 280,000 employees and more than 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Aston Martin and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com. For more information regarding Ford Racing performance packs, visit www.fordracingparts.com.

About Shelby Automobiles, Inc.
Founded by legend Carroll Shelby, Shelby Automobiles, Inc., manufactures and markets performance vehicles and related products. The company manufactures authentic continuation Cobras, including the 427 S/C, 289 FIA and 289 street car component vehicles. The company has partnered with Ford Motor Company to build the Shelby GT, Shelby GT500 and Shelby GT-H, which are based on the current Mustang. For more information about Shelby Automobiles, visit www.shelbyautos.com.

Related:
King of the Road Indeed: The 2008 Shelby Cobra GT500KR Concept Surfaces; Hooray, Beer! Shelby Gets A Red Stripe For The GT500 [internal]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Shelby GT500, Part 1 [internal]

Red Stripe Ambassador: Red Stripe! The beer in the short, stubby ugly bottle Mustang with the short, stubby front end. If ugly people stand next to a Red Stripe, they look beautiful! You sir...
Ugly Man: Yeah?
Red Stripe Ambassador: Would you say that you're ugly?
Ugly Man: Well, I wouldn't say...
Red Stripe Ambassador: You are VERY UGLY! Here, hold this Red Stripe.
Ugly Man: Ok...
Red Stripe Ambassador: Look, you are beautiful! Red Stripe — it's beer! Hooray beer!

NEW LIMITED-EDITION 2007 FORD SHELBY GT500 OFFERS MUSTANG ENTHUSIASTS A CHANCE TO HIT THE REDLINE

* Production of limited-edition Red Stripe Appearance Package for 2007 Shelby GT500 to begin in May.
* Special package includes unique exterior striping and badges, Red and Black leather seating, special interior trim and logos and branded Shelby GT500 car cover.
* 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 tops in segment quality, says RDA Group research—92 percent of owners would definitely recommend the vehicle to family or friends.

DEARBORN, Mich., April 19, 2007 - Even with demand for the most muscular Mustang ever - the Ford Shelby GT500 - at a record high, Ford is cranking up additional interest with a new, limited-edition package that adds unique visual appeal to the Shelby GT500. Enter the "Red Stripe Appearance Package," to be available beginning in May.

The Ford Shelby GT500 is the most powerful Mustang on the road today and arguably one of the most successful projects from Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) in terms of performance, excitement and, importantly, quality.

In fact, early indicators show the Shelby GT500 is a quality standout. In the most recent Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study from RDA Group, an independent research company based in Bloomfield Hills, Mi., the Shelby GT500 earned praise as the highest-quality Mustang model, with the fewest "things gone wrong" in the first three months of ownership.

The Mustang line scores above the segment average in quality, according to the GQRS study, and the Shelby GT500 specifically scored the top result in the "sports car" segment.

"The unmatched quality and power of the latest Mustang masterpiece explains why 9 out of 10 owners are completely satisfied with their overall ownership experience," the April 2007 RDA Group report concluded.

New Limited-Edition Shelby GT500 Package to be Available Beginning in May

The new Red Stripe Appearance Package will be available on any new 2007 Shelby GT500 Coupe with either White or Black exterior paint. Included in the special-edition package are Bright Red overbody and bodyside stripes, a Red and Black leather interior, unique red-accent exterior badges, including red-tinted Cobra emblems in the grille, fenders, and in the faux gas cap on the rear panel. Even the "SHELBY" letters on the decklid feature red accents.

The Red Stripe Appearance Package also adds unique new premium floor mats with a Red and Silver embroidered "Cobra Snake" logo, plus a fitted Shelby GT500-branded car cover.

The appearance package carries an MSRP of $1,650 and will be available from early May through late June, marking the end of the 2007 model run.

"The red package is all about exclusivity," said Robert Parker, Ford's Car Marketing manager. "Our Mustang customers are eager to buy unique vehicles like the Shelby GT500 and will certainly appreciate the opportunity for something even more exclusive, made in an even more limited number. These are great customers and very passionate. I'm glad we can continue to deliver what they want."

