One of the more famous Shelby Mustang sports cars is the GT350H , a version of the classic Shelby GT350 that was rented out by Hertz in the 1960s. Shelby revived the idea in the mid-2000s with the Shelby GT-H , and the consumer-ready Shelby GT . The nameplate is back again the the 2019 Shelby GT, and while it's not available to rent this time, you can still get it with the signature gold stripes.The new model is typical modern Shelby: lots of show, a bit more go. Under the hood is the typical 5.0-liter V8 from the regular Mustang , but it makes a claimed 480 horsepower, 20 more than the stock Mustang GT, and the same as the new Bullitt, and it has a Borla cat-back exhaust. Shelby also adds Ford Performance springs and anti-roll bars to each standard Shelby GT, plus some caster and camber adjustment plates. Visually, it looks much more aggressive with a new bumper, side skirts, rear bumper, taillight panel, spoiler, and, of course, stripes. Inside upgrades mainly consist of badges and fancy floor mats.Shelby also offers an array of options to add to the basic Shelby GT. The GT-H package, in which the H stands for "Heritage" not "Hertz," adds the gold stripes of the rental car, and can only be had with black or white paint. The package also adds Ford Performance shocks, something available in the Shelby Premium package, too. A "Heavy Duty" package adds an upgraded radiator, wheel studs and axle half-shafts. The company will eventually offer a Ford Performance supercharger kit, too.Pricing for all of the different options hasn't been announced yet, but the base car prices have. A no-frills Shelby GT starts at $61,345, and a Heritage or Premium model starts at $66,345. This pricing is for a manual-transmission coupe for the base. Shelby will also do a convertible and automatic versions. It's worth pointing out that a Ford Mustang Bullitt has the same amount of power, and it just costs $47,495, and the springs and anti-roll bars from Ford Performance cost under $1,000 for the parts. So you could have effectively the same car for over $16,000 less than the Shelby GT.<doc-sep>Topline: Shelby American announced Friday the return of its Mustang-based Shelby GT, which it will launch at the Woodward Dream Cruise on Aug. 18. What's New: The Shelby GT plumps up the already plentiful performance of the Ford Mustang GT. A specially-developed Borla exhaust system eases the pony car up to an estimated 480 horsepower from the naturally-aspirated 5.0-liter V8's 460, which customers can couple to either a six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission. Down the line, a Ford Performance supercharger will be available to escalate horsepower above the 700 mark after Shelby achieves emissions compliance. Shelby American The engine hides underneath a custom vented hood, which is but one of many pieces of bodywork redesigned for the Shelby GT. Rocker panels, the spoiler, taillight panel, and other smaller components differ on the Shelby GT, which also rides on special 20-inch wheels. A CSM dash plaque and embroidered floor mats remind drivers that they're driving a Shelby, should they somehow forget. Shelby American Ford Performance cooperated with Shelby American to develop the Shelby GT's handling, which maximizes cornering capabilities at no penalty to ride quality using different springs, sway bars, and caster/camber plates. Upgrading to the Shelby GT-H (Heritage edition) changes out the front struts and rear shocks, and a Heavy Duty package can add an enlarged radiator and coolant reservoir, performance axle shafts, and uprated wheel studs. GT-H models can be ordered in either black or white, with a gold stripe, optional gold wheels, and a special front bumper, building on the extensive bodywork modifications already present on the GT. A short-throw shifter, Shelby-themed leather interior, and a fitted car cover are also available. Shelby American Quotable: "The 2019 Shelby GT exudes serious sex appeal," stated Gary Patterson, president of Shelby American. "We designed a gorgeous car to make any drive an adventure with thrilling performance and dynamic handling. The Shelby GT can gobble up miles on a road trip or rip up the corners on the track. It is equally fun cruising to the beach or to the office. Plus, this is the only naturally-aspirated V8 Shelby car that can be optioned in convertible and with an automatic transmission. Enthusiasts will love to drive it all day, every day." "Launched for the 2007 model year, the first generation Shelby GT is one of the most popular vehicles in our history," added Joe Conway, CEO of Shelby American. "Available through North American Ford showrooms, it delivered sizzling performance in a refined car that could be driven every day. We’re returning this iconic pony car to dealerships for the 2019 model year. We are pleased to once again unveil this newest version alongside our close friends at Ford Motor Company during the Woodward Dream Cruise." Shelby American What You Need to Know: The 2019 Shelby GT will debut at the Woodward Dream Cruise on Aug. 18, and orders open on Aug. 20. Shelby American has been busy this year, releasing its Series 2 sports car almost two decades after the original Series 1. Even more belated was its production launch of the Mustang Shelby GT500 Super Snake—delayed 51 years—but at least it's reaching the roads of America. We can't help but wonder if the busy bees over and Shelby are cooking up any special versions of the eight-second Mustang Cobrajet drag car.