I'm surprised to hear that the California Special is returning. I never had anything against the modern California Special, but I never really understood why Ford chose that moniker for what is essentially just a mild appearance package.

The original was basically a Shelby appearance package for coupes available to west coast dealers for the first half of 1968 to help bolster sales. It'd be one thing if the modern California Special followed that same vein (a Shelby appearance package for a regular GT or maybe even a V6, which undoubtedly would **** off GT500 owners), but it doesn't and is really nothing like it's namesake, besides the very fact that it alters the look of a regular car. Sooo, with it not being influenced by the GT500 and not exclusive to California, or even the west coast, why call it a California Special? Maybe the 2011 CS will be different?

 

P265/40 P285/30 showing in the GT500 coupe order banks. I'm assuming the back wheels are bigger (20's) since the aspect ratio (30) is lower than the fronts (40).

 

Hear Hear, I am onboard with Jay__WX and Wolfsburg on the whole GTCS issue, amen! And how about that Coletti Cobra????

 

The '07 and '08 CS package DOES share a Shelby appearance package. It shares the appearance package with the '07 and '08 Shelby GT, but not the GT500.

 

Shares a rear bumper cover with the GT500. Just painted a little differently.

But yeah the front is different.

 

Bring back a GTS option, a base V6 with GT drivetrain & suspension...

I would buy one of these in a heart beat.

 

That would be sweet!

 

Interesting. The difference works out to the fronts (265/40's) being taller by just over 3/4" in height, assuming both are 19's. So it looks like 19's in the fron and 20's in the back!

 

Actually, according to Ford engineers I heard talk about this, it was a Ford decision to have something smaller and on the left side to ease the manufacturing process.

 

Oh does it? Well if so, I stand corrected however I move they make it recognizably different. A GT500 diffuser and a Shelby GT front end aren't huge visual changes that really stand out, to my eye anyways.

 

I honestly agree that the California Special should not be brought back right now. It's time for something else for a while.

It's had a good 3 year run. It's a purely appearance package that I enjoyed, but don't get stuck in a rut with it.

 

True. Forgot that the GT500 has the same rear cover.

 

Already exists. It's called a deluxe.

 

I want crank windows, manual door locks, manual seats, no power mirrors, drop the A/C. Basically I don't want anything in the car that I don't have to have. And then give it and option pkg that would give some of the whine baby people stuff they want.

I would just like to see a GT powered car offered for well under 30K that has just the basics.

 

Shelby owns applications for registering the GT 350 and GT 500 trademarks. Ford has an arrangement covering their use in conjunction with Ford trademarks.

 

My guess is about as many as have responded on this site...not that many. Coletti is just not a mainstream recognizable name like Shelby, Saleen or Roush. Coletti is a great engineer and responsible for many great SVT products but his name does not have the alure that Shelby does. Shelby was a successful race car driver and was responsible for successful Ford racing programs like the GT40 as well as the Cobra and GT350 programs.

You may not like him or like how expensive cars with his name are but I remember dealers charging ADMs for '96 Cobras too so ADMs are not a Shelby only phenomenon by any stretch of the imagination. Look how much Saleen's or Roush's - they are all very expensive Mustangs.

If you think calling the next GT500 an SVT Cobra or Coletti Cobra is going to magically reduce the price, well then you're dreaming my friends.

 

Lame! but understandable given the 265 front tire size.

 

Never going to happen. Firstly, accessories = profit and Ford needs all they can get. Secondly, anyone who isn't an enthusiast is going to see "Ford being cheap" not "stripper." And there's a few more of them than there are of you.

If you want a bare car, there's always a body in white. Not street legal, of course, but plenty of fun.

 

I disagree, there may not be many of us they would want a 1995 GTS type optioned car. But, just like in 95 with the GTS and the 96-98 with the 248A option pkg the cars will sell and the people who want them will find them and buy them right up.

Cars don't have to be loaded up with options to be profitable. Plenty of company's, both foreign and domestic sell low optioned/no option cars all day long and make money at it.

The public would think Ford was being cheap if they still expect to get something close to GT deluxe pricing for it. I as well as anyone else would expect a base price to be close to 2K under a deluxe.

 

No but building another configuration DOES cost more money, than offering a loaded up car in lesser configurations (with more options)

Case in point, Canadians have LESS options than the US counterpart, but more standard features.
It's more cost effective for Ford to build it this way.