Shelby GT500 is among the Most Successful Performance Mustangs Ever

Enthusiasm doesn't begin to describe the ongoing demand for the Ford Shelby GT500. In the hyper-competitive auto market where supply routinely surpasses demand, the Shelby GT500 still has a long waiting list of buyers.

The Shelby GT500 was created by racing legend Carroll Shelby and Ford SVT and is a modern interpretation of the classic Shelby Mustang of the 1960s. Beneath the hood of every GT500 - including the new Red model - is a 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 engine officially rated at 500 hp. A 6-speed manual gearbox features evenly spaced gears that help provide a sharp, lively driving experience on both road and track.

In addition to the engine upgrades, Ford's SVT engineers retuned and upgraded key Mustang chassis components. Improvements include revised shocks, spring rates and upgraded stabilizer bars that help the Ford Shelby GT500 maneuver with authority.

The GT500's unique design features include wide upper and lower fascia openings with a functional air splitter. On either side, slanting headlamp openings add to the dramatic front appearance. The carefully tailored hood has heat extractors protruding near the leading edge, combining to provide improved airflow and aerodynamics.

The MSRP of a 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 starts at $41,675.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With more than 280,000 employees and more than 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.

Related:
King of the Road Indeed: The 2008 Shelby Cobra GT500KR Concept Surfaces [Internal]

Is 540 horsepower (and 510 lb-ft of torque) sent to a live rear axle enough to constitute monarchical sovereignty over all thoroughfares? You make the call, we'll make with the specs on the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR. The name recalls one of the last Shelby Mustangs to be produced during the late 1960s. This King comes with a six-speed manual and a rear axle ratio of 3.73:1. It gets the Ford Racing power package, which includes a modified ECU and cold-air intake; performance suspension including stiffer springs, dampers, and stabilizer bars; Shelby-designed 18" wheels (20" for show purposes); short-throw shifter and front strut tower brace; carbon composite hood featuring classic Shelby 'KR' design, and front brake cooling ducts. We'll see it at the New York auto show next week ahead of its arrival next spring for a run of 1000 units. – Mike Spinelli

SHELBY GT500KR 'KING OF THE ROAD' RETURNS IN 2008 [StangsUnleashed.com]

Related:
New York Auto Show Preview: It's Good To Be The King...Of The Road [internal]

No folks, it's not 1968, but Carroll Shelby's anointing a new King of The Road at the New York Auto Show, and we've got the video above to prove it — thanks to a little bird named Alan. If you'll remember, the original royal Shelby Cobra GT500-KR was a hot piece of twat, with a suspiciously low horsepower rating of 335. Of course, it was said that dynoing uncovered an extra 100 ponies grazing within FoMoCo's 428 ci Police Interceptor V8. And that was a vehicle with a base price of $4,473. Unfortunately our little bird hasn't given us any specs on what Shelby plans on revealing next week, so we'll have to see whether it'll be a hurried-up Corvette SS-beater or whether it's actually worthy of the crown. – Ray Wert

Related:
C'mon and Buy My SNAKE Oil Til My Well Runs Stinking Dry: GT500KR On eBay [internal]

Kasey Kagawa is pissed. The Hamster took out a GT500 for review, tossed it on a chassis dyno and came back with 447 horsepower instead of the 500 claimed by Ford. However, it seems from the show as if this was rear-wheel horsepower, uncompensated for the drivetrain's parasitic loss, while Ford rates the motor at the crankshaft. Either way, the methodology wasn't remotely qualified. Kasey, who is possibly the biggest Top Gear junkie we know, isn't taking this lying down. He's refusing to pirate the show until TG apologizes. We'll probably watch anyway while swallowing salt grains, but it does seem that the show's leaning farther and farther toward entertainment these days, whereas before, it pretty much struck a perfect balance between seriousness, epic hoonage and irreverance. Thoughts, children? – Davey G. Johnson

A Sad State of Affairs: Top Gear Lies About GT500 HP Rating [Dubspeed]

Related:
Beware the Redy2: 615 Horses Attack a Mustang's Rear Wheels!!! [Internal]

Boy racers of the San Fernando Valley — consider this your warning. No matter how modded your EVO, no matter how often your daddy lets you take out the M5, no matter how yellow your Gallardo, you will lose the stoplight drag to a stock looking 2005 Mustang GT. Notice I said looking, because besides the body panels, interior and rear brakes, nothing about this bruiser is remotely OEM. So much so that the list of modifications would run for three pages and bore all but Uncle Bumbeck to technical tears. All you really need to know is that owner John has sunk about $50,000 worth of go-faster gear into his red baby. Most notable is a custom built, 12-fin Vortech supercharger that runs at 21psi on high-test. That, along with a slight bore-out to 5-liters returns 614.7hp and 507.5lbs. ft of neck-snapping torqueage to the meats. John didn't bother to test the crank horsepower, because as he put it, "Who cares?" How does it drive? Make the jump and I'll tell you.

