[SeanPlunk]

Originally Posted by TMSBrad

A LEGEND REBORN: SHELBY AMERICAN BRINGS BACK THE SHELBY GT350


click for more photos of the 2011 Shelby GT350

• Shelby American brings back the Shelby GT350 on 45th anniversary of car's introduction
• The Shelby is supercharged and enhanced in every way
• The car was introduced during the Barrett-Jackson Opening Night Gala in Scottsdale

Shelby American, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc., will fulfill the dreams of enthusiasts by returning the legendary Shelby GT350 to its lineup of American performance cars. The Shelby team unveiled a supercharged concept version of the Mustang-based 2011 Shelby GT350 to the surprise of thousands gathered at the Barrett-Jackson Auction Opening Night Gala to honor the 45th anniversary of the first GT350 and first Shelby big block Cobra.

"In 1964, Ford Motor Company asked Shelby American to turn their secretary's car into a race winner to help them sell Mustangs," said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby American. "Our Shelby GT350 ruled its class at the track and was feared by GM and Chrysler owners on the street. Enthusiasts have anticipated the GT350's return since it went out of production in 1970. Now my band of hot rodders has created a car worthy of the name."

The concept behind the GT350 was to build a car that is light, nimble and powerful. Beginning with the "small block" 5.0 liter Ford Mustang GT as its base, the Shelby American team worked with experts from Ford Racing, Goodyear, Borla, Cragar and Baer to create a car that is fast and has razor sharp handling. Every segment of the car is enhanced or replaced to create the ultimate balanced performance pony car that is true to the spirit of the 1965-1970 MY Shelby GT350.

"The 2011 GT350 balances heritage with modern necessity," said Shelby American president Amy Boylan. "Former Hot Wheels and Ford designer Larry Wood joined Vince LaViolette, Walter Cardenas, Andrew Smidt and the rest of our Las Vegas team to help integrate 1965-1970 Shelby styling cues with modern aerodynamics. We worked with Ford Racing to supercharge the engine with a goal of 500 horsepower, as well as to sharpen the handling. Baer Brakes helped engineer the fantastic brakes and we shod the GT350 with 19" modern Cragar wheels and super sticky Goodyear tires. This Shelby is truly a complete performance package."

"Since this was one of the most important cars in Shelby's history, everyone stepped up to make sure it meets Carroll's performance standards," added Gary Davis, vice president of production for Shelby American. "After it was hand built in our new design studio, it began extensive testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway by veteran test drivers Vince LaViolett and Gary Patterson. We're all proud to be part of this milestone Shelby car."

Each GT350 will be clad in traditional white with Shelby Guardsman blue Le Mans stripes and feature the new Ford V8 coupled to a 6 speed manual transmission and center exit exhaust. Blue Shelby GT350 valve covers and billet caps set off the supercharged engine. The Baer brake system features 6 piston kit in the front, as well as 14" ERADISPEED rotors in the rear with cooling ducts for all four corners.

The suspension was upgraded with new Ford Racing springs, struts, sway bars and adjustable caster/camber plates. The car also receives a new front fascia, tail light trim, front splitter, rear deck lid filler panel and rear fascia. Functional scoops are located on the side rockers and hood. GT350 badges on the outside and inside include a Shelby serial number. The A pillar carries a fuel pressure, oil pressure and boost gauge.

The Shelby GT350 is a post title program; a customer purchases a car from their local Ford Dealer, which is turned into a GT350 by the Shelby American Team. A limited number will be built in the 2011 model year. A Ford Mustang GT can be dropped shipped by a Ford dealer to Shelby's Las Vegas facility for conversion or a customer can arrange to have a properly specified car transported to the factory. The Shelby GT350 up-fit completed by Shelby American has a MSRP of $33,995 and does not include the price of the base car.

Customers interested in a Shelby GT350 should log onto GT350.ShelbyAmerican.com.

Expensive and Meh. The 500hp is nice, but the price is obscene. I'm also not feeling the looks so much. I'm disappointed. A Boss should be less expensive and a lot better...

[SeanPlunk]

More.

Originally Posted by TMSBrad

2011 SHELBY GT350 STYLING INSPIRED BY ORIGINAL

The color combo, hood scoop and offset badge are unmistakably Shelby.

The 2011 edition utilizes functional side scoops to cool the rear brakes. Functional scoops weren't available on 1965 GT350s.

The 1965 Shelbys kept the standard fastback louvers. The 2011 GT350 uses quarter window covers.

The 2011 GT350 rear end adds separation to the three-element taillights.

A dash-mounted gauge pod housed an oil pressure gauge and tach on the original;
a fuel pressure, oil pressure gauge, boost gauge reside in the A-pillar of the '11.

Shelby squeezed 306 horsepower out of the 1965 289, but the '11 features a
5.0L V8 with a Ford Racing supercharger producing more than 500 horsepower.

[RSS Reader]

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Ford

2011 Shelby GT350 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Coinciding with the 45th anniversary of the original 1965 Shelby GT350, Shelby American unveiled an all new GT350 Mustang at the opening night gala of the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, AZ. Presented in concept form, the new GT350 features a supercharged version of the brand new 5.0-liter V8 engine in the 2011 Mustang as well as performance upgrades from Ford Racing, Borla, Cragar, Baer and more.

Unlike the GT500, the GT350 will be a post-title upgrade available from Shelby. Customers can have their 2011 Mustangs shipped directly to Shelby's Las Vegas facility to be converted or they can deliver the car themselves. Once in the hands of Shelby, each Mustang is fitted with a Ford Racing supercharger good for approximately 500 horsepower, a Ford Racing suspension system, Baer brakes front and rear, Borla exhaust system, Cragar wheels, and more. For the exterior, Shelby fits a new front fascia, front splitter, functional hood scoop tail light trim, rear deck lid filler panel and a rear fascia with center exhaust exit. White with Guardsman Blue racing stripes will be the only available color combination, which isn't such a bad thing.

Of course, all of that comes at a price. Shelby lists the GT350's MSRP at $33,995, which doesn't sound that bad until you realize it doesn't include the base car. With the 2011 Mustang GT coming in at just over $30,000, the total price of the GT350 will actually exceed that of the GT500. Does something similar to the Shelby GT built the last few years make more sense? Perhaps, but we're sure Shelby will find quite a few buyers anyway. You can read all of the details in Shelby's press release after the jump, and check out the new GT350 for yourself in the high-res gallery below.


Gallery: 2011 Shelby GT350


[Source: Shelby American]Continue reading Shelby unveils 2011 GT350 Mustang at Barrett-Jackson
Shelby unveils 2011 GT350 Mustang at Barrett-Jackson originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.


Permalink | Email this | Comments

More...

[Vettezuki]

Ford is smart, they'll make a mint on this. Personally I was hoping for a bit more in the handling department at a little lower price ($45-55k).

[BRUTAL64]

Now, that is something to look into.

[Leedom]

I like it, it looks good, but for the price why not get a GT500?

I do not really like the covers on the rear quarter windows though.

[Leedom]

Only 500 HP, really, with that motor. I know I just said only 500 but come on. That number should be higher.

[BADDASSC6]

Big heavy shiny wheels and plastic