Automotive

Shelby drops GT-H Mustang for renters in a hurry

Shelby drops GT-H Mustang for renters in a hurry
Shelby has dipped deep into the retro styling bin to create the GT-H, which celebrates 50 years since the original Hertz Mustang was launched
Shelby has dipped deep into the retro styling bin to create the GT-H, which celebrates 50 years since the original Hertz Mustang was launched
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Just 140 GT-H Mustangs will be built, and all cars will do service in the Hertz fleet
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Just 140 GT-H Mustangs will be built, and all cars will do service in the Hertz fleet
Changes to the 5.0-liter V8 are limited to a cat back exhaust
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Changes to the 5.0-liter V8 are limited to a cat back exhaust
There are GT-H badges everywhere, including under the hood
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There are GT-H badges everywhere, including under the hood
The GT-H pays homage to the Shelby GT-350H from 1966
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The GT-H pays homage to the Shelby GT-350H from 1966
The black and gold paintjob on this car is the only color a Hertz Mustang can be painted
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The black and gold paintjob on this car is the only color a Hertz Mustang can be painted
The GT-H is mechanically very similar to regular V8 Mustangs, although Shelby has fitted a handling package
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The GT-H is mechanically very similar to regular V8 Mustangs, although Shelby has fitted a handling package
The car's new exhaust system should provide a more evocative noise than the regular V8's slightly muted note
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The car's new exhaust system should provide a more evocative noise than the regular V8's slightly muted note
Shelby has dipped deep into the retro styling bin to create the GT-H, which celebrates 50 years since the original Hertz Mustang was launched
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Shelby has dipped deep into the retro styling bin to create the GT-H, which celebrates 50 years since the original Hertz Mustang was launched
The car has a staggered wheel kit and unique aluminum wheels as a part of its styling kit
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The car has a staggered wheel kit and unique aluminum wheels as a part of its styling kit
View gallery - 9 images

Ford first teamed with Hertz back in 1966 to inject some V8 power into rental lots with the Rent-a-Racer Ford Shelby GT350-H. The relationship continued with the Shelby GT-H launched at the New York Auto Show in 2006. Now, to celebrate 50 years since the first Hertz Mustang, Ford has launched the third instalment in the series, the limited edition Shelby GT-H.

The new Hertz Mustang will be instantly recognizable to anyone who's familiar with the original GT-350H, with the new car's exterior featuring gold stripes running along the roof in a direct throwback to the unique paint job the original car featured. But despite some cosmetic familiarity, there's no mistaking the new car for the old.

Up front, Ford has fitted a carbon fiber front splitter, a vented polycarbonate hood and unique grilles to feed more air to the car's 5.0-liter V8, while the rocker panels are fitted with carbon accent plates. Just in case the lairy paint job and extra venting up front don't give away the fact this isn't a normal Mustang, there's also big Shelby lettering across the bootlid, unique badging on the grille and C-pillar and a chunky fake gas-tank cap.

Changes to the 5.0-liter V8 are limited to a cat back exhaust
Changes to the 5.0-liter V8 are limited to a cat back exhaust

Inside, Hertz Mustangs are set apart from regular customer cars with their dash plaques, side sills and badging on the floor mats and headrests.

Moving away from the styling tinsel reveals there's not a huge difference between the GT-H and the Mustang V8 we drove earlier in the year. Ford's handling engineers have fitted the car with a handling pack made up of specially tuned dampers, lowered springs, sway bars and a staggered wheel kit for a slightly sportier drive. The whole package sits on 19-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in sticky 255/40 front and 275/40 rear Michelin Pilot Sport rubber.

Meanwhile, Ford has worked to give renters a more memorable aural experience with the addition of a cat-back exhaust system. We felt the V8 could use a bit more noise after our drive, so the change is a welcome one.

Just 140 GT-H Mustangs will be built, and all will do service in the rental fleet for Hertz. The car launches at the New York Auto Show, where Gizmag will be on the ground covering all the action.

Shelby outlines the history of the GT-H in the video below.

Source: Ford

2016 Shelby GT-H Rent-A-Racer

View gallery - 9 images
3 comments
3 comments
JweenyPwee
We get the tire numbers but no performance specs.
"What are the performance numbers and power output specs?"
No idea, but here's the tire size.
GaryFree
When I was visiting the Shelby Museum in 2006, they showed us a commercial that was supposed to run for this rental program. It started out with the Mustang doing burnouts in a large rental lot. Then, when it stopped, the camera zoomed in on a pair of boots climbing out of the car. The camera zooms back out, and it was Carrol Shelby. He commented "Now, that's what I call a rental car"
Stephen N Russell
Produce 200 & get daily use big time & add paddleshifters & or Manumatic for drivers. Then see rentals skyrocket, Id rent one but none for So CA,