The first thing about Redy2 you will notice is the furious soundtrack. Holy mother of loud! It sounds like an elephant orgy. Just a shattering cacophony of mechanical meanness. The three-stage clutch is a little tricky to get just right, but as John's top priority was to get all available power to the pavement, a quick left foot and a heavy right equates to a bright red topless rocket sled. Earlier in the development process the engine was sending over 800hp to the fat 285s, but that made first gear unusable. My pistonhead instincts tell me this is the right combination of restraint and madness. John told tales of routinely spanking not only GT500s, but the mighty Corvette Z06. Our brief (but wikkid) test drive confirmed that John doesn't lie. This sucker is sick, sick fast.

Much more impressive to me than the epic explosiveness is the handling. While still a two-ton live-axle Mustang, I felt as if I was piloting an M6. It's that good. Last month's GT500 stepped sideways every chance it got. While the Shelby was for the most part well behaved, it maintained a certain squirreliness that kept you on your toes. By contrast, the Redy2 was composed, tied down and so firmly planted that I never even got the sense I could lose control. That is until the tach crested 4500rpm and the blower boost jumped from 9 to 21psi. At that point, the rear will start to sidestep (like a Mustang should) and you'll be grinning like a fool. Downsides? 9mpg (compared to the Shelby GT500's 17mpg), some cowl shake and a bit of driveline shunt from the carbon-fiber shaft. Upsides? 8.64 through the quarter-mile and the ability to attack Topanga Canyon twisties with Porsche-like ease. I'll take mine in Grabber Orange with the spoiler delete option, please. – Jonny Lieberman

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Shelby GT500, Part 1 [Internal]

Despite the Loverman's obsession with the Shelby GT500, his other employer, Robert Farago, does not like the snakey horse. Says Farago: "That's like saying it's OK to shag Adriana Lima even if you know she's got herpes. Maybe you'll catch it, maybe you won't. Why worry when it feels so gooood? 'Cause it will right until the moment it doesn't." But according to Jonny, "You can smoke the tires at 80! It's awesome!" Click through for Farago's review and his verbal sparring match with Jonny. – Davey G. Johnson

Shelby GT500 — Counterpoint [The Truth About Cars]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Shelby GT500, Part 1

Why You Should Buy This Car: Drop-kicking the accelerator is like hitting a crack pipe; the rush is outright mad, instantly exhilarating and altogether unhealthy. A lack of German engineering in a car this powerful is refreshing. The GT500 is as American as Marlboro Reds, 72oz steaks and adult-onset diabetes; wrapping yourself in a flag would be less patriotic. Despite all odds, the Shelby is a blast to drive really fast. The brakes will man up and save your bacon, and then do it again. Tight back seat doubles as a handy dog carrier. The commodious trunk makes it realistic for daily use. It's both fantastically butch-looking and ordinary, which makes it as stealthy as a Q-ship. The price makes it the performance steal of this decade. The hottest MILF in the Valley walked up to me and said, "Nice car." Did I mention that the acceleration is more fun than seven roller coasters?

