Cobra GT500

WASHINGTON (AP) Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday that it was recalling nearly 20,000 Mustang Cobra sports cars after receiving complaints that the back of the accelerator pedal could become caught in the floor carpeting and lead to a crash.

Ford told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in late January that it had received about 100 complaints and allegations of two crashes and one injury. The recall affects 19,140 Mustang Cobras from the 2003 and 2004 model years.

Ford said in a letter to NHTSA that the rear surface of the pedal could interfere with the carpeting during heavy throttling and make it difficult for the pedal to return to an idle position. The problem could be found in vehicles where the floor carpeting does not fit flush with the sheet metal.

Dealers are expected to install a bracket over the cutout in the carpet behind the pedal. Owners are expected to be notified of the recall in late April and will not be charged for the repair.

NHTSA opened an investigation into the issue in July 2005. Messages seeking comment were left Tuesday with a Ford spokeswoman.

Via 9news.com

NEW YORK (USA Today) - While rental-car companies boast about how fast they can muscle customers into their cars, Hertz is taking a more aggressive approach. It’s going to offer a fast muscle car.

The car-rental company and Ford Motor are set to unveil their own distinctive 330-horsepower, Carroll Shelby-modified Mustang Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show.

The Shelby GT-H, as the hopped-up Mustang will be called, was designed in collaboration with Shelby and Ford Motor. Ford owned Hertz until selling it in December for $5.6 billion to an investor group.

The GT-H won’t be in showrooms; it’ll be available only as a rental and only at some Hertz locations. Just 500 will be in the fleet.

Behind the move: nostalgia. In the 1960s, Ford modified 1,000 Mustangs for the Hertz fleet, in what came to be known as the Rent-A-Racer program. It was the kind of program that would drive any rental manager mad.

Customers “took them to the racetrack and won a trophy,” says Shelby, the 83-year-old father of the Shelby Cobra and modified Mustangs of yore. Some renters even swapped the 1966 Hertz Mustang’s racing engines with those in their own, less-powerful cars - something they would conveniently forget to mention when returning the Shelby 350 GT-H cars to Hertz.

The new GT-H - yes, the H stands for Hertz - has a stiffer suspension than the basic Mustang GT, 30 more horsepower, a throatier-sounding exhaust and gold racing stripes. All are black. In one concession to the fact that the GT-H is intended as a rental car, all will have automatic transmissions. Some modifications are being done at Shelby’s plant in Las Vegas.

The idea came when Walter Seaman, a Hertz vice president, eyed one of the old 1966 Shelby Mustangs on display at company headquarters.

“One day I was walking through the lobby, and it dawned on me,” he says. Seaman is in charge of Hertz’s Fun Collection - cars such as the Nissan 350Z and Mazda Miata, and the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Chevy HHR sports wagons aimed primarily at leisure renters.

That led to discussions with Ford, which signed onto the project despite Mustang GTs being in short supply. “We had to overcome that hurdle,” says Ford car marketing manager Robert Parker.

It was the chance to create another classic. The 1966 models, which were sold to the public after their rental-car lives were finished, today sell at auction for $120,000 or more because so few were made, says Howard Pardee of the Shelby American Automobile Club.

He expects the new one to become valuable over time as well. “I think it’s an idea that’s just perfect for the time,” Pardee says.

The cars should be showing up in rental fleets within weeks, dispersed to 17 locations including Portland, Ore.; Seattle; Denver; Boston; across the Sun Belt; and Hawaii. The GT-H probably will rent for more than $100 a day, Seaman says. He says Hertz will take special steps to make sure the cars aren’t abused - or raced. “We hope people will be reasonably responsible,” he says. “It’s a powerful car, but so are some of the other cars in the Fun Collection.”

Minimum age for drivers probably will be 25, he says, instead of Hertz’s normal minimum, 21. The cars will be thoroughly checked when they are returned.

And when they hit 16,000 to 18,000 miles in seven to nine months, they will be sold. Ford dealers get the first crack at the used ones.

