Modded Mustangs » hertz

Shelby Strikes Again, Drop Top GT-H Rental

mdvaldosta — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:54:12 +0000

Ford, Carrol Shelby, and Hertz have teamed up yet again – this time reworking the successful Rent-A-Racer GT-H as a convertible model. As before, these modified GT Mustang’s are available only for rental from Hertz at select airport locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, and Hawaii sometime later in the year with a production run of 500. The first one off the assembly line, as is the usual with Shelby automobiles, ran through Barrett-Jackson Auction in West Palm Beach, Fla – this time bringing in a cool $250k. Of course proceeds of the sale benefit the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation.

“The Ford Shelby GT-H was so much fun to drive that people literally begged us for more,” said Carroll Shelby, CEO of Shelby Automobiles, Inc. “The Mustang program never stands still, so we created a Ford Shelby GT-H convertible that gives people another unique driving experience. It’s a genuine American pony car that delivers open air motoring.”

Like the 2006 Shelby GT-H Mustang coupe, the 2008 convertible will be instantly recognizable. Black exterior paint set off with gold “Le Mans” dual racing stripes and “Shelby GT-H” rocker stripes - each will wear a Hertz Edition emblem on the front fenders and feature Hertz Shelby GT-H sill plates help to dress up the exterior. The vert is fitted with a unique hood with pins and a brushed aluminum grille with running horse emblem. A unique front fascia with integrated lower grille, as well as a set of body side scoops will be incorporated.

The GT-H’s 18-inch black aluminum wheels will be shod with P235/55ZR18 performance rubber. To give the car additional stiffness, a stylish light bar and supplemental bracing will also be added. A numbered dash badge with Carroll Shelby’s signature will be inside the cockpit.

Ford Racing Performance Group’s Power Pack (FR1) will kick up the 4.6L V-8/Five-speed automatic transmission powertrain to 319 horsepower. To put that extra power to the ground, the Ford Shelby GT-H will feature the Ford Racing Handling Pack (FR3) including special-tuned dampers, lowering springs, sway bars and a strut tower brace – plus a 3.55:1 ratio rear axle assembly for extra off-the-line acceleration.

“Any Mustang touched by Carroll Shelby has a head start on becoming a legend, and a highly desirable collectible, but they’re all designed to be seen, heard and driven hard” said Cisco Codina, group vice president, Ford North America Marketing, Sales and Service. “That’s why demand is so high in our showrooms, and on the auction block.”

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Models, News.

Retail Version of the Hertz GT-H Mustang to Be Produced

mdvaldosta — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 23:55:43 +0000

Ford starting prepping for production a retail version of the Shelby made Hertz GT-H rental car. The news was revealed to Ford dealers at a dealer meeting in Las Vegas last week. This will be the third in a potentially a long line-up of special edition Mustangs inspired and produced under Carrol Shelby’s guidance.

The car will be a 2007 model and production will be at least a few thousand. No word if the Shelby GT will differ from the rental car in any way, either visually or mechanically. Special thanks to John Neff for emailing us about this, you can find the orginal article he wrote here.

We’re not to sure what to think of this. As we reported earlier, Shelby has expressed interest in getting more special model Mustangs into production, but to rip the Hertz model this is unexpected to say the least. Ford used to own Hertz, and the ball was rolling on the Hertz GT-H revival long before the deal was made (for 5.6 billion dollars by the way) to produce a Mustang for the rental fleet.

The sale of off-lease Hertz GT-H Mustangs have been speculated to be worth as much as $100k, now it’s doubtful to bring much more than the cost of a new GT. When it comes to collector cars, it’s all in the production numbers.

UPDATE: 8/10/2006 – Ford has officially announced the planned production of this vehicle, to be called “Shelby GT” and will be available in either black or white – both with silver stripes. Expect 325 horsepower and a January sales date. Look for more details as information is released.

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Models, News.

Hertz Shelby GT-H Mustang Auctioned Off

mdvaldosta — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 05:01:06 +0000

On the 4th anniversary of the GT350H program, Modded Mustangs covered the production and subsequent shipment of 500 Shelby Mustang GT-H (aka Rent-a-Racer) Mustangs being shipped to selected Hertz rental locations across the country. We would like to inform you there was a mistake made. Only 499 of them were actually shipped.