Why You Shouldn't Buy This Car: You're not sold on last century's technology. Precision in all things is your thing, and you need a little foreplay. Underneath all the snakes, Eaton blower and bluster sits a $17,000 rental car. The ride is just pathetic and the road noise isn't far behind. Its collar is bluer than Larry the Cable Guy's routine; nothing Volvo going on over here. Despite having decent gas mileage (for what it is), the tank is only 15-gallons large; real world range is about 250-miles per fill-up. The massive bulge in the hood makes parking an F-150-ish affair. You're too old.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: No
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: Yes
· Tuner Crowd: Yes
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: No
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: No
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: Yes
· Golfing Grandparents: No

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Ford
· Model tested: Shelby GT500
· Model year: 2007
· Price as Tested: $43,250
· Engine type: 5.4L Supercharged V8
· Horsepower: 500 hp @ 6000 rpm
· Torque: 480 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
· Redline: 6250 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: 18" Aluminum wheels w/ P255/45R18 fronts, P285/45R18 rear
· Drive type: rear-wheel drive
· 0 - 60: 4.5 seconds
· 1/4 mile: 12s
· Fuel economy city/highway: 15/21
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: NA

– Jonny Lieberman

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Shelby Cobra GT500, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Exterior Design *****
The more I look at these new Mustangs, the more I understand why LA's Museum of Contemporary Art gave designer J Mays his own show. True, his New Beetle and reborn Thunderbird are insipid, but what he did for Ford's hot two-door has teeth. The Mustang looks even better dressed as a Shelby, with its ass in the air, fat tires and megamouth shark front end. You simply cannot front on the blue Le Mans stripes, nor can you dispute the perturbed Cobras (four of 'em) covering all sides. Still, to the untrained eye, the GT500 only looks like a plain, old Mustang. And considering it's a vehicle capable of truly heinous illegal activity, that may be good news for your license.

Interior Design ***
The SVT light, which flares orange when revs match a driver-selectable shift point, is beyond cool. In fact, if everything else about the car sucked eggs, that lone detail would be enough to win my heart. If you look at the wheel you'll clock yet another snake. If you gaze through the wheel, you'll notice a wholly illegible supercharger boost gauge. And the seats have hissing cobras stitched into 'em, too. Just don't look down at the same cheap-o FoMoCo interior parts.

Acceleration *****
I wish we could give out more than five stars, because the GT500 deserves at least seven. True, other cars will hit 60 mph faster (4.5 seconds in this case) and do the quarter-mile in less time (12.9 seconds) — (Hot Rod wrangled 4.3 seconds to 60mph and 12.25 through the quarter). But no production vehicle on earth is more fun, or more frightening, to launch. Once the clutch engages, the feeling is that of being strapped to a Saturn V rocket that's had a few too many. Shifting into second produces immediate, blood-curdling fishtailage. And that's with the computer doing to the dirty work. Computer off, and the Shelby goes sideways and stays there for as long as it goes forward. Long story short, the Shelby GT500 conjures dreams of owning an abandoned runway.

Braking ****
Obviously the terrible stock Mustang GT's brakes would be of little use in a 500hp brute like this. Out they went, and in their place are 14" cross-drilled rotors and four-piston Brembos in the front. Though the rear wheels have stock stoppers, the mighty Brembo duo gets the job done. They're not outstanding or memorable, mind you, but you will shed speed when you stand on the pedal. And, as I found out on an 80-mile round trip up and down Angeles Crest, no sign of fade.

Ride **
What a beast. On straight, smooth surfaces the GT500 feels fine, and that's the only reason I'm handing out two stars. But if the road ahead should wind even slightly, the Shelby begins its rocking and bobbing. There's too much weight up front and too little technology out back in the live-axle setup for any other result. Rough surfaces are a nightmare of jolting and banging. There's a reason the headrests are the softest part of the seats.

Handling ****
Ford Racing execs claim they've mitigated the live-rear-axle liability by tweaking elsewhere. True, this car is to an Elise what a rhinoceros is to a gazelle. So ... Don't race Lotuses. Engineers did their job though, as the grip is enormous (0.92 G), making challenging roads feel conquerable. It's always a bummer when the stock Mustang GT quits at the limit and begins to plow, but the good news is the Shelby's first instinct is to oversteer; with the traction control off it does little else. Even if you're not quite Mr. McRae, with the traction nanny switched on you'll have a hard time doing anything too stupid.

Gearbox ***
Disclaimer: our Shelby showed up with 9,000 journalist miles so who knows what this poor car has been through. (I would guess hell.) Still, the transmission made some of the worst noises I've heard since my old Pontiac lost a cylinder. You only notice this when scooting about town buying milk and cigarettes; under heavy acceleration all you hear is the air-raid-siren scream from the blower. The flimsy stick felt like it could snap apart in my hand, which, again may or may not be due to abuse. Ford claims the six-speed Tremec unit, which replaces the mediocre five-speed in the GT, is needed to handle the extra torque. Without the sixth-gear, however, the Shelby would likely return close to single-digit highway miles.