Shelby thinks the GT-H will help change minds about the quality of American cars. And, he adds, “I think this will help Shelby and Ford get that visibility. Maybe we will be recognized in a positive way.”

Via classicdriver.com

“By May 16, 1965, Blouin was back at the wheel at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium for the Circuit National’s annual GT Championship-qualifying Grand Prix. He was placed either 6th or 16th overall (depending on the source)…either way a very respectable result considering opposition which included Ferrari 250LMs, 250GTOs and 250GTO/64s, the factory Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes and several Cobra roadsters…

On February 14, 1969, ‘4965GT’ was re-registered in a lady’s name at a chic address in a residential quartier in Paris, and it is believed to have remained in her ownership for more than two decades, passing to Ralph Bruggmann of Gstaad, Switzerland and competing in the 1998 Tour Auto retrospective. It was acquired soon afterwards by well-known French enthusiast Olivier Cazalières, running at the Monza round of the Shell Ferrari Maserati Challenge in 2000 and the Le Mans Classic before finally joining the present owner’s collection, so its eligibility for the most exclusive historic events is beyond doubt. ”

Via car-reviews.automobile.com

“Fords SVT division has always had similar objectives, and to the automakers credit it hasnt tried to push warmed-over versions of existing models onto FoMoCo performance deprived enthusiasts. But with no SVT Focus, no SVT Lightning, no SVT Sport Trac Adrenaline, nor do its upcoming supercharged V8-powered Mustang coupe and convertible actually include SVT in their names, but rather the much more saleable Shelby Cobra nameplate - the new model is officially called the 2007 Shelby Cobra GT500 - will SVT simply vanish from the ether just like SHO did previously? ”

PRESS RELEASE FROM FORD
MUSTANG MUSCLE FOR RENT: FORD, SHELBY, HERTZ TEAM UP ON SHELBY GT-H

NEW YORK, Wed., April 12, 2006 – In a throwback to the famed Shelby GT350H “Rent-A-Racer” program from the 1960s, Ford Motor Company, Shelby Automobiles and The Hertz Corporation are partnering to produce a special run of performance-modified Ford Mustang GTs – designated Shelby GT-H, for “Hertz” – that will be available for rent later this spring exclusively through Hertz. Approximately 500 units will be available through the Hertz Fun Collection at select airport locations Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Forty years ago, Carroll Shelby and The Hertz Corporation came up with an ingenious plan to help get a batch of high-performance, special-edition Shelby Mustangs into the hands of rental customers who also happened to be car enthusiasts. Ford supplied the new Mustangs with V-8 engines and mostly automatic transmissions, Shelby added extra performance and style, and Hertz gave the public access to the kind of unique driving experience that one would normally only find on a racetrack. Today, the story of the Shelby/Hertz “Rent-A-Racer” is legendary and surviving Shelby GT350H Mustangs are among the most sought-after collector cars in the world.

To connect the magical past of the original Shelby GT350H with the modern capabilities of the new Ford Mustang, Shelby, Ford and Hertz have again teamed up, and – together with the Ford Racing Performance Group – have given the 2006 Ford Shelby GT-H a very classic, muscular look as well as some true performance credentials.

“Like the original Hertz cars, the Ford Shelby GT-H will be fun to drive,” said Carroll Shelby, CEO of Shelby Automobiles, Inc. “We started with a terrific Mustang and modified it with some Ford go-fast parts and gave it a distinct look for Shelby-style driving. Whoever gets the opportunity to rent one of these unique cars will get an experience of a lifetime.”

Hertz Fun Collection

Further enhancing its position as a leader at U.S. airports in the leisure car rental market, Hertz launched its Fun Collection in January 2006. Featuring vehicles tailor-made for travelers seeking exciting driving experiences, the Fun Collection adds more entertainment to the driving experience as each car comes equipped with SIRIUS Satellite Radio.

The 2006 Ford Shelby GT-H Mustang will be available at select airport locations that feature the Hertz Fun Collection including Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and San Francisco, California; Denver, Colorado; Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach, Florida; Maui and Honolulu, Hawaii, and Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition, the car will be available in Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington.

