Description |
This is a classic and is nearing its 20th anniversary itself. Built by Ford and perfected by Carroll Shelby and crew, this is a head turner. The first vehicle to result in the rekindling of the Ford/Shelby relationship was the Shelby GT-H and GT. Shelby and Ford racing teamed up to modify a series of Mustang GT’s and market them as Shelby’s. First out of the gate was the 2006 Shelby GT-H. Back in 1966, you could stroll into a Hertz Rental Car agency and come out driving in a Shelby G.T.350H “Rent-a-Racer”. These hot rentals became legendary with stories of cars coming back with shredded tires or engines replaced with a lower powered unit from a lesser Mustang. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the program Shelby and Hertz once again teamed up to offer a modern “Rent-a-Racer” with the Shelby GT-H.
The Shelby GT-H was based on a stock Mustang GT that had been warmed over by Shelby. Just as had been done in the 1960’s, Ford sent cars to Shelby to be transformed. Mustangs were shipped from its Flat Rock, Michigan, assembly plant to Shelby Automobile’s facility in Las Vegas. Once at Shelby’s facility work began to create the GT-H.
For 2006 the Shelby GT-H was available only as a coupe and finished in black with twin gold “Le Mans” style stripes that went up and over bumpers, hood and rear decklid. Other exterior touches included a Mustang GT/CS front bumper cover, a unique hood with hood pins, a billet aluminum grille, special wheels, side scoops just aft of the front doors, a rear spoiler and gold Shelby GT-H side stripes and Shelby/Hertz emblems.
Under that unique hood was the 4.6-litre, single overhead-cam three-valve V-8 from the Mustang GT that had been enhanced with the Ford Racing FR1 Power Pack from the Ford Racing parts catalog. The FR1 package consisted of a cold-air intake, a reflashed engine management computer with a more aggressive timing curve, a unique exhaust X-pipe and freer flowing mufflers. These changes bumped horsepower up to 325-horsepower and torque increased by 10 pound-feet. All GT-H’s were equipped with the 5R55S five-speed automatic transmission, as this was still a rental car after all. To give the GT-H more kick off the line the standard rear axel with it 3.31:1 gear ratio was swapped out for a unit containing a more aggressive 3.55:1 ratio.
To keep the Shelby GT-H planted firmly to the ground the suspension was modified with Ford Racing’s FR3 Handling Pack. This package included thicker sway bars front and rear and a cool twin-tube strut tower brace. Also included were a set of dampers tuned by Multimatic and stiffer springs that dropped the ride height by 1.5-inches. Wheels on the GT-H were the standard Mustang GT “Bullitt” style 17-inch alloys. In order to protect the GT-H from over exuberant rental clients the traction control defeat switch was defeated preventing any renter from performing a grand smokey burnout or extreme drifting maneuvers.
Inside, the Shelby GT-H was bone stock Mustang GT save for a serial-number ID badge on the dash to remind the rental client that thy were in something special. Production was limited to 500 vehicles all of which were sold directly to Hertz for use as rental units in the company’s Fun Collection. The cars were available for rent through 19 select Hertz airport locations in California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and Florida. The only way a member of the public could buy a GT-H was to wait until Hertz was finished with the car and sold off through dealer auctions. Our owner is selling due to age & health and no longer needs this one and we are offering his F150 Lightning SVT and Honda VFR among other itesm in this sale.
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