Audio/Video *
There's no video and the Shelby is in desperate need of the Shaker 1000 unit we had in last month's California Special. There's so much womp-womp from the massive tires at freeway speeds that it is best to just pull the head unit to save weight.

Toys ***
In some sense, the car itself is a toy. That said, I just cannot get over that you can choose your own gauge colors. Also, as mentioned, the flashing SVT shift point indicator is tits on glass.

Trunk ****
Only the M6 and the Merc 600CL rival the Shelby for 500hp coupe storage supremacy. And those are fancy-pants Deutsche super sleds most definitely not intended for me or you. I was able to schlep my mother's Black Friday Macy's haul home with ease.

Value *****
500 horses for $40,925? Sold.

Overall *****
I was so prepared to hate this car. The (admittedly short) time I spent with the convertible GT500 alerted me to all its flaws. Plus, as we were testing the drop-top in heavily congested and policed Malibu, I never got to really open her up (i.e., drop the hammer and the clutch). As the miles rolled by this week I have been converted, one stoplight at a time. The Shelby has so many good points; bowel-emptying acceleration, rude-boy looks, aggressive handling and potent brakes that it is easy to overlook the most important part. You (or hopefully me) could live with this car, happily ever after. – Jonny Lieberman

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Shelby Cobra GT500, Part 1, Part 3 [internal]

Ford's Shelby GT500 is the real, vulgarian deal. Sure, its faults are numerous: It's too fat (3,920 lbs.) and too much of that lard is near the nose (58/42 front-rear split); the ride is utter garbage; the transmission feels like it's made from old nautical rope, and above 80 mph the road noise is like the inside of a dumpster that's being slammed by drunks with aluminum bats. And who cares? Certainly not me. True, a Dodge Viper will wend its way around a track faster, but when the Shelby catches up, it'll slash the Dodge's tires and piss in its gas tank.

There isn't much to this 'Stang except engine. Beneath the bulged hood resides a 5.4-liter block of pig iron, topped with aluminum heads from the Ford GT and finished with an Eaton supercharger and intercooler setup. Altogether, this badassed chorus produces 500 hp and 480 lbs. ft. of torque at the flywheel. The day before I took possession of the white-with-blue beauty, FoMoCo slapped it on a dyno and recorded 448.3 hp pummeling the rear wheels. For math majors, that's 89.96% of engine horsepower, a number any racing engineer would agree plows past respectable and all the way to scandalous.

Aside from the mondo engine, the GT500 also comes with suspension tweaks, a Tremec six-speed, 14" brakes with four-piston Brembo stoppers, seven hissing snakes and huge 18" x 11" wheels out back. And you'll need those meats, because the GT500's acceleration is just bonkers. It takes 4.5 seconds to hit 60 mph, a time attack on par with the Lamborghini Gallardo. A Corvette Z06 will leave the Shelby for dead in a quarter-mile, but the ber-Vette only goes forward. The GT500 moves 80 feet laterally across the same distance. And that's with the traction control on. Go nannyless and the GT500 will out-boogie Emmitt Smith. Plus, there's so much torque available across the rev range, you can chirp sixth at 80 mph (a trick I couldn't resist performing repeatedly).

The GT500 is also more practical than the typical supercar. Aside from seating 3.5 adults in relative discomfort, the trunk is more than usable. I hauled two huge bags of clothes down to the Goodwill and then immediately rocketed the Shelby up the awesome Angeles Crest Highway, hard-charging at motorcycles all the way to the 6,000-foot summit. Then, I turned her around and drove straight to LAX, grabbing my friend and his luggage. Fine, maybe you could do the same with a BMW M6, but you'd look like a jackass asking for a receipt from Goodwill. And if you make sure to mix in some highway miles with your constant clutch droppage, you'll average around 18 mpg. Behaving just as obnoxiously, I only saw 11 mpg from an Audi RS4.

