2012 GT-500 Discontinued ???
Mach 1 Member
Joined: May 16, 2008
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
Performance alone isn't always enough to sell cars...especially $50k ones. To make people dish out that kind of money, there needs to be more of a draw than just having a great performance car. The GT500 has proven that whether people think they want S H E L B Y on their car or not. Any premium model we see will have a name with a draw attached to it. Like it or not, it sells cars.
Personally I wouldn't be sad to see the GT500 go. It's had a good run, but I think it's time for something new (or old, depending how you look at it). I think there is room for a Boss and something else. Maybe a Mach? Make the Boss the more stripped down balanced performer, and the Mach the more cushy all out brute rather than trying to make the GT500 everything all at once.
I think the GT500 will be around for a couple more years. At least until they get a S/C 5.0 ironed out to replace the 5.4
Personally I wouldn't be sad to see the GT500 go. It's had a good run, but I think it's time for something new (or old, depending how you look at it). I think there is room for a Boss and something else. Maybe a Mach? Make the Boss the more stripped down balanced performer, and the Mach the more cushy all out brute rather than trying to make the GT500 everything all at once.
I think the GT500 will be around for a couple more years. At least until they get a S/C 5.0 ironed out to replace the 5.4
Bullitt Member
Joined: January 4, 2005
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
I never said they were going to discontinue the Shelby. In my opinion, they're not planning on it anytime soon.
Shelby GT500 Member
Joined: July 1, 2006
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 1
I doubt that they'll discontinue the model anytime soon, especially with the new aluminum block as mentioned earlier. If they do, then that means that there must be something better, which is always good. If Ford can come-up with a 5.0 TT, w/ 550-600 hp, and drop it in a lighter car named Boss or a Mach 1, then that would be cool. Nonetheless, the GT500 legend will live on, as well as Carroll Shelby's legacy. It's all good.
Cobra Member
Joined: January 12, 2006
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
GTR Member
Joined: September 28, 2009
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1
I don't see Ford changing the order of models anytime soon. It'll continue to be V6 - GT - SE - SVT. While the names may change, the position won't. The Boss/Mach 1/etc. won't ever replace the SVT model.
GT Member
Joined: February 8, 2010
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Whether you like the man or not, S H E L B Y on a Mustang means something and it always will. People might cringe at paying 50k for a souped up Mustang, but they'll gladly pay that for a Shelby. I don't think there is any danger of the GT500 being discontinued over the next few years. Boss and Shelby will coexist.
Show me someone who would rip Shel's name off of the car, and I'll show you someone who doesn't own one.
Show me someone who would rip Shel's name off of the car, and I'll show you someone who doesn't own one.
Shelby GT500 Member
Joined: September 2, 2004
Posts: 2,594
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
I'd love to pickup a GT500 in the next year and would love the car to be an SVT Cobra. Shelby adds nothing to the car but added cost. I'd rather Ford remove the name and add better seats or rear Brembos instead of a badge.
Mach 1 Member
Joined: June 25, 2006
Posts: 722
Likes: 5
From: Vancouver BC
Post *****
Joined: October 9, 2007
Posts: 32,808
Likes: 163
Cobra R Member
Joined: September 26, 2007
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
I'd love for Ford to continue to refine the GT500 every year and make small tweaks to make each model stand out from one another. I agree with many here that the GT500 can easily share the spotlight with another SE. I think 03-04 was one of the best times to buy a Mustang in recent memory all three V8 models were very different in look, performance and character. Ford should take advantage of the Boss and MAch1 names instead of having aftermarket tuners offering SE's that Ford isn't producing. Look at the Saleen/ Parneli car (Ford should have made a Boss/MAch1 for the 05-09 cars).
The GT500 name can come and go but I hope the top dog Mustang continues to have Cobras on the fenders
The GT500 name can come and go but I hope the top dog Mustang continues to have Cobras on the fenders
MOTM Committee Member
Joined: April 17, 2006
Posts: 9,201
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
Member
Joined: September 20, 2009
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Texas
With the recent management shake-up at Shelby American the new guy in charge John Luft gave an interview with Leftlane news and among other things he mentioned the following:
"Carroll just came back from a week in Detroit, where he sat for hours with the designers working on the new GT500. They put him behind the wheel, they sat there just listening to his every comment."
Since the 2011 GT500 is fully developed already, my guess is that he is referring to the GT500 that will one-up the Z/28 once it is released. The future looks bright for the GT500 regardless of when the Boss debuts.
Besides the GT500 and Boss coexisted in 69 & 70 along with the Mach I also.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JonathonK
2010-2014 Mustang
102
Sep 29, 2015 09:27 AM
