Just wanted to let you know that the new Speed magazine has an article about the Shelby (prototype) that they test drove.

I have a new scanner I bought today so will try and get the full article scanned in tonight. Here are some of the main parts from the article:

"...Carroll Shelby and Ford have reunited, kissed and made-up like the old couple they are. That relationship has resulted in the newest Mustang rendition, which is easily the tightest, best-handling Mustang ever."

"The basics, though, are near final. Ford's biggest-blocked modular V-8, the supercharged 5.4 liter 4-cam from the Ford GT has been replicated with a vastly less expensive iron block, but retains the GT's 4-valve cylinder heads, camming and bulletproof pistons, crank and rods. The prototype was supercharged with a Lysholm screw-type blower, but production GT500 engines will use Eaton-built Roots blowers because Lysholm can't whittle its compressors fast enough to meet the approximately 7000-unit production goal. Water-to-air intercooling is standard and the working power rating is 450-bhp-plus. We're expecting a final figure of 465 bhp-or maybe a bit more."

"SVT was putting in fast laps when it had us out to the Grattan, Michigan, road course. A devilishly convoluted and occasionally bumpy track, Grattan is a road tester's paradise."

"Between laps, the engineers were swapping steering racks in the prototype, all in the name of obtaining the best steering feel-and we were starting to get excited. A muscle car on a road course? This should be fun. And it was. Hammering out of the pits, the GT500 puts down the power through its live axle and goes."

"The GT500's handling is awesome. Turn-in was precise and the line around corners accurate and linear. With the new Mustang's elongated wheelbase, the big engine's heft is carried mainly between the axles, for minimal understeer. We found ourselves nit-picking our apexing and car placement, pleasantly surprised that the big Shelby would let us. This is real progess over even last year's Mustang Cobra, much less a '68 GT-500."


The article goes on to praise the 5.4 and the powerbands, superb throttle response etc. It does mention the clutch feeling a little rubbery and about the weight being portly. (3850 being the number they stated for weight) And again it is mentioned that the estimated price is $38,500.

Will try to get the full article scanned in now. Enjoy the parts I tried to get down for you.



The bold parts are NOT to start another argument about SRA or IRS, they are just to point out some of the main points we have talked about on the board before to include weight and price.

 

Hopefully these will attach properly...

 

I shrank them down as much as I could without it becomming unreadable. Sorry for the inconvience of having to scroll down.

 

Third page ... only one more.

 

Final page, enjoy.

 

Nice work...Thanks!

 

Thanks a lot, Brian

 

NOT A SPORTS CAR ???

about the weight:

"...it's bulk enough to keep from calling this Shelby a sports car. ... it shakes like a wet dog as the nicely-riding, street tuned springs and shocks begin to lose control of the forces in motion."

 

Thanks Brian. You saved me 5 bucks.

 

No problem!

The article at least sounded more balanced, they took time for the pros and cons. However, it is the prototype and we can only hope the handling will improve the more they fiddle with it.

 

Wonderful article. I can't wait to see 1/4 mile times on this monster

 

Thanks man! Good info.