Back to the GT500's most obvious Detroit counterpart. Whereas the Z06 feels like the best effort from a team o'engineers with advanced degrees and a no-limit budget, the Shelby vibes like a few buddies slapped the thing together in the garage between beer runs. (It's making that noise again Jim. Where's the brass hammer?) The Chevy is purpose-built to beat Germans and Italians around the N rburgring Nordschleife, but the Ford is on earth to murder Goodyears and win pinks. The Corvette is an Ivy League blue-blood with no fashion sense. The GT500 is Frank McCourt's father with anger-management issues. – Jonny Lieberman

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Shelby Cobra GT500, Part 2, Part 3 [internal]

With 664 HP and 778 ft-lb of torque, the Pennsylvania speed-shop, Evolution Performance, claims they've souped-up the first sub-ten second Shelby GT500. What do you think of their claim — do they hit that magic number? Watch the video above to find out, but seeing as this was the same shop that was first in the 11's and 10's — chances are pretty good they'll make it happen. Plus, we probably wouldn't be posting it if they failed magnificently, right? – Ray Wert

Related:
Dyno'ing A Ford Shelby Mustang GT500; Wellby, Wellby, Wellby, Jalopnik Drove Some Shelbys [internal]

Some of us have a tendency do insane things for the people we love. In this case, a man handed his 14-year-old son the keys to a still-window-stickered GT500. Oops. [Thanks to prplhaze for the tip.] [UPDATE: Some good points have been made in the comments. Is it a fake? Discuss.]

Related:
Holy Safe! Sh*t Happens [Internal]

FoMoCo invited us down to Duke's Restaurant in Malibu to drive the Shelby GT500 Convertible, the Shelby GT and most righteously right-on of all, the Hertz Shelby GT-H along the beautiful Bo Stefan Eriksson/Mel Gibson/AC Schnitzer Memorial Highway. After a few minutes spent gawking at all four cars (they had both kinds of Shelby GT — the black and the white) parked against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, it occurred to us just how ludicrous it is that Ford is sitting on the pole in the race to be the first American manufacturer to go belly-up in a generation.

These Shelbys, especially the Hertz, raise men's heart rates. Women look at you when you drive them. Pretty, rich, Malibu-Barbie-type women. A trio of motorcycle cops even stopped by to ogle (which was good because I did something really dumb right in a front of a five-O an hour later and he didn't budge). If only Ford would attack the rest of their product line with the same vim and vigor... well, you know where and how this sentence ends.

First up was the 500hp, 480 pound-foot GT500 drop-top, sporting a detuned version of the recently deceased Ford GT's 5.4L Roots-blown mill. A stonker that happens to fill up every inch of space in the engine bay. Seriously, cramped to the point of having to go metric. GT Marketing Manager John Alguire explained that the fit is so tight that when they load the engine in from the bottom, they have only two millimeters of clearance on either side. Sadly, with the hood up, the motor resembles a chemistry set made out of piss-bottles. Best to keep the lid down and concentrate instead on all the angry looking snakes festooned on the vehicle. I counted seven, including two stitched into the seats!

Grabbing the six-speed Tremec handle is your first clue that this is not your mother's Mustang ragtop. Unfortunately, it is the last clue for quite some time. Call it a Q-car if you like, but in normal, everyday driving (which the ridiculously congested PCH provided plenty of) no indication is given that you are at the helm of the most powerful factory 'Stang ever built. The cowl shakes as per normal, the soundtrack isn't all that interesting, and the view out over the hood is nothing to write home about. Heeling and toeing into a red light provided the first inkling that something special lurks below, for as you crest 4,000rpm, an SVT badge in the center of the tach lights up orange. Cool! And when you press the button to turn off the traction control, it too lights up orange. That's when you should tell the passenger to hold on. As 57% of this porker's weight (3,920lbs. in all) is over the front axle, the rear end slides like Enzos hunt power poles. And once you get into third gear, the acceleration is frightening. We loved it. Summary: when pushed hard the Shelby GT500 Convertible is as cruel a car as they come. But why do you have to push it so hard?

Next was the Mustang GT Ford should have been building since day one, the Shelby GT. For reals y'all, this is the current height of 'Stang chic. Silver Le Mans racing stripe? Standa