So should Ford get rid of the Shelby Stangs and bring back the Cobra?

[08cali]

I guess what I was thinking was when the next generation body style comes out, drop shelby name all together and make a lighter, more nimble, Mustang Cobra (no shelby)...more along the lines of what the 2003-2004 Cobras represented.I really liked the chunky clean looks of that car. No flashy Shelby graphics and interior stitching and an overpriced sticker. How about coming out with a Corvette eating Cobra Coupe for the 50th anniversary priced at about $40k and maybe a convertible for about $45k? Something like that. I guarantee Ford pays a pretty penny for the Shelby name on those cars and some of those fancy Shelby dress up items that really aren't necessary. Trim the Shelby fat, get back to the Roots of what SVT is all about.

Just my 2 cents.

I don't think "chunky clean" makes any sense bro

 

[JohnnyGMachine]

OK - "Chunky Clean Looks"...translation for you - "Clean Muscular"?? How's that?

 

[Blu-Steel]

I can see where the OP is coming from and I have to agree. IF...the GT 500 was actually built by Shelby the way he built the original GT 350 I would say no, keep the Shelby name on the thing...but it's not. My 09 ROUSH 429R was built much like the way Shelby built the original cars. ROUSH receives the cars from Ford and they work their magic on it (suspension, appearance package, brakes, interior and engine). Some of the reasons I picked the ROUSH over the Shelby (the dealer had both in the show room) were:
1. Price - 10k markup for Shelby; no markup for the ROUSH. In fact I got it below sticker.
2. The Shelby is a Shelby in name only, the ROUSH actually spent time in ROUSH's shop undergoing the transformation.
3. Although I really love the GT 500 styling I hate that it has an iron block in the nose. The fact that they did not take the time or spend the money to rework the 4.6 with forged internals and a TVS supercharger (as ROUSH does in the new Stage 3 with 540 HP out of a 4.6) shows they took the easy way out. That extra weight on the nose hurts performance and handling. Besides, it only cost 5K to buy an upgraded short block from ROUSH so going with a 4.6 would have been cost effective.

Bottom line - The ROUSH is today what the Shelby WAS in the 60's. I alway wanted a 66 Shelby GT 350 but I count myself lucky to have todays version of that car in my ROUSH. Now will the ROUSH ever achieve the status of those early Shelby's one day? Don't know and don't really care (at least today, ask me 30 years from now, especially if I sold the car before then only to find out it appreciated to be worth a fortune). I just love driving my ROUSH.

So, unless Shelby actually does the conversion, like they do on the Shelby GT, then I think Ford should drop the name and go with Cobra. Call it was it is and don't sell it as something it's not.

 

[08cali]

JohnnyGMachine
Quote "OK - "Chunky Clean Looks"...translation for you - "Clean Muscular"?? How's that? "

much better thanks. Calling it a Cobra or a GT500, doesnt matter, still has the snake on the fender. Of course, so do a lot of v6's and plain old GT's. Just be happy they are still making these cars at all.

 

[Rob72]

Here's a brief history lesson. C. Shelby invented the Cobra Roadster, GT350, GT500, GT500KR, Super Snake, etc and owned trademarks on them. In 1968 Ford bought the rights to just the Cobra logo but none of the others. Ford then renamed the 428 the 428 Cobra Jet in 1968 1/2. Shelby and Ford parted after 1970 and Ford still made Cobra Mustangs over the years. In 1984 Shelby sued Ford over using the GT350 without authorization. SVT Cobras are cool but when Shelby came back in 2006 this was a very big deal. To me a Shelby Cobra is more valuable than a SVT Cobra hands down.