One GT-H was spared, and is likely to be the lowest mileage GT-H to be auctioned off (Hertz plans to auction all GT-H models after approximately 16k – 18k miles). The 2006 Shelby GT-H edition Mustang was auctioned off by Barrett-Jackson auctioneer “Spanky”, Carroll Shelby, and Edsel Ford at the annual ‘Gathering of Eagles’ fundraiser. The winning bid? A cool $250,000.

“Ford Motor Company’s support of EAA and its programs, in partnership with Hertz and Shelby Automobiles, is supplying a truly dazzling addition to this year’s Gathering of Eagles auction,” said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture chairman. “Aviation enthusiasts enjoy performance both in the air and on the ground, and the Shelby GT-H Mustang was a spectacular highlight of the evening.”

“Being the first to auction the new GT-H is history in the making and we felt this was an incredible opportunity for Ford and EAA AirVenture Oshkosh,” said Jill Fannon, manager of Ford Events. “Ford wanted to do something special to support EAA’s programs that build aviation’s future, and what better way than with the hottest Mustang on the street.”

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Models, News.

GT350-H Rental Details

mdvaldosta — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 15:59:58 +0000

Got $350 a day to spare? That’s the reported rental rate for the Shelby GT350-H rental car ccording to photographer Devin Comiskey. Peering through (and over) the fence at Shelby’s Las Vegas facility, Cominskey snapped up all the photographs and information he could get.

Comiskey reports that reps at Shelby told him the cars will be available for rent for $300/day plus $50/day insurance. Customers will be allowed 100 miles per day, and charged $0.25 per mile over that limit. The way we see it, 100 miles is plenty (who can make 400 quarter-mile passes in one day anyways?).

Other security measures have reportedly been installed to prevent tampering with the engine and other components. In the 1970s, people were known to swap engines in and out of GT350 rentals, as well as weld roll cages to the chassis.

The cars will see between 16,000 and 18,000 “rental” miles before they are sent back to Ford for distribution to selected dealers to sell to the general public. Like the original GT350-H, they post-rental vehicles are likely to sell for top dollar. Like many limited production sports cars turned rentals, it’s likely these cars will have a waiting list for their entire rental life and then sell for a six figure dollar amount.

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Editorials, Models, News.

Shelby Does Commercial for the Hertz Mustang GT-H

mdvaldosta — Mon, 22 May 2006 14:32:12 +0000

Carrol Shelby take the 2006 Ford Mustang GT-H (dubbed the “Rent-A-Racer”) for a spin in this adrenaline pumping commercial.

The special run of 500 performance-modified Ford Mustang GTs — designated GT-H for “Hertz” — will be produced by Shelby Automobiles and available at select Hertz locations to mark the 40th anniversary of the legendary program that offered car enthusiasts the unique opportunity to rent and drive a high-performance sports car.

The Ford Racing Performance Group Power Pack boosts the 4.6-liter, V-8 by 25 ponies, to 300 horsepower. The package includes Ford Racing?s 90-mm Cold Air Kit, the Muffler Kit, a new X-pipe similar to the one used on the new Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang, a performance calibration and a cat-back performance exhaust for the throaty sound that will make this car unmistakably a Shelby Mustang GT-H.

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Models, News, Videos.

2006 Mustang GT-H Hertz Racer

mdvaldosta — Wed, 03 May 2006 16:52:38 +0000

Ford, Shelby, and Hertz Team Up for Special Edition Racer

In a throwback to the famed Shelby GT350H “Rent-A-Racer” program from the 1960s, Ford Motor Company, Shelby Automobiles and The Hertz Corporation are partnering to produce a special run of performance-modified Ford Mustang GTs – designated Shelby Mustang GT-H, for “Hertz”.

