I
heartily apologize to a certain Fairborn woman named Brenda.
After catching a glimpse of the Ford Shelby GT500 convertible in the company lot, Brenda’s husband/my coworker quipped, “My wife will have to get a second job now.
“You just caused a fight at my house tonight. Thanks a lot,” Steve snarked. Let me add that both of this loving couple’s 20-something sons drive Mustang Cobras.
This is a family that loves its ’Stangs. They subscribe to Mustang magazines. They endlessly debate the finer points of their beloved pony cars.
So a glimpse of a Shelby can cause a tailspin. And possible moonlighting to be able to afford one. Sorry, B.
On the 2007 GT500, there’s been a lot of love lavished from racing legend Carroll Shelby. During the classic era of American muscle and pony cars, Shelby took Mustangs in the ’60s and souped them up to produce the Shelby GT350 and then the Shelby GT500.
Now, four decades later, the Texan tuner and Ford’s Special Vehicle Team from Dearborn collaborated to birth the new GT500, the most powerful production Mustang ever.
All 10 2007 Mustangs are available as rear-wheel-drive two-door coupes or convertibles with a power fabric top and rear heated window. Versions include Base, GT and the Shelby, with two trims and three engine choices. Prices start at $19,250 for the Base Coupe; our GT500 tester starts out at $40,930 for the coupe and $45,755 for the convertible.
What sets the Shelby apart from all other Mustangs? Carroll Shelby’s inspiration, the hardware used and the GT500’s all-out performance.
Outside, there’s GT500 badging, a sinister-looking front end sporting the unmistakable Cobra logo Shelby used, a powerdome hood, large Cobra gas cap emblem, over-body Le Mans stripes on the coupe, rear ducktail spoiler and 18-inch aluminum wheels with SVT center caps.
But the heart of the Shelby is what’s under the hood. It’s a raw monster of a supercharged V-8, a 5.4-liter that kicks out 500 horsepower and
480 lbs.-ft. of torque.
Tied to a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission, it’s a whale of a powerplant, with a rumble-tuned double exhaust that’s music to the enthusiast’s ears. Press on the accelerator and be prepared to be thrown back into your seat — the GT500 is simply one of the greatest driving thrills you could have.
The price you pay for this blazing speed is $1,300, the gas guzzler tax penalty for 15 mpg/city and 21 mpg/highway EPA mileage estimates. Premium gas is required.
Handling for this sporty car is understandably stiff. Stiffer stabilizer bars, huge Brembo front brakes, staggered tire sizes and upgraded steering all work to optimize the GT500’s performance.
Safety needs are met by a stiffer chassis, front and front side airbags, all-speed traction control, anti-lock brakes and an active anti-theft package aimed at combating high performance-car insurance premiums.
Inside the GT500 are deliberately well-bolstered leather bucket seats to keep occupants planted, a Shaker 500 audio system with AM/FM/6-disc CD/MP3 player with eight speakers, light-faced gauges including a booster gauge and manual air conditioning.
The driver-oriented cockpit is snug, but comfortable. The rear seat is cramped.
Added to our tester’s $45,755 base retail price was Sirius satellite radio ($195) and the GT500 Premier Trim Package, with upgraded interior trim, aluminum pedals, automatic day/night rearview mirror and a compass.
With the gas tax and $745 delivery charge, the grand total was $48,590.
Shelby succinctly summed up the GT500’s allure: “It’s one thing to put 450 horsepower in an exotic supercar,” Shelby said. “It’s another to put that much power in something as affordable as a Mustang.”
Amy Rollins is Wheels editor at the Dayton Daily News and may be reached at (937) 225-6901 or arollins@coxohio.com. Read this review and others like it at DaytonDailyNews.com/Wheels.