With the addition of the Ford Shelby GT-H Mustang into the Fun Collection, Hertz now offers 36 models that can be specifically reserved, ranging from mid-size to luxury cars, convertibles to SUVs and is the only nationwide car rental company able to allow customers to reserve the specific make and model vehicles at the time of reservation. More than 8,000 Fun Collection vehicles are available at 18 major airport locations in the United States.

“With 2006 marking the 40th anniversary of the Shelby GT350H joining the Hertz fleet, we’re thrilled to be bringing legendary Mustang driving excitement back to our rental customers,” said Walt Seaman, staff vice president, Worldwide Fleet, Maintenance, and Car Sales Operations for The Hertz Corporation. “The Shelby GT-H is a fun, powerful Mustang to drive, and will be a special part of the Hertz Fun Collection. As all cars in the collection are reserved by exact make and model, customers can rest assured that when they reserve a Shelby GT-H Mustang to drive, they will receive the Shelby GT-H Mustang upon arrival.”

Extra “Show”

Like its predecessor, the 2006 Ford Shelby GT-H will be instantly recognizable – thanks to several eye-catching styling enhancements that are so much a part of the Shelby Mustang heritage. First and foremost, each Shelby GT-H will wear Black exterior paint set off with Gold racing stripes, a hallmark of Hertz’s vehicle history dating all the way back to the 1920s.

While it’s true that the Shelby GT350H was eventually made available in other color combinations, the Black-and-Gold combo is often referred to as “Hertz colors” by most Mustang aficionados. Shelby’s traditional “Le Mans” dual overbody racing stripes are combined with a set of rocker stripes that include special “Shelby GT-H” nomenclature. Each car will also wear a Hertz Edition emblem on the front fenders, and feature Hertz Shelby GT-H sill plates and a numbered dash badge with Carroll Shelby’s signature inside the cockpit.

To give a hint of the Mustang GT 4.6-liter 3V V-8 engine’s added capability, the Ford Shelby GT-H is fitted with a custom Shelby Performance hood with pins, and a brushed aluminum grille with running horse emblem. A unique front fascia with integrated lower grille, as well as a set of body side scoops – reminiscent of classic Shelby Mustangs is incorporated for a distinct look. To further catch the enthusiast’s eye, the Mustang GT brakes are dressed up with painted calipers, which can be seen through the GT-H’s 17-inch aluminum wheels wearing P235/55ZR17 performance rubber.

Added “Go”

Ford Racing Performance Group is supplying its popular Power Pack (FR1) to add a genuine 25-horsepower Ford performance kick to the 300-horse Mustang GT 4.6L V-8/Five-speed automatic transmission powertrain and an increase of 10 lb.-ft. of torque. The package includes Ford Racing’s 90mm Cold Air kit, the Muffler Kit, a new X-pipe similar to the one used on the new Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang, a performance calibration and a cat-back performance exhaust for that throaty sound that will make this car unmistakably a Shelby Mustang GT-H.

“Any Mustang that traces its roots to a Shelby GT350H has to boast increased performance and handling over its factory stock configuration,” said Cisco Codina, group vice president, Ford North America Marketing, Sales and Service. “Ford Racing’s involvement with niche performance Mustang builds like this Hertz project is a natural for us as well as for Hertz and Shelby.”

To put that extra horsepower to the ground, the Ford Shelby GT-H also comes with the Ford Racing Handling Pack (FR3) installed, including special-tuned dampers inspired from the FR500C, lowering springs, sway bars and a strut tower brace – plus a Ford Racing 3.55:1 ratio rear axle assembly for extra off-the-line acceleration.

Ford Racing will be working hand-in-hand with engineers and technicians at Shelby Automobile’s assembly facility in Las Vegas during the build-out of the GT-H for delivery to Hertz. With total production expected to number only around 500 units exclusively destined for Hertz rental fleets across the country, this special-edition Ford Shelby GT-H is sure to give Hertz customers a truly exclusive driving experience like only Shelby and the Ford Mustang can deliver.