Forty years ago, Carroll Shelby and The Hertz Corporation came up with an ingenious plan to help get a batch of high-performance, special-edition Shelby Mustangs into the hands of rental customers who also happened to be car enthusiasts. Ford supplied the new Mustangs with V-8 engines and mostly automatic transmissions, Shelby added extra performance and style, and Hertz gave the public access to the kind of unique driving experience that one would normally only find on a racetrack. Today, the story of the Shelby/Hertz “Rent-A-Racer” is legendary and surviving Shelby GT350H Mustangs are among the most sought-after collector cars in the world. To connect the magical past of the original Shelby GT350H with the modern capabilities of the new Ford Mustang, Shelby, Ford and Hertz have again teamed up, and – together with the Ford Racing Performance Group – have given the 2006 Ford Shelby GT-H a very classic, muscular look as well as some true performance credentials.

“Like the original Hertz cars, the Ford Shelby GT-H will be fun to drive,” said Carroll Shelby, CEO of Shelby Automobiles, Inc. “We started with a terrific Mustang and modified it with some Ford go-fast parts and gave it a distinct look for Shelby-style driving. Whoever gets the opportunity to rent one of these unique cars will get an experience of a lifetime.”

Styling Enhancements

Like its predecessor, the 2006 Ford Shelby GT-H will be instantly recognizable – thanks to several eye-catching styling enhancements that are so much a part of the Shelby Mustang heritage. First and foremost, each Shelby GT-H will wear Black exterior paint set off with Gold racing stripes, a hallmark of Hertz’s vehicle history dating all the way back to the 1920s.

While it’s true that the Shelby GT350H was eventually made available in other color combinations, the Black-and-Gold combo is often referred to as “Hertz colors” by most Mustang aficionados. Shelby’s traditional “Le Mans” dual overbody racing stripes are combined with a set of rocker stripes that include special “Shelby GT-H” nomenclature. Each car will also wear a Hertz Edition emblem on the front fenders, and feature Hertz Shelby GT-H sill plates and a numbered dash badge with Carroll Shelby’s signature inside the cockpit.

To give a hint of the Mustang GT 4.6-liter 3V V-8 engine’s added capability, the Ford Shelby GT-H is fitted with a custom Shelby Performance hood with pins, and a brushed aluminum grille with running horse emblem. A unique front fascia with integrated lower grille, as well as a set of body side scoops – reminiscent of classic Shelby Mustangs is incorporated for a distinct look. To further catch the enthusiast’s eye, the Mustang GT brakes are dressed up with painted calipers, which can be seen through the GT-H’s 17-inch aluminum wheels wearing P235/55ZR17 performance rubber.

FR1 Power Pack

Ford Racing Performance Group is supplying its popular Power Pack (FR1) to add a genuine 25-horsepower Ford performance kick to the 300-horse Mustang GT 4.6L V-8/Five-speed automatic transmission powertrain and an increase of 10 lb.-ft. of torque. The package includes Ford Racing’s 90mm Cold Air kit, the Muffler Kit, a new X-pipe similar to the one used on the new Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang, a performance calibration and a cat-back performance exhaust for that throaty sound that will make this car unmistakably a Shelby Mustang GT-H.

To put that extra horsepower to the ground, the Ford Shelby GT-H also comes with the Ford Racing Handling Pack (FR3) installed, including special-tuned dampers inspired from the FR500C, lowering springs, sway bars and a strut tower brace – plus a Ford Racing 3.55:1 ratio rear axle assembly for extra off-the-line acceleration.

The Fine Print

Approximately 500 units will be available through the Hertz Fun Collection at select airport locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii and Nevada. The Hertz Mustangs will be available by late April 2006, dispersed to 17 locations including Portland, Ore.; Seattle; Denver; Boston; across the Sun Belt; and Hawaii. The GT-H probably will rent for more than $100 a day and Hertz will take special steps to make sure the cars aren’t abused — or raced. Minimum age for drivers probably will be 25, instead of Hertz’s normal minimum, 21. The cars will be thoroughly checked when they are returned. When the Hertz Mustangs hit 16,000 to 18,000 miles in seven to nine months, they will be sold. Ford dealers will get the first crack at the used ones.

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Models, Reviews.