In a throwback to the famed Shelby GT350H “Rent-A-Racer” program from the 1960s, Ford, Shelby Automobiles and Hertz are partnering to produce a special run of performance-modified Ford Mustang GTs – designated Shelby GT-H, for “Hertz” – that will be available for rent later this spring exclusively through Hertz. Approximately 500 units will be available through the Hertz Fun Collection at select airport locations Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Forty years ago, Carroll Shelby and Hertz came up with a plan to help get a batch of high-performance, special-edition Shelby Mustangs into the hands of rental customers who also happened to be car enthusiasts. Today, the surviving Shelby GT350H Mustangs are among the most sought-after collector cars in the world. Ford and Shelby are hoping to relive that magic with this modern interpretation…
“Like the original Hertz cars, the Ford Shelby GT-H will be fun to drive,” said Carroll Shelby. “We started with a terrific Mustang and modified it with some Ford go-fast parts and gave it a distinct look for Shelby-style driving. Whoever gets the opportunity to rent one of these unique cars will get an experience of a lifetime.”
The 2006 Ford Shelby GT-H Mustang will be available at select airport locations that feature the Hertz Fun Collection including Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and San Francisco, California; Denver, Colorado; Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach, Florida; Maui and Honolulu, Hawaii, and Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition, the car will be available in Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington.
With the addition of the Ford Shelby GT-H Mustang into the Fun Collection, Hertz now offers 36 models that can be specifically reserved, ranging from mid-size to luxury cars, convertibles to SUVs and is the only nationwide car rental company able to allow customers to reserve the specific make and model vehicles at the time of reservation. More than 8,000 Fun Collection vehicles are available at 18 major airport locations in the United States.
“With 2006 marking the 40th anniversary of the Shelby GT350H joining the Hertz fleet, we’re thrilled to be bringing legendary Mustang driving excitement back to our rental customers,” said Walt Seaman, staff vice president, Worldwide Fleet, Maintenance, and Car Sales Operations for The Hertz Corporation. “The Shelby GT-H is a fun, powerful Mustang to drive, and will be a special part of the Hertz Fun Collection. As all cars in the collection are reserved by exact make and model, customers can rest assured that when they reserve a Shelby GT-H Mustang to drive, they will receive the Shelby GT-H Mustang upon arrival.”
Ford Racing Performance Group is supplying its popular Power Pack (FR1) to add a genuine 25-horsepower Ford performance kick to the 300-horse Mustang GT 4.6L V-8/Five-speed automatic transmission powertrain and an increase of 10 lb.-ft. of torque. The package includes Ford Racing’s 90mm Cold Air kit, the Muffler Kit, a new X-pipe similar to the one used on the new Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang, a performance calibration and a cat-back performance exhaust for that throaty sound that will make this car unmistakably a Shelby Mustang GT-H.
“Any Mustang that traces its roots to a Shelby GT350H has to boast increased performance and handling over its factory stock configuration,” said Cisco Codina, group vice president, Ford North America Marketing, Sales and Service. “Ford Racing’s involvement with niche performance Mustang builds like this Hertz project is a natural for us as well as for Hertz and Shelby.”
To put that extra horsepower to the ground, the Ford Shelby GT-H also comes with the Ford Racing Handling Pack (FR3) installed, including special-tuned dampers inspired from the FR500C, lowering springs, sway bars and a strut tower brace – plus a Ford Racing 3.55:1 ratio rear axle assembly for extra off-the-line acceleration.
Ford Racing will be working hand-in-hand with engineers and technicians at Shelby Automobile’s assembly facility in Las Vegas during the build-out of the GT-H for delivery to Hertz. With total production expected to number only around 500 units exclusively destined for Hertz rental fleets across the country, this special-edition Ford Shelby GT-H is sure to give Hertz customers a truly exclusive driving experience like only Shelby and the Ford Mustang can deliver.
“This GT-H project has been terrific,” said Amy Boylan, president, Shelby Automobiles Inc. “My team here at Shelby Automobiles is very excited with what we have put together with Ford, and Hertz – a pony that not only has a special look, but can really run, too. Those who get to rent a GT-H in the coming months will have the opportunity to enjoy a car that looks, accelerates, handles and sounds the way a high-performance Shelby-ized Ford Mustang should. It will prove lots of fun for Hertz customers looking for some real driving excitement.”
04/12, 1:20 AM
posted by:
Zerome
looks pretty impressive. I don’t know about having a special edition mustang for rental only… just further cheapens the brand.
04/12, 2:07 AM
posted by:
Steve
I like the idea of getting businessmen hooked by letting them use a rental as a test drive. The idea that a rental has to be bad is small minded. What is bad about a fun rental that might generate sales?
04/12, 2:43 AM
posted by:
chewy
I bet it will only be available at select rentals and the total aomount of the cars for rent will be small, but it will generate a lot of publicity.
04/12, 7:31 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
It’s a good idea… performance and prestige rentals are big business… I know Enterprise near us has a Focus ST and Fiesta ST!
04/12, 7:56 AM
posted by:
nikivee
Don’t buy any of those cars once they reach auction. They will be beat to death and trashed.
04/12, 8:33 AM
posted by:
teknomusik
I hate those wheels! Why do they keep using them???
