Slideshow: Why the GT350R is One of the Best Things Shelby Has Created

With supercar performance, super model looks and a price tag that rivals cars 3 times cost the Shelby GT350R has everyone on notice.

By Christopher Hurst - July 17, 2018
Why the GT350R is One of the Best Things Shelby Has Created
Why the GT350R is One of the Best Things Shelby Has Created
Why the GT350R is One of the Best Things Shelby Has Created
Why the GT350R is One of the Best Things Shelby Has Created
Why the GT350R is One of the Best Things Shelby Has Created

Once Every 25 Years

With a price that starts at $56,935, the GT350R is the best value for money car in the world, bar none. It’s naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V-8 powers a rear wheel drive sports car that has a manual transmission. That’s a great start for any car in 2018, let alone one of the most performance oriented mass produced vehicles of all time. And, we haven’t even got to what it does. You’ll want one after this… 

Supercar Performance

A flat-plane crankshaft is normally found in high-end cars like Ferraris or other DOHC 4-valve engines that rev upwards of 8,000rpm. The Shelby GT350R joins this club with peak power (526bhp) being produced at a screaming 7,500rpm. Torque builds like a crescendo to an ear-bleeding peak of 429 lb-ft just short of 5,000rpm. The key with an engine like this is the way it builds power linearly, making it predictable to control at the limit. Power-to-weight ratio is great with the car weighing 3,700lbs. 

>>Join the conversation about the Shelby GT350R right here in The Mustang Source.

Insane Attention to Detail

Carbon Fiber wheels are standard on the GT350R. If you’re wondering why this is a big deal, then you should consider searching for Carbon Revolution Staggered CR-9 Wheel Set for a Porsche 997 GT2 on google. The total cost for four wheels is $51,000. Coupons are available, though none of them apply to this set. Overnight shipping is $3,000 before any tax. This is the fastest car the company has ever made. The suspension is bespoke with high tech pieces of aluminum used at critical points of stress. 

>>Join the conversation about the Shelby GT350R right here in The Mustang Source.

Styling

It’s one of the best looking modern Mustangs ever made. The proportions finally look the way they should and jump out at you like a scene in Bullet. One of these would look at home burping fuel and spitting fire on a Swiss road in the Alps or drag racing a Viper on the Vegas Strip. It's a competition car underneath that isn't afraid to show what it is on the street. 

>>Join the conversation about the Shelby GT350R right here in The Mustang Source.

The Whole Package

A competitive power-to-weight ratio with light unsprung mass, custom suspension geometry, and a high tech high-revving modern V8 put this car way ahead of the pack. The monster this car could turn into with a couple basic modifications put it 3 weight classes above its class with the right driver. Bargain of the century? Check. Enough speed to get into serious trouble? Check. Best car of the last 25 years? Check. My work here is done.  

>>Join the conversation about the Shelby GT350R right here in The Mustang Source.

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