It is, in part, reason they did it. Shifting Strategies as they call it in advertising, whereby at that point in a competitive Market with a Product that is both loved and hated my many, they know that negative publicity can also work to their advantage. It is about the garnishment of attention in effect part of the reason the Fusion has won a lot of compact European Car Buyers and also happening with the Edge.

Even in Houston, TX with the strong car culture we have here, rolling the Shelby to a local hot rod cruise proves to be like a HollyWood red carpet event.

As for the winning of competiting Clients - we had several trade in Vettes, Mercedes and Vipers - taking a loss - to get a GT500. Trading in a 2006 Viper wihth only 900 miles on after testing a GT500 we acquired from another Dealer, proved to be quite the love affair for one Buyer.

 

Yeah, I guess. But I guess that I do not believe in the saying "there is no such thing as bad publicity."

I think the average Joe may know more about what a Shelby is vs. what a SVT Cobra is, but I also think they hear stories about the mark up and that puts people off and makes them less inclined to actually spend time working with a Ford dealership b/c they are afraid of getting screwed also.

But, I also think that by using the Shelby name (and therefore creating this dealer ADM problem) Ford is making some of their most loyal customers mad and eventually looking and purchasing cars from other makers.

 

You are partly right.

It remains to be seen if the GT-H and Shelby GT will carry the same level of interest, I don't think it will mainly due to the disparity in performance and upgrades. A car has to have a bit more than the name to be in high demand.

 

Interesting how the topic's question on new upcoming colors for the 2008 GT500 morphed into buying competition for it. It is a great performance car market out there and Chevy is chasing it with the Corvette, making great profits while negatively affecting the "collector" value of the new car; Porsche is chasing it with the Cayman and a variety of 911 variants; FoMoCo is oddly out of step, not trying to ride the wave of very marketable (and profitable) GT500 and Shelby GT Mustang variants, but trying to use them to draw in customers to buy other Ford products, since most potential performance customers will realize their intelligence and financial resources will be insulted in pursuing a purchase there.
My suggestion to FoMoCo execs (those few that have not been forcibly retired lately) is to open up the production spigots on the GT500 and Shelby GT and X4 the outputs to increase profits for a company dying for lack of them. That would end this controversy and market prices would take over.
Anyway, back to the 2008 GT500 Colors, anybody hear anything lately as to what new choices there will be?

 

Methinks the reason the topic got bent so quick is the little fact that Ford hasn't even got its head out of its **** long enough to make an official production announcment of the car for the 08MY. There are a lot of dealers still trying to make an ADM case based on that non fact.

 

Completely agree. 500HP goes along way on this as well. Sticker for sticker, it's a great HP buy. Hence, the ADMs that we all hate...

Absolutely. I try to give them the benefit of the doubt, but if they really wanted to quell the outcry, they would announce production with a big bump for '08. Maybe they are waiting for the dealers to actually sell their cars to actual buyers before doing so, instead of using them as pricey dealership ornaments.

As for colors, Metallic Brown gets my vote!
I would actually love to see Grabber Blue...

 

I agree on the Grabber Blue with the Chamois interior!
Anybody heard anything on 2008 GT 500 colors lately?
Checking the Corvette sites for 2008, two new colors already (Med. Blue and a Claret) announced along with two more interior color choices PLUS a new base 6.2 L engine with at least 425 HP.
I am beginning to wonder from the lack of news/leaks if the GT 500 will really be a one year wonder as FoMoCo figures out how to make money on Crown Vics!