04/12, 8:38 AM
posted by:
Beavis
How gay to just do them as rentals. I know it’s an homage to the ‘66 Hertz rental, but c’mon. What if a brutha wants to BUY one? I personally don’t like it that much, but this is kind of dumb, Ford.
04/12, 9:08 AM
posted by:
Madcapp
They’ll all get wrecked the first week by the ricers that can’t drive RWD.
04/12, 9:13 AM
posted by:
dan
this would be a cool car someday… buy it off auction, all ragged out, and then swap in gt500 parts. nice
04/12, 9:16 AM
posted by:
Mark IV
These are sold by “Shelby Automobiles” not Ford…I bet you can buy one, perhaps less the “Hertz” logo, but I doubt CS will turn down money!
04/12, 9:28 AM
posted by:
JD
They keep using those wheels because they’re classic muscle car. I like ‘em. Always have.
04/12, 12:34 PM
posted by:
Adam
Automaic only = posuers car. This is for people going to HS reunions and other people who are trying to impress people who nothing about cars.
04/12, 12:35 PM
posted by:
Chris G
Of course it will only be available with a slushbox because the only place you can get a rental with a stick is everywhere else but North America.
04/12, 1:03 PM
posted by:
Joel A
Nice. Just take away the strips and I’ll write a check.
04/12, 6:42 PM
posted by:
Orlando
i prefer a ‘65 gt
04/16, 9:52 PM
posted by:
Dan Biesel
The first generation Hertz Shelby has become almost unobtainable. This is a second chance for a sure classic collectable. I like it alot.
04/21, 5:55 PM
posted by:
Dave Davis
Most comments must have been made by young people who don’t remember the 1966 black/gold stipe Hertz Shelby or any muscle car when they were new. This is a beautiful car. Any bets Hertz will be able to sell them used at a premium?
05/01, 5:55 PM
posted by:
McCracken
Im sure they will sell for no less then 50K used when they are done.
06/02, 7:29 AM
posted by:
John Jerome
So what’s everyone beefing about?? To be able to drive a car like that as a rental is a very rare occasion. Just try to find any kind of fun car to rent!! The opportunities are all too few and far between! Some of us don’t have the budget to own a muscle car, gas prices as they are! Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, stupid people!!
06/10, 11:44 PM
posted by:
Luis Arangua
This car is better looking than the new shelby’s. Performs better the the GT. Too bad ford won’t sell these cars as a GT upgrade.
06/25, 9:30 PM
posted by:
Michael Delaney
I wish I had a dollar for every story my father and my father-in-law have of friends renting these in the 1960’s to race on the weekends. I am still awed seeing the originals in vintage races. For those who do not want to touch one at auction — GREAT — less competition for me. I grew up in awe of Shelby’s creations, and my brother and I knew by the time we were teenagers how to tell a real Cobra from a fake (adults get really pissed off being shown up by teenagers). When the recent Mustang GT’s came out, I thought about painting one in the 350H scheme (and could recognize anyone’s automotive knowledge based upon their reaction.) And, I used to envy those stories my father told me growing up about a race car rental. Sure, not exaclty the same, but close enough for me, and I will at least rent one for a day (about 135 — the one time I will buy their insurance!).
07/01, 8:43 AM
posted by:
Joe CostantinoPhatt51@aol.com
I just rented the new Hertz Shelby, what a fun car to drive. I own a 66 Hertz and had to rent one. I was not disapointed, a little bit faster then my 66 Hertz. It ended up costing almost $500.00 for 2 days. If you can afford it, do it,you wont be disipointed.
07/28, 6:44 PM
posted by:
Troy Elvins
I prefer if Herts sells the mustang and buys a
Corrvette C6R ZO6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
07/29, 12:40 AM
posted by:
Rob
I work for Hertz and just heard today that the first Hertz Shelby sold at auction this week for $251,000.
08/17, 12:57 AM
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08/18, 7:50 AM
posted by:
Ray Cherry
I’m a 60 year baby boomer, and have been into performance cars all my life. I still own my 68 4-speed HO 400 Firebird. Cars today are boring as they all look the same and that includes the new GTO. I just drove by a Hertz Mustang on Carter Street in Chattanooga, Tn. and this car turned my head. It’s a total package and they got it right. Now if I could only figure out how I could afford to own one.
08/20, 8:02 PM
posted by:
LION
I will pick up mine next friday $99+ tax I will let you know how it went. I will ride it like I stole it!!
08/23, 11:26 PM
posted by:
Tyson
I saw one parked this weekend here in Yuma….very cool. I did a double take and realized that it was indeed the real deal….must’ve been rented in San Diego or Phoenix?
I read that they cost $350/day and have a 100 mile/day limitation….A little too rich for my blood
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08/27, 3:41 PM
posted by:
Mike Berthiaume
Will we be able to rent the Mustang GTH anytime soon in Canada?
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08/31, 6:21 PM
posted by:
Danielle
Hey there. Just rented a Shelby a few days ago. If you’re a proper drive (haha) and know what you’re doing, you can take the Traction Control off for drifting around corners and doing some more of those fancy driving moves
Pop the button off that says “TCS” and you can press a button under it and a light will come on. Tells you that the TCS is OFF. Just press it again to put TCS back on.
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