DEARBORN, MI (March, 2007) -- Leave it to Carroll Shelby and Ford Racing to respond to the product desires of true enthusiasts. There's no question that Ford SVT set the Mustang performance bar high when it introduced the 500-horsepower 2007 Shelby GT500. But when Shelby Automobiles, Inc., and Ford Racing teamed up to produce 500 copies of the 2006 Ford Shelby GT-H -- a special run of modified Mustang GTs made available only through select Hertz rental centers -- the demand for yet another addition to the Shelby Mustang lineup was created.

Enter the 2007 Ford Shelby GT -- a limited-production Mustang GT that packs classic Shelby design cues and serious Ford Racing performance modifications into a highly desirable and instantly collectible package. Ford and Shelby were able to capitalize on much of the development work that was done on the Shelby GT-H, and put together a 'Go Fast' production program to deliver the Shelby GT to market in about six months.

"The Shelby GT500 has been a huge success, but we had been overwhelmed by the number of people who wanted to buy a retail version of the Shelby GT-H," said Carroll Shelby, CEO and Chairman of Shelby Automobiles, Inc. "The Shelby GT perfectly compliments the GT500, just like the original GT350 and GT500 did back in the '60s."

The first Ford Shelby GT -- CSM No. 07SGT0001 -- fired up its Ford Racing-enhanced 4.6-liter V-8 and drove out of the Shelby Automobiles build center in Las Vegas on Dec. 22, 2006. Production is scheduled to run until June 2007, with the goal of having some 6,000 cars go through the Shelby facility by the end of the model year. Every Ford dealer is allocated at least one Shelby GT, while others will receive more than one depending on sales volume.

"I couldn't be more excited to see production up and running on a new Shelby Mustang," said Shelby. "The new Shelby GT is a great addition to the Shelby GT500 and Shelby GT-H, and it will only further the lead that Mustang has in the coming muscle car wars."

The 2007 Shelby GT starts out as a Ford Mustang GT Coupe, Body Code T82, painted in either Performance White or Black. Then an exclusive order code is added, the 54U Shelby Upfitters Package, which includes several Ford options installed at the Mustang assembly plant. On the outside, there's the Mustang GT/California Special fascias with unique air dam, plus the bodyside scoops, as well as 18-inch alloy wheels. If you opt for the Performance White paint, the wheels will be polished aluminum. Choose the Black exterior, and you'll get special black aluminum spoke wheels with polished wheel lips. Both colors are accented by silver Le Mans-style racing stripes that extend over the hood, roof and trunk, complemented by matching side stripes with Shelby GT nomenclature.

Inside, side airbags are included, and bright aluminum pedals are added. A tire inflator kit is supplied in place of the spare tire. What's more, you can choose from several other factory options such as the Interior Upgrade Pack that includes polished six-gauge instrument cluster with the My Color feature, or a special instrument panel appliqué in your choice of Satin Aluminum or Woven Charcoal. When it comes to infotainment upgrades, you can select the Shaker 1000 Audio System or a new Touch Screen DVD-based Navigation System -- even SIRIUS Satellite Radio. And for extra security, there's an available active anti-theft system as well as a wheel lock kit.

The real fun begins after the cars are shipped to Shelby's Las Vegas shop for the final modifications, before they're ready for delivery to Ford dealerships nationwide. We're talking about real performance hardware from Ford Racing, starting with the Ford Racing Power Pack. The Power Pack increases the output of the naturally aspirated, three-valve, Mustang GT 4.6-liter V-8 to 319 horsepower, with 330 foot-pounds of torque. It includes a 90-millimeter cold-air intake and a new performance engine calibration for improved throttle response. The high-flow exhaust system with X-pipe crossover offers better power delivery and a throatier exhaust note. A shorter 3.55:1 rear-axle ratio is installed to capitalize on the Shelby GT's extra power when accelerating off the line. And for Shelby GTs equipped with a manual transmission, a Hurst short-throw shifter is installed for crisper shift action.

The Shelby GT driving dynamics are fine tuned with the Ford Racing Handling Pack, which was developed by the same engineers who set up the Ford Racing FR500C, winner of the 2005 Grand-Am Cup Championship. New coil springs drop the overall ride height by an inch-and-a-half for a more aggressive stance and lower center of gravity. Stiffer dampers, bushings and front stabilizer bar further enhance cornering feel and body control. A front strut-tower brace adds additional strength to the chassis structure, and 235/55ZR18 high-performance tires maximize the benefits of the Ford Racing chassis upgrades.

Finally, Shelby adds just the right appearance touches to set this GT apart from its mainstream Mustang brethren. A unique hood scoop and a set of racing-style hood pins give a hint to the added power underneath. Up front is a brushed aluminum grille insert with a Pony badge, and along the flanks are special "Powered by Ford" fender badges. Out back -- in addition to the larger dual-exhaust outlets -- the decklid wears the classic S-H-E-L-B-Y lettering. The Shelby GT interior includes logo floor mats and custom sill plates with Shelby GT nomenclature, as well as an authentication dash plate above the center console, with a matching tag underhood. This tag features the CSX number, which is recorded in the official Shelby Automobiles registry.

Unlike some aftermarket performance Mustangs, every part of the Shelby GT is covered by a warranty -- in addition to the factory 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper Ford warranty and the Mustang's 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty. The Shelby installed components, including the Ford Racing Performance Parts, also have their own 3-year/36,000-mile warranty. Carrying a base MSRP of $36,970, a 2007 Shelby GT may take a little longer to go from order to delivery than a standard Mustang (actual build time varies, but current time from shipment from the AAI (AutoAlliance International) assembly plant to Shelby Automotive and then on to the selling dealer is about 8 to 10 weeks). But just one drive will quickly show why a 2007 Shelby GT is clearly worth the wait.