In 1966, Ford Motor Company teamed up with Carroll Shelby and Hertz rent a car to create the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350-H and while the Shelby name no longer appears on the car – the 2014 Hertz Penske Mustang GT is a high performance rental car that Mr. Shelby would have been proud to pick up at his local airport rental location.
The 2014 Hertz Penske Mustang GT follows in the tradition of the 1966 Shelby GT350-H and the Shelby GT-H from 2006 and 2007 with a unique black and gold paint scheme on the outside coupled with some go-fast goodies to bolster the title of “rent a racer” that accompanied the first high performance rental Mustang back in 1966.
On the outside, the 2014 Hertz Mustang GT begins with a historic yet slightly unique paint scheme that begins with a black paint job accented with bright yellow trim as opposed to the darker gold trim on the previous Hertz Mustangs. Along the lower rocker area, there is a bright yellow stripe that carries the Hertz Penske GT moniker that matches the thick “driver’s stripe” that runs from the front bumper to the rear bumper. The 2014 Hertz Mustang GT also wears the aggressive front chin spoiler from the Boss 302 along with unique badging on the fenders and trunk lid.
The 2014 Hertz Penske Mustang GT begins with a standard 2014 Ford Mustang GT Premium fitted with the optional Brembo brake package that adds 14” Brembo rotors and 4-piston calipers up front along with a set of 19” wheels wrapped in high performance rubber. Like the standard issue Mustangs rented by Hertz, the 2014 Hertz Penske Mustang GT is powered by the 420 horsepower, 5.0L V8 engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission but to increase the output – the Penske team has added a cold air intake, a high flow exhaust system and a performance engine calibration while a set of 3.73 rear gears improve the already impressive acceleration of the modern Mustang GT. Final power figures have not been announced but once these cars starting hitting rental lots later this summer – we can surely expect exact power numbers for this limited edition rent a race Mustang.
On the inside, the 2014 Hertz Penske Mustang GT wears the race styled Recaro race seats and the three-gauge pod on the upper dash from the Boss 302 Laguna Seca package along with all of the standard goodies from the 2014 Mustang GT Premium package. Those Recaro seats are awesome and if they are indeed fitted in every new Hertz Mustang GT – it will really bolster the race ready feel for those lucky renters.
The 2014 Hertz Penske Mustang GT will be limited to just 150 units that are available at just 15 locations around the country as part of the company’s Adrenaline Collection. Those who are lucky enough to be visiting one of those airport locations can expect to pay a rate of $180 per day or $800 per week. For comparison, renting the “normal” Mustang GT through the Adrenaline Collection will set you back about $135 a day or $630 a week so the right to rock this unique high performance Mustang comes with a slight price but for those who can foot the added expense – it is surely well worth it.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