“This GT-H project has been terrific,” said Amy Boylan, president, Shelby Automobiles Inc. “My team here at Shelby Automobiles is very excited with what we have put together with Ford, and Hertz – a pony that not only has a special look, but can really run, too. Those who get to rent a GT-H in the coming months will have the opportunity to enjoy a car that looks, accelerates, handles and sounds the way a high-performance Shelby-ized Ford Mustang should. It will prove lots of fun for Hertz customers looking for some real driving excitement.”

For more information about Shelby Automobiles, and to a sneak-peak of the build of the first Shelby GT-H, visit www.shelbyautos.com.

The Hertz Fun Collection features convertibles including the Ford Mustang, Mazda Miata, Toyota Solara, PT Cruiser and Chrysler Sebring; coupes/roadsters including Ford Mustang (hard-top), PT Cruiser, Chevy HHR and Nissan 350Z; and SUVs such as the Ford Escape XLT Sport, Jeep Wrangler, Nissan Murano and Hummer H3. For Shelby GT-H or other Hertz Fun Collection reservations, or to see which vehicles are available at participating Hertz locations visit www.hertz.com. The Hertz Fun Collection may also be reserved through travel agents or by calling the Hertz toll-free at 1-800-654-3131.

Via msn.com:

Legendary race car driver and designer Carroll Shelby stands next to a 2006 Ford Shelby Mustang GT-H at this year’s New York Auto Show. The car will be available for rent at some U.S. Hertz locations this summer.

Via edmunds.com:

“Ford said it will roll out the 2007 Mustang GT California Special, the first of several Mustang V8 “feature cars” this summer, with a price tag of $1,895 for the options package.

The package is largely cosmetic and includes a unique engine cover, standard 18-inch polished aluminum wheels and performance tires, a front fascia with an integrated chin spoiler, classic side scoops, body-side racing stripes and a rear fascia with a lower air-diffuser design.

The Dearborn automaker said production estimates have not been finalized, but the 2007 California Special is expected to “surpass the sales total of its predecessor of nearly 40 years ago, when 4,325 copies of the GT/CS were sold.” The GT/CS was originally a limited-production 1968 Mustang coupe fitted with Shelby Mustang “dress-up” pieces and sold only through dealerships in California. The 2007 California Special can be ordered as either a coupe or a convertible and will be available through Ford dealerships throughout the United States.
”
Full article: here

Beech Bend Motorsports Park prepares for the ASA Late Model Series
WhoWon.com, NE - Apr 11, 2006 of the ASALMS Northern Division one more shot at fine tuning their machines is host to several national events including the National Mustang Racers Association

Via edmunds.com:

“The 2005 convertible sales champ is the Ford Mustang, according to R.L. Polk, the Michigan firm that tracks vehicle registrations. Total registrations for the Mustang convertible last year were 44,065, an increase of more than 11,000 from 2004.

The Chrysler Sebring accounted for 35,360 in new registrations last year, followed by the Toyota Camry Solara at 21,544. The Volkswagen Beetle was in fourth place with 19,078, while the Chrysler PT Cruiser came in at number five with 18,232 registrations.

Total convertible sales have been flat industry-wide. George Pipas, Ford’s manager of sales analysis, says North American convertible sales usually hover around 300,000 vehicles. But that number dipped to around 295,000 in 2003 and last year, convertible sales rose to 324,000. Mustang convertible sales in 2005 were short of the 2001 Mustang total of 50,256, the company said.”

Kansas City Star reports:

“Starting this summer, drivers will be able to rent a souped-up Ford Mustang at some U.S. Hertz locations, Ford and Hertz announced Wednesday at the New York Auto Show.

The 2007 Shelby Cobra GT500 that will be available at Hertz was modified by Carroll Shelby, a race-car driver turned designer who began refashioning Mustangs in the 1960s.

Ford’s racing group supplied its power pack to the rental version’s 4.6-liter V-8 engine, giving it 325 horsepower, or 25 more than the Mustang GT. It also has a performance exhaust system for a throaty sound and gold racing stripes.

Hertz will have the GT-H available at airport locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. It will cost around $100 a day to rent the GT-H.”