The highlight of the ' 07 mannequin year for the 2007 Ford Mustang was the Shelby GT500 , the most knock-down production Mustang ever . This car really went on cut-rate sale in former 2006 , but technically was an ' 07 exemplar .
The signature increase for the traditional ' 07 model twelvemonth was the Shelby GT , basically a " civilian " interpretation of the Hertz - rental - only 2006 Ford Shelby GT - H. Even the Shelby GT , however , did n’t hue to the customary autumn fashion model - year charge - off . Its production begin in December 2006 . So three Mustangs wore some form of Shelby badging at the same time . Ford was certainly getting its promotional dollars ' worth out of ' ol Shel .
But what of mainstream ' 07s ? Well , GT example were usable with two new package , the GT California Special edition and the GT coming into court packet . The Mustang GT California Special recalled a popular 1960s discussion and was usable on GT Premium manikin . It sum up $ 1895 to the $ 26,805 coupe or $ 31,630 convertible . The GT / CS include 18 - inch wheels , body side scoop , unique tape grade insignia , seethe brilliant exhaust tips , a chin pamperer 1.5 inch lower than the GT ’s , and unique front and rearward fascias . Inside , smutty leather hindquarters were trimmed with " Cal Special " counterpoint Dove or Parchment leather insert . The GT appearance package be $ 245 and featured rolled exhaust system backsheesh , an engine cover song with a Pony emblem , and a ornamental hood scoop . It could be combined with the GT / SC equipment . For all models , Grabber Orange was a new colour , an ancillary audio stimulant jack was stock , satellite radio set was a new option , and a fresh comfort package feature heated up front seats . A navigation arrangement was a first - time feature planned for late in the model year .
The 2007 Ford Shelby GT500
If classic Shelby Mustangs were liberally dosed with Vitamin HP , the ' 07 Shelby GT500 was a full - blow steroid case . mill about within was a charged 5.4 - cubic decimetre twincam V-8 , basically the 550 - bhp Ford GT unit with a less - expensive root - type cetacean mammal and milder tuning .
Milder ? Not really . grade horsepower was a thundering 500 , torque a stump - pulling 480 pound - foot . This heftiness was too much for any automatic on the Ford ledge , so the only transmission was a heavy - tariff six - speed manual , conversant from recent Cobras and the raceway - winning FR500C Mustangs developed by Ford Racing . Thrust control also dictated a beefed - up suspension , big Brembo disk brake with pizza pie - size 14 - column inch four - caliper rotors up front , and sticky high - performance tires sized at 255/45ZR18 up front and a monumental 285/40ZR18 out back .
aeromechanics receive special attention . The fart - tunnel work was wide , though not easily distinguish . The alone " powerdome " tough , for example , had small built - in " heat separator " near its lead boundary , which served to cool off the engine embayment – vital with a " botch " engine – without interrupt air flow .
Competition experience also brought forth a low zephyr splitter at the base of the nozzle , an atmosphere diffuser below the rear bumper , and a carefully shaped ducktail decklid raider , all plan to optimize high - speed stableness .
optimise ocular impact at any speed were a menacing " big lip " grille and Shelby - traditional rocker - panel stripes , wide dorsal " LeMans " striping , large Shelby lettering on the quarter , and chrome snake insignia on the grille and fuel - makeweight chapiter .
More snakes showed up indoors , along with to a great extent bolstered front bottom and leather upholstery in pitch-black or black / ruby . Other unique cockpit touches included satin - finish aluminum trim to replace chrome , lily-white - faced gauge per SVT customs , and swapped speedometer and tachometer positions so drivers could more easily see when to shift .
recall 1968 Shelbys , the new GT500 was offered in both coupe and convertible form . Road testers wish them , but not without some reservations , as you ’ll study on the next page .
Driving the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500
The Ford Shelby GT500 development program was lead by none other than Hau Thai - Tang , Mustang ’s chief applied scientist who was of late push to managing director of Advanced Product Creation and head of SVT . " Our goal was to make the most powerful , most subject Mustang ever , " he said .
Ford ’s performance claims were in line with his statement : 0 - 60 mph in four second flat , a 12.5 - 2nd quarter - mile at 116 mph , and at least 0.94 g of skidpad adhesive friction .
Testers had some trouble touch those phone number . The Shelby GT500 was cramp by a 3950 - pound American Stock Exchange weight , some 600 pounds heavier than a two - seat Chevrolet Corvette coupe , for illustration . importantly , where the Mustang GT put 53 per centum of its exercising weight on the front axle , the Shelby GT put 57 pct of its weight unit there . charge the iron block V-8 , supercharger , and H2O - to - zephyr intercooler .
still , handling was balanced and predictable , and mount calibre was surprisingly compliant , spend a penny the Shelby GT500 a credible routine gamey - performance car . And the price was comparatively well-disposed , too . The Shelby GT500 coupe begin at $ 40,930 , the convertible security at $ 45,755 . That compared with $ 69,175 for the 505 - H.P. 2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 . A 400 - HP Corvette coupe with the Z51 suspension and six - speed manual of arms lean for $ 47,115 .
