These are our first official, up-close and personal looks at the cockpit and the exterior of the new Ford Mustang GT350.

Read the rest on the Mustang Source homepage. >>

 

I like the interior, the steering wheel, wheels and brakes and even the black roof. But I still can't bring myself to like the back end.

 

If I had a fatter wallet I'd be real proud to have that in my garage. The spoiler needs to be body color though.

 

Looks cool. I took some pics at the Toronto Auto Show on Friday of a blue one. We weren't allowed to see inside; it was roped off and doors were closed.

Here is a link to the pics.
Blue GT 350

Also 1963 Mustang II Prototype from the show
1963 Mustang II

 

this isn't the 1960's Ford offer it with an Automatic!!

 

The gt350 obviously wasn't made for you thank goodness it isn't offered with an auto, goes against what this car is for.

Don't worry, though, I'm sure they'll offer an auto on the gt500 when it comes around.

 

From '66-'70, the Shelby GT350/500 was available with an auto. I prefer a stick myself, but if a vintage Shelby came my way without a 4 speed, I sure wouldn't turn my nose up at it!!!

 

For all the auto haters out there, Carol Shelby's personal Cobra had an auto. For DD duty, I (usually) prefer an auto. For those times I want to drive a stick, I drive the Corvair or the wife's 6spd Miata. Nowhere near Mustang power levels, but still fun.

 

My auto is quicker than your stick... wait that just sounds wrong

 

so many button on the steering wheel I would crash looking for the right one

 

It took me two seconds to figure it out.

 

I want to see one without the radio.

 

Actually the Shelby GT350/500 was not available with an auto until the arrival of the 68 model !

 

The automatic transmission was indeed offered in the '66 Shelby GT350 and the majority of GT350H's, but a handful were sticks. The auto was continued in the 67-70 models. I've seen documented '66 automatics, and in 1983 a '67 auto was offered to me for sale for $4500 but I was too stupid to buy it.

You might be thinking of the convertible which was not available until 1968 (although I believe there might have been a one-off '67 convertible).

From Hagerty:

1966 Shelby GT350 - Classic Car Price Guide
History of the 1965-1970 Shelby GT350
http://www.hagerty.com/price-guide/1966-Shelby-GT350


"For 1966, GT350s came in a broader exterior palette, with blue, red, green and black cars offered. Subtle body changes included functional side brake scoops and a special rear quarter panel window, while a SelectShift three-speed automatic transmission was made available. Tops on the options list was a Paxton supercharger, which gave the GT350 stratospheric power. Just a handful of cars were so equipped."

 

I'm not hating on the automatic or refuting that gt350's of old didn't offer it as an option... Just saying they built this particular car (much like the focus ST/RS and fiesta ST) with a manual transmission for the driving enthusiast! This car is built for the guys who want the ultimate driver's car mustang... The auto will come in the gt500, which makes more sense because it's combatting the hellcat (offered auto only). The gt350 fights the z28 (manual only).

Of course there are people who would like the car in an auto, but Ford is paying respects to "saving the manuals". It may be slower, it may not be efficient... But it certainly is more cerebral and rewarding than clicking some paddles or letting the car drive you.

Think this way: last year there was only the gt and the gt500. (No boss...manual only by the way as it should be). Both were offered auto. There will be a gt500 later on this year... So they are just replacing the boss with another manual only car, and they will have the gt500 for people like you that want convenience and comfort over the raw driving experience. If you want comfort and convenience it goes against the track focused nature of this car. The gt500 is going to be the comfy 750 hp highway/drag strip destroyer: buy that.

 

I agree with you about the cerebral nature and the tradition (to a certain extent) of a stick in newer, more high performance vehicles of any manufacturer. Personally I prefer a manual, not for reasons of tradition, but simply because I like rowing gears.

Not everyone wants or is able to drive a manual though. Some drivers may have physical limitations like arthritis or an artifical limb; others may choose to use their GT350 as a daily driver in bumper to bumper rush hour traffic where an automatic would serve them better. Regardless of one's transmission choice, I don't think they should be denied the opportunity to own a car equipped the way they prefer. It's their choice, their money, and maybe we'll all get to see just a few more Shelbys on the road.

I'll concede to an exception for the Boss, and maybe even the first year GT350 as being manual only cars in order to maintain a tradition on a limited basis. But in the case of the Shelby, a vintage second year GT350 with an auto is no less traditional than it's manual shift counterpart. If a second year Shelby was available with an auto in 1966, then the new generation second year GT350 should follow suit.

Even Ferrari's can be had with autos....that would have been blasphemous not too many years ago.

 

Please don't confuse auto with dual clutch manual.. Dct ok for gt350, why certify auto as well?

 

The gt350 and boss are purists cars. They are not built to be driven in bumper to bumper traffic... They are built for windy open roads and road courses. I'm biased because I've never owned an automatic, all manual DDs and I don't struggle with the thought of driving it in occasional traffic. Call me a purist lol but it's more fun and it's what I'm accustomed to.

And I know there are those with physical limitations but here comes some real talk: as rough as it sounds, that's not exactly a target market for a track focused performance car... That's a pretty tiny demographic... And it's not like a 435 hp gt is a huge compromise.

In general, I don't believe the small gain in clientele by offering a dct or automatic would make up for the loss of exclusivity... And also it's less costs spent there and more spent on development of the driving dynamics of the gt350. Honestly, I'm just happy Ford is catering to this performance car loving demographic that loves this part of the experience, while still offering something for everyone else!

I mean crap.. V6, turbo 4, 5.0 v8, 5.2 flat plane crank v8, and possible twin turbo 5.0 v8? That's 5 engine options in one platform... Four of which (my guess anyway) will be offered with an automatic.

Cars like the gt350 and z28 are the proverbial unicorns of the American performance segment. It's an extremely focused area they are aiming at, and it's benefit is not in sales volume, but in accolades, lap times, YouTube videos, and the halo car aura that will trickle down into the mustang brand. Ford isn't concerned with the few more cars they'd sell if it were auto. They want it to be special. And it is, indeed, VERY special.

 

I'm gonna be honest.

I could care less about how well this car performs against competition. I want one because its the second coming of a legendary car that I and the rest of the automotive world has always loved. It looks awesome, will be fast, fun, I will love it, and it will be timeless. That's pretty much the end of it. I want it for me.

 

Couldn't agree more