2019 Shelby GT Makes Splash at Woodward Dream Cruise, Aug. 18
New Shelby GT includes tribute GT-H trim in honor of famed builder’s relationship with Hertz Car Rental.
Shelby American has built some of the baddest Mustangs in history, but there’s one that’s memorable due to its ties to the rental counter: the Shelby GT-H. The first GT-H models were available to rent from Hertz Car Rental (the “H” in GT-H) in 1966, followed by the 2006-2007 GT-Hs (which included a convertible for the first time), and the 2016 Ford Shelby GT-H.
This time, though, you won’t need to go to your nearest Hertz to get your hands on a GT-H. And as of August 18, 2018 you won’t have to wait to see it in person, either. Bowing at the 2018 Woodward Dream Cruise, Shelby American will introduce fastback and convertible models of the Shelby GT.
“The 2019 Shelby GT exudes serious sex appeal,” said Shelby American’s president Gary Patterson. And why would it not? The Shelby GT can be had in any color, including the black/gold and white/gold of the GT-H cars, for starters. Plus, The naturally aspirated V8 under the hood is good for 480 horses, though it can be bumped up to over 700 ponies with the aid of an optional Ford Performance supercharger. A six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic is available to ferry all that power to the rear tires.
As for the GT-H, the “H” now stands for “Heritage.” The trim package includes suspension upgrades on top of those already available for the Shelby GT, “a unique front fascia” with a nice fu manchu wrapping around the Shelby name. We can definitely say this is one car you won’t have to worry about returning to the rental counter in a rougher condition than when you picked it up.
After rolling down Woodward Avenue, the two Shelby GTs will be on display at Ford’s HQ alongside other Shelby models, such as the 2018 Super Snake, GT350 widebody, and more. As for when and where you’ll be able to get your own “rent-a-racer,” the Shelby GT will be distributed via select Ford dealers throughout the United States and Canada, with orders being accepted on August 20, 2018.
