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Heard a rumor from the Dealer, no more Shelby's GT500


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Alright, I am buying another Mustang, this time a V6 premium to go along with my 2010 Shelby GT500. The sales manager told me that the 2012 Shelby GT500 is going to be the last one with the Shelby name on it. I did a double take and he confirmed it again. So I thought I would let people here know and see if any other dealers are saying the same thing. I asked why, and he said Ford was tired of paying Carrol Shelby 10K per vehicle and they were looking for a new source for their high end Mustang's. Does Saleen or Roush sound familiar? (This is my guess, not the dealers)

 

Anyone else got any thing else on this?

 

Racin' Randy

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Alright, I am buying another Mustang, this time a V6 premium to go along with my 2010 Shelby GT500. The sales manager told me that the 2012 Shelby GT500 is going to be the last one with the Shelby name on it. I did a double take and he confirmed it again. So I thought I would let people here know and see if any other dealers are saying the same thing. I asked why, and he said Ford was tired of paying Carrol Shelby 10K per vehicle and they were looking for a new source for their high end Mustang's. Does Saleen or Roush sound familiar? (This is my guess, not the dealers)

 

Anyone else got any thing else on this?

 

Racin' Randy

 

Well I would ask, so I should go out and buy a 2012? Because they are going to stop making them? The guy doesn't have a clue about what he's talking about. Rumor has it Carroll signed thru 2013. As far as Carrol making 10K a car, yea right. So what he's saying is without Carrol's name on the car a GT500 should only cost 35-45K? Yea right. If Ford took Shelby's name off the car you wouldn't see any price difference. I'll guarantee he doesn't even make a 1000.00 dollars off of the car. Ford isn't putting Shelby's name on the car because they are loosing money.

 

I'd find a new dealer, because this guy is full of BS. Just my honest opinion.

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Alright, I am buying another Mustang, this time a V6 premium to go along with my 2010 Shelby GT500. The sales manager told me that the 2012 Shelby GT500 is going to be the last one with the Shelby name on it. I did a double take and he confirmed it again. So I thought I would let people here know and see if any other dealers are saying the same thing. I asked why, and he said Ford was tired of paying Carrol Shelby 10K per vehicle and they were looking for a new source for their high end Mustang's. Does Saleen or Roush sound familiar? (This is my guess, not the dealers)

 

Anyone else got any thing else on this?

 

Racin' Randy

 

Would be nice, it's clear the times are changing with the Boss back, history will repeat itself.....every thing runs it's course.eventually.

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In MOST cases, ANYTHING dealers actually know about future product planning is purely coincidental - like a broken clock displaying the correct time twice each day.

 

Dealers have long been spun 2 eventualities into a looming crisis - Carroll Shelby's age and the S197 platform change to try to convince buyers the GT500 in their showroom is the last one on earth you'd ever have a chance to own - and hence justifying the $10,000-$30,000 ADM.

 

GT500 is VERY likely to end with the S197 successor - and market conditions could bring it to an end sooner, but it's not likely. And when GT500 goes away, there will be one or more new versions to take its place - though they will likely be EcoBoost or Coyote derivations.

 

I've got no qualms about a guy trying to sell a car for a living - but I take exception when they say any ridiculous thing that sounds plausible without any foundation or basis in fact for saying it. I've almost made a sport out of seeing how many pot-shots I can take by backing allowing them to back themselves into a rhetorical corner.

 

Some of my favorites are:

  • "Sure, we'll be happy to order one." - Do you have an actual allocation - will you return my deposit PLUS 50% if it's never made?
  • "A car like this is an investment." - Which GT500 has appreciated in value before 30 years? Can I talk to its owner, please?
  • "Ford only makes a limited number/there are WAY more buyers than cars." - Ford announced a 5,500-unit run for MY 2011, but made only made 5100 - of which about 10% remain on showroom floors even as 2012's are beginning to arrive.
  • "When Carroll Shelby passes away, it'll be worth a fortune!" - COOL! How much MORE will you buy it back from me for then?
  • "We'll be getting another allocation, but it will be later this year - for 2013." - No response required.
  • "We have one on-order... but it will go for MORE than sticker". - Leaves building.

And the list goes on.

 

On the serious side, however, about 450 2012's have been made so far - but they MAY be affected by Wednesday's fire at the Magna interiors plant.

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In MOST cases, ANYTHING dealers actually know about future product planning is purely coincidental - like a broken clock displaying the correct time twice each day.

