Thursday 17th September 2015

Shelby comes to the UK

From go-faster stripes to an 850 supercharger conversion, the original Mustang tuner has it all

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There have been Shelby Mustangs for almost as long as there have been Ford ones. But although Europe isn't going to get the Ford-built GT350 Shelby, owners of the new 'stang will be able to get themselves into an officially Shelbified version in the UK. Although it will help if you live in the Surrey area.

We won't get GT350 but we will get Shelby!

Because Shelby has announced that Bill Shepherd Mustangs in Byfleet is set to become its first official 'modshop' in the UK, offering a range of upgrades for both Ecoboost and V8 versions ranging from cosmetic tweaks through to the mighty 850hp 'Super Snake' conversion that we've already told you about.

We met up with some of the senior team from Carroll Shelby International at the Goodwood Revival, where co-CEO M. Neil Cummings explained the slightly confusing hierarchy between different Shelby branded products.

"Ford is under licence from us for the GT350," he said, "we work very closely with Ford on all of our products, we incorporate Ford Racing parts into our Shelby upgrades as much as possible. But as the GT350 isn't going to be worldwide, this is a chance for other people to get into a Shelby Mustang."

And if the budget is a bit larger...

Modifications for the GT include carbonfibre splitters, bonnet, diffuser and spoiler plus a cold air intake kit and 20-inch alloys, with the further option of either a 627hp Ford Performance supercharger kit or - if that's not quite enough - a full 850hp upgrade. Modifications for the Ecoboost are more cosmetic, although it does come with a 25hp boost over the standard car's 310hp engine.

This comes at a price, of course. We're still waiting for confirmation on UK figures, but in the US Shelby charges $49,999 (£32,250) for the 627hp V8 GT conversion and $23,995 (£15,500) for the Ecoboost - and apart from warranty considerations there's nothing to stop UK Mustang buyers from saving some money by buying Ford Performance parts direct from the US.

Shelby also used Goodwood to show off some of its more expensive wares, including the stunning-looking aluminium bodied Daytona Coupe - yours for $350,000 (£225,800), although you'll have to buy your own engine as well - and also the 'continuation' Cobra that's allowed to enter various historic racing series.

[Banned Member]

Awesome looking car! I need that Lottery win now!

[redroadster]

What these cars may lack in tech they make up with character rumbling around in a v 8 going slow is better than breaking speed limits in a car what you can't even here engine in I,m looking forward to driving new mustang will be a head scratch between new focus rs and one of these both very different cars but will be similar money once extras are added to focus.

[Jonny_]

"850 supercharger conversion"? Most impressive, but how do they all fit under the bonnet?

[delta0]

They need to offer this as a standard off the shelf car. It would make insurance a lot easier if it wasn't a modified car.

[sumpoil]

"But as the GT350 isn't going to be worldwide ..... "

If this turns out to be the case I'm going to be most disappointed. For my money the GT350 looks better, sounds better and is WAY less expensive. If it's a matter of the Shelby name, then remove the Shelby badges from the GT350! .... you could call it the 'Princess Sparkle GT350' for all I care. I want one! .... and if I don't get one I'll scream and scream and scream! ... so there!

[unsprung]

sumpoil said:

"But as the GT350 isn't going to be worldwide ..... "

If this turns out to be the case I'm going to be most disappointed. For my money the GT350 looks better, sounds better and is WAY less expensive. If it's a matter of the Shelby name, then remove the Shelby badges from the GT350! .... you could call it the 'Princess Sparkle GT350' for all I care. I want one! .... and if I don't get one I'll scream and scream and scream! ... so there!

Regrettably, there will be no Ford Mustang GT350 sold by Ford in the EU. Full stop. It will not be offered by Ford, neither in LHD nor in RHD.

The continued speculation about this, on UK forums and by UK motoring journalists, is superfluous. Rather like similar UK speculation about a RHD C7 Corvette and RHD 6th-generation Camaro -- long after these had been mooted by General Motors.

Outside the US there is only a slender wisp of a business case for the standard Mustang.

At the moment, Americans are buying 12,000 Mustangs monthly. The UK will do with 2000 to 3000 annually. And nobody is certain that this UK figure can be sustained beyond the first couple of years.

Of course, UK specialists can help you to do a self-import of a LHD US model GT350. New and used. Could be very good value for money. And will be unique among UK Mustangs. Or Mustangs anywhere.

[sumpoil]

unsprung said:

Regrettably, there will be no Ford Mustang GT350 sold by Ford in the EU. Full stop. It will not be offered by Ford, neither in LHD nor in RHD.

The continued speculation about this, on UK forums and by UK motoring journalists, is superfluous. Rather like similar UK speculation about a RHD C7 Corvette and RHD 6th-generation Camaro -- long after these had been mooted by General Motors.

Outside the US there is only a slender wisp of a business case for the standard Mustang.

At the moment, Americans are buying 12,000 Mustangs monthly. The UK will do with 2000 to 3000 annually. And nobody is certain that this UK figure can be sustained beyond the first couple of years.

Of course, UK specialists can help you to do a self-import of a LHD US model GT350. New and used. Could be very good value for money. And will be unique among UK Mustangs. Or Mustangs anywhere.

Have to ask .... obviously. a) where did you get the information from? b) how do you know it's definitive?

I thought you could actually buy an official LHD Corvette in the UK? So why not a LHD Mustang? I don't mind going down the import route but if I do and Ford do a 'U' turn on RHD and/or UK sales then I'll be a bit miffed

Edited by sumpoil on Thursday 17th September 15:51

[skyrover]

Lets hope some of the US car tuning culture makes it's way to the UK too.

[unsprung]

sumpoil said:

Have to ask .... obviously. a) where did you get the information from? b) how do you know it's definitive?

I thought you could actually buy an official LHD Corvette in the UK? So why not a LHD Mustang? I don't mind going down the import route but if I do and Ford do a 'U' turn on RHD and/or UK sales then I'll be a bit miffed

Edited by sumpoil on Thursday 17th September 15:51

Regrettably... From industry trade publication, Automotive News dated November 2014:

"While Ford is going global with the stock 2015 Mustang, it will not sell the GT350 outside North America and the Middle East."

[Atmospheric]

Excellent news.

[HarryW]

Was rather hoping the GT350 was going to be offered in RHD and am a bit disappointed it isn't, had it down a potential alternative to the new TVR.

[Edmundo2]

Sorry am I reading that correctly? Eco boost mods are £15k which gets you 25hp and a couple of cosmetic tweets? That's circa 50% more than the cost of the car...!? I must have misunderstood

Re being an alternative to the new TVR, let's hope not, ( I like US stuff but hope the new TVR is a properly special sports car rather than a big noisy GT )

That said I welcome any mustang as they look and sound great and make refreshing change v most euro stuff.

[Stu R]

Shelby are, and always have been pretty miserable value compared to many other tuners for basic upgrades.

[Roo]

Edmundo2 said:

Sorry am I reading that correctly? Eco boost mods are £15k which gets you 25hp and a couple of cosmetic tweets? That's circa 50% more than the cost of the car...!? I must have misunderstood

That's about right for Shelby mods.

[k-ink]

Sounds like most of the budget is going straight into the Shelby bank account to pay for using the badge. I'd get the mods done elsewhere.