RE: New York show: Shelby 1000

RE: New York show: Shelby 1000

Thursday 5th April 2012

New York show: Shelby GT1000

Mighty 1,100hp Mustang found cowering under a sheet in the show foyer but PH gets the inside line



Well, it didn't go entirely according to plan - we had but one day at the New York International Auto Show, and Shelby American wasn't actually scheduled to take the wraps off its 1,100hp Mustang until after we were due to leave.

Big horsepower means big work under here
Big horsepower means big work under here
In fact, in keeping with much of the opening press day at New York 2012, there was a kind of lackadaisical disorganisation about the Shelby stand. All the cars were covered - though that even the covers had racing stripes was pretty cool - none of the literature was out, most of the signage was still being assembled.

And for some reason, the stand itself is located in a quiet part of what is basically the Javits Center lobby. Just around the corner from the Terrafugia flying car (no kidding). This is a company celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2012. If the Shelby 1000 didn't have such a huge pedigree supporting that four-digit horsepower output you'd be forgiven for not taking it very seriously.

But this IS a very serious piece of kit indeed, starting with the price. The regular version - which comes complete with cats and is fully emissions compliant in all 50 US states (no mean feat) is $149,995. The 'Shelby 1000 S/C', which isn't so strict about the greenery in order to turn that 1,000hp claim into a minimum figure, costs $154,995.

'Send us your GT500 now!' says Shelby
'Send us your GT500 now!' says Shelby
Neither amount includes the cost of the donor car. Which in this particular instance is a 2012 Shelby Mustang GT500, priced around $50,000.

Anyway, we persevered, popping back to the stand every half hour or so. And eventually we caught the car out in the daylight, and grabbed a quick chat with Shelby Vice President of Operations, Gary Patterson.

The Shelby 1000 is notable for not looking that showy at a glance. But then you spot that even the cladding below the windscreen wipers appears to be carbon fibre, those are 20-inch three-piece billet aluminium wheels, and, in the local parlance, OMG that's a lot of shiny kit under the bonnet.

The list of engine modifications is naturally extensive, starting with the supercharger. But as Patterson pointed out, this car "is not just about horsepower." Care has been taken to make it run properly - even on "regular pump gas" - and, more importantly, prevent it from tearing itself apart.

20-inch wheels and Wilwood brakes included
20-inch wheels and Wilwood brakes included
Changes under the skin include additional reinforcement welded to the chassis, a much stronger 'drag' spec back axle, and fully adjustable suspension all round. Bigger brakes, developed with Wilwood, are an obvious requirement.

Shelby describes the 1000 as a "limited production" vehicle - but we're guessing that's a given since there surely can't be too many certifiable yet well moneyed Mustang fanciers on the planet. Hell of a thing, though.

Author
Discussion

suffolk009

Original Poster:

5,344 posts

164 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
Amazingly, I know two people with mustangs. Not this particular model obviously, but the same bodyshell. What amazes me is just how BIG they are. Ludicrous. The SUV of sportscars. Built for those arrow straight roads in the mid west, no doubt.

Can't imagine how they'd be able to keep up on the B-roads of Suffolk and Essex with a well driven Mk1 MX5!

XitUp

7,690 posts

203 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
1. It's a GT, not a sports car.
2. It's smaller than a Mondeo.

PascalBuyens

2,868 posts

281 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
Nice air filter smile

boobles

15,241 posts

214 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
I like that alot! & please don't mention an MX5 under the same breath! Not even close to being in the same league.

EDLT

15,421 posts

205 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
XitUp said:
1. It's a GT, not a sports car.
2. It's smaller than a Mondeo.
+1

PH: Ignorance Matters.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
$150k for the upgrade? Corr blimey!

TobesH

550 posts

206 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
That is stupendous

Skater12

507 posts

157 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
$205k for a 4 seater GT car with 1000 BHP !
Am I the only person here that actually thinks that's an awesome idea!

Lets be serious for a moment. The sort of people who will buy this car will be not only wealthy beyond mere motals, but also have the sort of taste that leads to orange girlfriends, and saying words like "reem".
If these people then buy such a car that they cant control, then it could help cleanse the gene pool a little.

TobesH

550 posts

206 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
Skater12 said:
$205k for a 4 seater GT car with 1000 BHP !
Am I the only person here that actually thinks that's an awesome idea!

Lets be serious for a moment. The sort of people who will buy this car will be not only wealthy beyond mere motals, but also have the sort of taste that leads to orange girlfriends, and saying words like "reem".
If these people then buy such a car that they cant control, then it could help cleanse the gene pool a little.
Well I love it, oh dear

VeeDub Geezer

461 posts

153 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
That's a nice looking 'stang smile

XitUp

7,690 posts

203 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
I'm not really a fan. The Mustang is meant to be a blue collar performance car, not cost as much as a house.

julianc

1,984 posts

258 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
What engine does it have?

Teggers

111 posts

199 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
I rather like that - always liked Mustangs (bar the 80's and 90's attempts. But I don't $200k like it. The 60's ones IMO are still the best - if only for the experience rather than the actual drive (yes, I have driven a couple)

Motorrad

6,811 posts

186 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
suffolk009 said:
Amazingly, I know two people with mustangs. Not this particular model obviously, but the same bodyshell. What amazes me is just how BIG they are. Ludicrous. The SUV of sportscars. Built for those arrow straight roads in the mid west, no doubt.

Can't imagine how they'd be able to keep up on the B-roads of Suffolk and Essex with a well driven Mk1 MX5!
A Mustang is about the same size as an E66 7 series BMW, at least that's my rough judgement looking down out of the window onto my drive.


deadtom

2,552 posts

164 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
suffolk009 said:
Can't imagine how they'd be able to keep up on the B-roads of Suffolk and Essex with a well driven Mk1 MX5!

PascalBuyens

2,868 posts

281 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
julianc said:
What engine does it have?
IIRC a 5.8 liter Whipple supercharged beast.

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
VeeDub Geezer said:
That's a nice looking 'stang smile
Absolutely.

sunsurfer

305 posts

180 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
After a decade or so of general abuse and mods with hacksaw and mig welder it is the kind of car you imagine a modern Mad Max would drive...

suffolk009

Original Poster:

5,344 posts

164 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
The point I was making is that to European eyes, on British roads, the car seems a little bit bulky.

M@1975

591 posts

226 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
quotequote all
sunsurfer said:
After a decade or so of general abuse and mods with hacksaw and mig welder it is the kind of car you imagine a modern Mad Max would drive...
Yep, it's the new interceptor! smile

Want... though it would never fit down my drive... frown