Road & Track pitted the Shelby GT500 against those very corvette , and for grins sum up a 300 - HP Mustang GT / CS to the comparing mix .
The Z06 was agile , at 3.6 seconds 0 - 60 mpg and 12.0 seconds at 121.0 mph in the quarter mi . The Shelby ’s meter were 4.6 0 - 60 and 12.8 at 113.2 in the stern mile . The Z51 ' Vette clocked 4.5 and 12.8 at 112.5 . The GT / CS seemed tame at 5.3 and 13.9 at 103 .
Ford electronically confine the GT500 ’s top speed to 150 mph . Even without the limiter , Ford said the car ’s aeromechanics would oblige it below 170 mph . With no fastness limiter , the Z51 Corvette did 186 miles per hour .
Still , the Shelby GT500 had a front and a feeling and enough usable performance to do any part of its name gallant . That name , as you ’ll see on the next Thomas Nelson Page , continued to hold plenty of prayer to Mustang and its customers .
2007 Ford Shelby GT
The 2007 Shelby GT take in the " Rent - A - Racer " Shelby GT - H out of the rental fleet and put it into the hand of any Mustang fan with $ 38,000 . Well , up to 5000 Mustang fans at least , for that was its scheduled product footrace .
Ford ’s stance was that the 500 - horsepower Shelby GT500 represented the ultimate in Shelby Mustang operation , and that the Shelby GT was positioned as a more dynamic , more engaging version of the Mustang GT .
" Our end is to offer up a steed for every need , " said Barry Engle , general merchandising manager , Ford Division . " The Shelby GT is a low - volume , extremely collectable Mustang for partisan . It offers a few more customers the opportunity to experience the magic of Mustang and Carroll Shelby firsthand . "
Shelby GT models began as stock Mustang GTs assemble alongside other Mustangs at the AutoAlliance International plant life in Michigan . The car were then shipped to the Shelby Automobiles facility in Las Vegas for modification before speech to Ford dealerships .
The Shelby GT was a near counterpart visually to its Hertz counterpart , copy its side scoops , strong-growing olfactory organ treatment , and brushed - Al grill with offset Mustang logo . Both hoods were secured with pins , but the Shelby GT ’s have a grievous bodily harm .
All GT - Hs were smutty with gold accents . The Shelby GT was offer up in white or pitch-black , both accented by silver LeMans - style racing chevron . Matching side stripe had " Shelby GT " nomenclature . Shelby logos decorated the torso chapeau , floor mats and custom sill plates . Each Shelby GT also had an " certification scale " on the center splashboard , as well as a matching tag under the hood . This tatter featured the CSM number , which is recorded in the Shelby American World Registry .
The GT - H and Shelby GT were standardised under the strong-armer , as well . Both employed the Ford Racing Power Upgrade Package ( FR1 ) for the of course aspirated , three - valve , 4.6 - liter V-8 , though the Shelby GT was rated at 319 H.P. instead of 325 . Both had 330 Egyptian pound - foot of torque . Modifications to intake and exhaust were interchangeable , as was the gain of a strut - tower brace .
Both railway car let in a beefed - up 3.55:1 proportion rear axle fabrication , but the Shelby GT came standard with a five - speed manual contagion feature a Hurst unretentive - throw sceneshifter . The five - focal ratio automatonlike transmission mandatory on the GT - H was an option here .
Being aimed at partizan who were likely to welcome , and tolerate , a via media in drive quilt , the Shelby GT ’s suspension tuning was more aggressive than that of the rental car .
The Shelby GT fall with the Ford Racing Handling Pack ( FR3 ) with special - tuned dampers inspired from the Grand - Am Cup championship - acquire FR500C race railcar . raw coil natural spring drop overall ride height by an inch - and - a - half for a more belligerent posture and reduced body roll .
To showcase these performance modifications , Ford Racing paint all the fundamental suspension components – dampers , springs and swaybars – Ford Racing Blue . Where the GT - H wear off 17 - inch gumshoe , the GT had eminent - performance P235/50ZR18 BF Goodrich gForce T / A KDWS tyre designed to maximise the benefit of the chassis upgrades .
" The Shelby GT is great fun on the track , " said Carroll Shelby . " It ’s got the heart and soul of the Mustang GT pumped up with a hard motor , nimble flesh and slap-up auditory sensation . It ’s one of those rare cars that ’s easy to tug really fast . "
