Why the Heck Do the 2020 GT500’s Painted Stripes Cost $10K?
Out on the prowl during the Woodward Dream Cruise, YouTuber Speed Phenom reveals the deets on the GT500 & its insanely-priced livery.
On the third Saturday of August, Detroit’s legendary Woodward Avenue roars to life with 40,000 cars (including herds of Mustangs) and over 1.5 million guests during the annual Woodward Dream Cruise. Begun in 1995 as a fundraiser for a soccer field in the suburb of Ferndale, the annual gathering has since become the world’s largest one-day event, raking in over $56 million for the Metro Detroit area every year.
It is at the Woodward Dream Cruise where we find YouTuber and Mustang fan Speed Phenom (real name Austin). But before we get to see him behind the wheel of a 2019 GT350, he must first learn why the 2020 GT500’s painted stripes are the price of a good used Mustang.
“Here we are, guys: the Woodward Dream Cruise,” Speed says. “Now, Ford does have multiple locations when it comes to displays, but this one right here is, I think, the best one they have, because it showcases a wide variety of their lineup, especially considering the Ford GT over there, and all the Ford Performance vehicles wearing a blue paint job.”
Among the many Ford vehicles he happened upon, Speed was taken by the development GT500, notably because of the wear-and-tear the workhorse had accumulated in helping the Blue Oval build the ultimate snake. In his words, he can’t wait to drive the production-ready deal on the track. Plus, he offers advice on how to protect your 2020 GT500’s paint from any rocks and pebbles the front tires pick up along the way.
“Here we have a painted-stripe 2020 GT500,” Speed says. “You can see how there are no more gaps; the gaps are completely gone. Everything is seamless… Ford told me when it comes to the painted stripes, they’re outsourced to Penske.”
That outsourcing is the main reason why the painted-stripe package for the GT500 is $10,000. For that cash outlay, though, the painted-stripe GT500 will have a high-quality appearance bar none. That fact alone is why Speed says he’s ordering the package for his own GT500.
Meanwhile, those who opt for the vinyl stripes may be disappointed their stripes don’t cover ever bit of paint from stem to stern. But then again, they still have a GT500, so those gaps might not be important, to say the least.
“[The] 2019 Shelby GT350 has the new rear wing shared with the 2020 GT500, with the Gurney flap,” said Speed. “We have the new wheels, and the rotors are no longer drilled… It should be pretty interesting, guys, compared against the other GT350R.”
Upon taking out the GT350 for its drive down Woodward Avenue, Speed noticed the increased weight of the clutch, leaving him astounded, as he always thought the GT350 had lightweight clutches. Overall, though, he’s very happy to be taking part of the big event as a driver in a cool car like the Shelby.
That said, he prefers his GT350R over the ‘standard’ GT350 because its more hardcore track vibe, though he adds that there will be a market for the latter because if anyone wanted a track-day special, the GT350 will be their best bet.
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