 

Now THAT is funny! :hysterical: And oh so true! :yup:

 

I'm still trying to convince one of my local dealers that my SGT was actually build/converted BY Shelby. He would just as soon swear on his mother's grave that either Ford made it that way from a plant somewhere... OR I badged it to look like that...

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Ford announced a 5,500-unit run for MY 2011, but made only made 5100

 

Is that 5,100 a number that you can take to the bank?

 

Does anyone know the exact number of 2011's were built coupes/ verts?

 

 

EDIT: I just saw your reply on another thread.

 

Thanks

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Alright, I am buying another Mustang, this time a V6 premium to go along with my 2010 Shelby GT500. The sales manager told me that the 2012 Shelby GT500 is going to be the last one with the Shelby name on it. I did a double take and he confirmed it again. So I thought I would let people here know and see if any other dealers are saying the same thing. I asked why, and he said Ford was tired of paying Carrol Shelby 10K per vehicle and they were looking for a new source for their high end Mustang's. Does Saleen or Roush sound familiar? (This is my guess, not the dealers)

 

Anyone else got any thing else on this?

 

Racin' Randy

 

 

Would you go back to this sales "manager" and ask for a copy of this Ford memo stating this? I'm sure Shelby American and Carroll would love to see this memo that the sales manager confirmed for you. Besides at $10k a car someone owes Shelby Licensing a pretty big check with lots of zeros on it. ;)

 

Steve

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Would you go back to this sales "manager" and ask for a copy of this Ford memo stating this? I'm sure Shelby American and Carroll would love to see this memo that the sales manager confirmed for you. Besides at $10k a car someone owes Shelby Licensing a pretty big check with lots of zeros on it. ;)

 

Steve

 

 

 

Do the math - let's say 10,000 units per year - at $10,000 per copy - that's $100 million per year. 5 years - $500 million. Why would CS even consider running a business like SAI? Just sit back and count the money from Ford.

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Would you go back to this sales "manager" and ask for a copy of this Ford memo stating this? I'm sure Shelby American and Carroll would love to see this memo that the sales manager confirmed for you. Besides at $10k a car someone owes Shelby Licensing a pretty big check with lots of zeros on it. ;)

 

Steve

 

 

My guess would be that if Ford can't find value in the licensing royalties it's paying Shelby today, it's priority is hardly likely to be trading one licensed vendor for another. The cost of bona-fide development is SO great anymore that enough to justify a distinct model or trim level can really only be funded by the Blue Oval anyway.

 

I look for Ford to bring the whole shebang back under the Blue Oval - banner, moniker and all. In fact, if I were Ford's Mustang marketer and merchandiser-in-chief, I'd turn the tables on the aftermarket modifiers like Shelby, Roush, Steeda and any others who FIRST pay Ford a fee to become certified Blue Oval vendor partners - and then B, pay Ford ongoing marketing subsidies and per-vehicle commissions for each vehicle direct-shipped to them for modification - shifting ALL modifications to POST title, which wouldn't subject Ford to further CAFE pressures.

 

Customers would experience a FAR more homogenized and consistent experience that Ford could control, and direct access into Ford's segment marketing is a commodity asset Ford could monetize. It's a win/win for everybody - and properly orients the cart to its horse.

 

That's what my crystal ball says anyway - or it COULD just be a smudged thumb print.

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The Shelby name makes a huge difference on who buys these cars. I, for one, would not be driving my SGT if it wasn't converted by Shelby American. There are several "designer" Mustang tuners out there making some great cars, but they just didn't excite me. For me, I'm an old Shelby guy from way back when - and when I heard Shelby was modifying cars again, I got in line for one. If not for the Shelby GT, I'd probably have purchased an '03 or '04 Cobra by now. That is one "kick ass" Mustang and it was built by Ford - absence any modding or tuner nameplates.

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Ford is not stupid, by adding the Shelby name and some parts they make their Mustang $55K.

 

That's approximately a $20K adder on the average Mustang. Delete the additional GT500 content cost and you are still looking at $15K. Multiply that by the 5500 per year production total and Ford realizes $82.5 Million in additional gross margin.

 

10 to 1 they will continue to license the Shelby brand.

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In late 2009, I walked into my local dealer inquiring about buying a 2010. He still had one 2009 on the floor and the sales manager told me how lucky I was as Ford was no longer making the Shelby, they were now impossible to find and although he had a lot of offers on it, for 3K over sticker I could have it. While leaving I told him about the 50 or so below invoice on Ebay and showed him the Ford 2010 GT500 brochure I had picked up at another dealership. In most states it is written into the law that statements made by car sales personnel "cannot be relied upon absent a written contract".. Need one say more.

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