<doc-sep>Among Mustang owners, few names carry more weight than Carroll Shelby's. The legendary racer's name is synonymous with high-performance Mustangs, and even after his death in 2012, Shelby American continues to sell tuned Mustang GTs. For 2019, that will include a revised Shelby GT and a new GT-H (pictured here). Officially revealed at the Woodward Dream Cruise, the 2019 Shelby GT gets an upgraded suspension, custom bodywork, a Borla exhaust, unique wheels, and a handful of Shelby accents. Customers have their choice of a coupe or convertible with either a 10-speed automatic or six-speed manual. Thanks to the sports exhaust, the Shelby GT also makes a Bullitt-matching 480 hp. If you want more power, Shelby can add a Ford Performance supercharger that bumps engine output to more than 700 hp. See all 45 photos See all 45 photos See all 45 photos See all 45 photos "We designed a gorgeous car to make any drive an adventure with thrilling performance and dynamic handling," said Gary Patterson, head of Shelby American, in a release. "The Shelby GT can gobble up miles on a road trip or rip up the corners on the track. It is equally fun cruising to the beach or to the office. Plus, this is the only naturally aspirated V-8 Shelby car that can be optioned in convertible and with an automatic transmission. Enthusiasts will love to drive it all day, every day." See all 45 photos See all 45 photos Shelby will also introduce a Heritage version called the GT-H that's inspired by the Hertz rental cars Shelby built back in the mid-2000s. The GT-H can be ordered in either black or white and gets gold racing strips. Optional gold wheels are also available. To help separate the GT-H from the regular Shelby GT, it gets a restyled front end, as well as additional suspension upgrades. The price of the GT-H has yet to be released, but Shelby says the GT starts at $61,345. Adding any of the other custom upgrades or options packages will increase the price from there, but the good news is, the cost of the Mustang GT is already included.<doc-sep>
Do you or a loved one really, really love the Ford Mustang? Does the mere mention of a certain Texas chicken farmer and early Chili's investor get you hot under the collar? Do you have $62,000 or more just laying around for spending on a car. If you answered yes to all three of those questions, then Shelby American has a treat for you. It's bringing back its Shelby GT models with a big celebration at the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit. What exactly is a Shelby GT? Shelby American starts by taking a Ford Mustang GT and then whacking a bunch of styling bits onto it, making it more aggressive and 'Merican and less like the almost-European sports car that the Mustang has become. It then adds a few small performance tweaks namely a new exhaust system that bumps power output to 480 horsepower from 460. Enlarge Image Shelby American If that sounds like a crazy reason to tack on an additional 20 grand to the price tag of a Mustang, then you are not this car's target demographic. The Shelby name means a lot to a lot of people and this represents one of the best ways to get yourself into a Shelby car with a warranty short of finding a Dodge Shelby Omni GLHS languishing forgotten in the back lot of some lonely CarMax. Or, you know, buying a Ford Shelby GT350, but that demands a lot of sacrifice in terms of comfort and convenience that the Shelby GT doesn't. The Shelby GT can be had as a fastback or a convertible and buyers can choose to fit their car with either a six-speed manual transmission or Ford's 10-speed automatic. Buyers can also opt for the GT-H model which is inspired by the 2005-2006 Hertz rental specials (and definitely not the famed GT350-H model of the 1960s) of same name and which come in either black or white with gold stripes and optional gold wheels. Enlarge Image Shelby American "The 2019 Shelby GT exudes serious sex appeal," said Gary Patterson, Shelby American president. "We designed a gorgeous car to make any drive an adventure with thrilling performance and dynamic handling. The Shelby GT can gobble up miles on a road trip or rip up the corners on the track. It is equally fun cruising to the beach or to the office. Plus, this is the only naturally aspirated V8 Shelby car that can be optioned in convertible and with an automatic transmission. Enthusiasts will love to drive it all day, every day." So, if you just sold your app and you're wondering what to get your dad for Christmas, skip the Maui Jims and Tommy Bahama shirts this year and maybe drop come coin on a slice of modern nostalgia in the form of a Shelby American GT.