You know, when I woke up this morning, finished my first round of daytrading, and saw the new Shelby Cobra GT500 pics, I was so excited! It was official! A new muscle car era has been heralded! A new Golden Age, and no sign of a gas shortage in sight to stop us this time!

A new Shelby is being released in my generation. Back in the late-nineties, I would have laughed at such a prospect. I thought the days of muscle and Shelby were long gone, lost in the annals of soda pop, bellbottoms, and The Beach Boys. Never did I think we would see another Muscle Car era. Too many environmentalists, the different culture/attitude, the ricers breeding strung-out 4 bangers high on laughing gas... so many factors that I thought would never allow a new muscle car era to be born. Yet somehow against all odds, thanks to Hau Thai-Tang, Carroll Shelby, Ford, and us, the general public - its happened!

Then my excitement is crushed - tons of people whining and moaning about this or that. They don't share in my enthusiasm. They don't see the new Era that is unfolding before their very eyes. They don't realize that a mere 5 years ago we were still trapped in the Emasculating Nineties, that we had nothing to compare to the Golden Age of Muscle.

I read that there are some people out there who are going to rip their Shelby emblems off their Shelby GT500s as soon as they get them. Why?? This was the man who started it all! He gave us everything we had/have in the way of muscle cars. Without him, there would be NOTHING. You don't need to be born in the 40s to understand and appreciate what Carroll Shelby has done for the automotive industry. You should be PROUD to own a Shelby, not ashamed! This is probably his last car. The man is 80 years old. We should be honored for this final chance to own an authentic Shelby by Ford!

C'mon guys, show some excitement! Stop being bitter! I don't think enough of us in the forum have stepped back and looked at the big picture. We are all part of something huge, something special. The rebirth of an Era. Future generations will look back on this time as my generation (I'm 21) looks back on the 60s - with awe and reverence. Our children and grandchildren will ask what it was like to own a 2005 Mustang GT, what it felt like to feel that 2007 Shelby GT500's 5.4L engine screaming in your ears.

Of course, if I have my way, they won't have to imagine it. I'll take them down to the garage and show them. B)

A garage with a '67 and an '07 Shelby GT500! I can't wait!

 

Yeah everyone should have the same opinion. People with different ideas arent allowed to comment.

 

well said, Charie... I'd like to see people be excited about this car instead of pick it appart for it "shortcommings."
You know what.... nevermind. I want everyone to hate it... then I'll rest easier about being able to buy one before they reach the production limit.

 

What do you trade, futures, stocks, options?

 

No, no! I'm not saying that at all! Discussion is good! What I'm trying to say is that I don't think enough people realize that we are part of something special, a new Muscle Car Era, that this is a time our children will ask and beg us to tell stories about.

Just trying to get some people appreciate the time, the era, we are all a part of, that's all!

 

Stocks.

 

'No sign of a gas shortage'

:shock:

Really? How have pump prices fared in your locale?

 

Well, no shortage in the sense that Saudi Arbia would dare turn off the spigot like they did in the 70s.

 

Good post Charlie.

 

This car looks like a muscle car should...

 

That's right...it's even worse now.

The ever increasingly thirsty growing economies of China and India will take it away from us.

 

 

Well, wars with China and India aside, I really doubt that we're going to have a significant gas shortage that forced us into the enconoboxes of the 70s. But hey, I could be wrong.

 

I think what you are seeing is so many different perceptions of what the car should be in the first place. Looking for a "return-to-glory muscle car," Ford hit it out of the park. Nothing even comes close.

But, for those who are "complaining," they are probably not looking for that, but probably a little more sophistication and all-around performance. This was tempered by Ford going for an "M3-fighter." They just should have stuck to the "ultimate muscle/pony car." Because, that is exactly what it is, in spades.

That being said, once gas hits $3/gallon (which it could do this summer), this starts to become much more expensive to operate -- especially for a daily driver. Hopefully, history won't repeat itself.

 

It is well documented that there is not, and will not be in the near future a supply shortage of oil. The only thing driving gas prices up is the market and control of that market by OPEC. The OPEC countries are a bottleneck on the supply of oil so that they can continue to generate higher prices. Crude is not in as nearly short supply as is often believed, it is all just located in a select few countries. Those countries, however, have tons. So, the only thing we need to worry about is not the actual stores of crude oil, but the countries controlling the valve, such as our "allies" Saudi Arabia.

 

Well, where do I start. I agree and disagree with some things you have said (wow don't we all). Anyways, I like the new car. I pray that it is a reasonable price. I would love to have one. However, I honestly would have much rather had a Boss model. Again, that is just me. The point that I think really upsets me is this. The whole Shelby is the king of mustangs and he started it all, stuff. Ok the man has said in his own words that Iacocco contacted him and wanted him to make the mustang better (performance wise). Here is the kicker. Shelby then stated that he called a company (man I wish I had paid attention to the name) and asked them what he needed to do to make the mustang into a race car. That's right he asked another "company" what "he" needed to do to make the mustang into a race car. They said, bigger motor, remove the backseat, better brakes, suspension, etc. So as far as I'm concerned that company should be responsible for some of the credit for the mustang. It really doesn't matter to me if he even made all the parts and assembled them in his shop. The point is someone else told him what he needed to do. I know many will bash this, but it is the truth. He is a race car driver, not an engineer. I think what upsets me the most, is the simple fact that his name on the car is going to drive the prices higher. I too am a business man and understand marketing and profit. However, when I'm not the one making the profit, it just pisses me off. My other point. I would have a hard time making myself pay that kind of money for somethin I know I could build and if not make better for far less money (build it to my specs and my liking). Yes, I said it and it can be done. After all, isn't that what everyone wants, a car that is individual to them (if it's not true there would be no SEMA). However, I am still drawn to the idea of having a factory car that is as awsome as this one would be. At that point it is more about a prestige thing then it is anything else. Also, I mod every car I own. So it would be hard for me not to mod this car (other than engine stuff) and feel good about it. I mean if it is not original than the value drops, but I then again I would never sell the car. So that is the internal struggle I would have. Sorry for such a long post. I just needed to get that off my chest. I hope everyone understands this is my opinion and I just wanted to put it out there. Thanks.

 

Gas is unlikely to hit $3/gallon this summer. If it does, it will cost me at most $40 more a month to operate. Yank yank yank. This car gets better gas mileage than almost all SUV's, and they don't seem to be going away anytime soon.

 

The Shelby isn't an M3 fighter. It's a Corvette fighter. The M3 isn't a challenge for it. The Mustang GT, with a few mods, is an M3 fighter. A future GT350 or Mach 1 would be an M3 fighter.

 

The large SUV's will be the first to go. My Mustang getting 18+ mpg is pretty good, I can't sit comfortably in a compact, so I don't have much a choice.

 

I totally agree with the sentiment behind your statement. This car is like a dream come true for those of us who understand what the "Shelby" script means when scribed across the rear of a mustang. This car is the rebirth of a legend, and I will share in a piece this time, complete with stripes and S-H-E-L-B-Y written across the rearend. I have no problems with the naysayers though, just means they won't be in line ahead of me.