Ford, Shelby, Hertz Team on Special Mustang for Rent, Not Sale

NEW YORK – Ford Motor Co. goes back to an old, but successful playbook in unveiling the ’06 Shelby GT-H at the auto show here.

The Shelby GT-H represents a collaborative effort between Ford, performance-car guru Carroll Shelby and The Hertz Corp. and is designed to get Mustangs into the hands of car rental customers who also are car enthusiasts.

The business concept for the new version of the Mustang hearkens back to the GT350 Hertz model developed by Ford, Shelby and Hertz for a “Rent-A-Racer” program Hertz offered in 1966.

The new model will be available only to Hertz rental customers later this year.

Shelby GT-H features Hertz paint scheme, performance extras.

It features a special black and gold exterior paint-and-stripes theme, Shelby Automobiles Performance hood, special front fascia and side scoops. Shelby’s signature will be included on a special numbered badge on the dashboard.

To boost performance, the Ford Racing Performance Power Pack will be added to the car’s 4.6L V-8, increasing output to 325 hp (up 25 hp) and 330 lbs.-ft. (447 Nm) of torque (up 10 lbs.-ft. [14 Nm]).

A handling pack, featuring special dampers, lower springs, sway bars and a strut tower brace, plus a 3.55:1 ratio rear axle assembly, is added to keep the specialty Mustangs planted.

The car will come equipped with an automatic transmission.

Only about 500 of the Shelby GT-H models will be produced. They will be available through Hertz nationwide.

[email protected]