NEW YORK,
April 12, 2006 - Ford Motor Company and Shelby Automotive celebrate the
40th Anniversary of one of the most legendary Mustangs of all time with
today's unveiling of the 2006 Shelby GT-H Mustang at the New York
International Auto Show.
The Original "Rent-A-Racer" The 2006 GT-H was escorted on-stage by
an original 1966 Shelby G.T.
350H--the same car driven by Tom Cruise in the 2005 blockbuster
War of the Worlds.
The
1966 Shelby G.T. 350H Mustang, nicknamed "Rent-A-Racer", on which
the GT-H is based, was available for rent at Hertz for $17 per day and
17 cents per mile. More than 800 of the 1,001 original G.T. 350H Shelbys
were black with gold Le Mans and rocker panel stripes; the other 200 or
so were red, white, blue or green with gold rocker panel stripes.
An
original 1966 Shelby G.T. 350H sold at the
Barrett-Jackson Auction for $180,900 this past January.
40
Years Later
Production of the GT-H is limited to 500 units and begins this month at
Shelby Automotive in Las Vegas. They will not be available for purchase,
but rather Hertz customers will be available to rent the Shelbys at
select Hertz locations this summer. They will be sold at closed Ford
auctions in 2007.
Ford
Racing Performance Parts Improve Performance, Handling
Horsepower for the 4.6L SOHC 3-Valve-powered GT-H is increased 25
horsepower to 325 and torque is increased 10 pound-feet to 330 thanks in
part to Ford Racing exhaust including a new crossover pipe, which makes
its debut in the GT-H.
All GT-Hs
are equipped with 5-speed automatic transmissions, but the standard
3.31:1 gear ratio found in Mustang GTs with automatic transmission is
replaced with the 3.55:1 gears found in Mustang GTs equipped with manual
transmission. Ford Racing suspension lowers the GT-H and improves
handling capabilities.
A
Unique Look
Available only in its most memorable color scheme--black with gold Le
Mans and "SHELBY GT-H" rocker panel stripes--the GT-H wears a low,
aggressive front fascia shared with the upcoming 2007 Mustang GT/CS
California Special. The
Shelby CS6 hood is secured with two hood pins with tethers tucked on
either side of the billet grille featuring an offset pony and tribar
badge--a close replica to the 1966 Hertz Shelby grille. "SHELBY" lettering adorns the decklid and Hertz badges
are placed on the fenders. Non-functional GT/CS side scoops are tacked
to the rear quarter panels. The GT-H's decklid badge displays the
same traditional pony and tribar logo as the standard V6-powered Mustang. All GT-Hs wear the painted 17"
"Bullitt" wheels and rear decklid spoiler that come standard on Mustang
GT.
Premium Interior
All GT-Hs are equipped with Dark Charcoal leather interior and the
Interior Upgrade Package which includes satin aluminum dash, steering
wheel, shifter and door handle trim as well as MyColor, which allows
customers to personalize the color of the instrument panel gauges. A
door sill plate reading "Hertz Shelby GT-H" greets drivers and
passengers as they
enter the car, and a numbered ID plate featuring the engraved signature
of Carroll Shelby is placed between the center A/C vents.
Legend for Rent
The
Shelby GT-H will
be available for rent
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. Also, the car will be available in Boston,
Massachusetts; Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington.
New
Era of High-Performance Mustangs
The 2006 Shelby GT-H Mustang marks legendary car builder Carroll
Shelby's return to Mustangs after a 36-year absence marked by iconic
names including GT350, G.T. 350R, GT500, and GT500 KR. The GT-H will be
followed by the 475-horsepower 2007 Shelby GT500 Mustang later this
year.
