A New Breed of Mustang: The Shelby GT350

Ford’s 2016 Shelby GT350 Mustang hosts a modern interior while still offering that classic look and feel that car lovers know. First unveiled at the 2014 LA Auto Show, it has been causing quite a buzz among the automotive press. This is due in part to the fact that Ford seems to be pulling out all the stops with this one, both under the hood and with the car’s exterior. For those who can’t wait to see a new Mustang on the road, the model is expected to reach dealerships mid-2015.

Quite a Bit of History

The latest Shelby GT350 won’t be the first car to bear that name. From 1965 through 1970, Ford and Carol Shelby manufactured the very first GT350, a variation on the Mustang. Initially, it was available through Ford dealerships, but has since become a valuable collectors’ vehicle.

Over the years, there have been other Shelby models, most notably the GT500. For the vehicle’s 45^th anniversary in 2011, Shelby offered a new version of the GT350 as a post-title upgrade, meaning that people could have their previously purchased Mustangs upgraded to this new model. The 2016 50^th anniversary model on the other hand, is a brand new car.

2016 GT350 Specks

The new Shelby GT350 is the kind of car that will have grads from auto mechanic courses just itching to take a look under the hood. Some of the features include:

• A 5.2 litre V8 engine
• Aluminum hood wrapped around the engine
• Over 500 horsepower
• Flat plane crankshaft design
• Chrome-finished dials
• Manual 6-speed transmission
• High rev instead of forced induction
• 400 lb-ft of torque
• Over 8,000 rpm
• Powerful performance breaks

You can have a look at the 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 in action here:

The First One’s For Charity

It looks like it may be difficult for those in automotive careers to get their hands on, let alone see this latest Mustang for a while. In order to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the GT350 and support the community, Ford will be auctioning off the first of the 2016 models at the Barrett-Jackson auction house in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 17th. All the proceeds will go to the JDRF (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), which funds Type 1 Diabetes research.

The highest bidder gets to pick their own paint colour from an assortment of options that come with the model. While there is no minimum bid, this car isn’t expected to go for cheap. Given the history of the GT350 and the advanced press and excitement around this new model, Ford may end up donating quite a bit to JDRF!

Are you automotive service technician student excited about the Shelby GT350? Do you think it will live up to the hype?