Shelby GT350 Convertible Returns for 2026MY w/ 810 HP Supercharged

[MustangMitch69]

have you even worked on one of these cars? The thermostat is nowhere near the oil pump.

Correct, the pump is behind the timing cover on the front of the engine block, and the thermostat is in a housing on the side/front of the engine, and you don't even have to touch the thermostat to get to the oil pump.

The point is that if I plan to do both, it makes sense to do both at the same time.

To remove the timing cover for the oil pump, you have to disconnect cooling lines and drain the system. Since the coolant is already out of the car, swapping the thermostat only takes about 5 to 10 minutes of additional work.

You're focused on location, whereas I'm focusing on logistics. Doing them separately would mean a second coolant flush.

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[robvas]

You can swap the thermostat in five minutes either way. Have fun doing the gears.

 

[Neggytive]

2 times the price of a well optioned 2026 ragtop with a 401A package,

$64K should buy you a nice ragtop, then say another $14,000 tops for a Whipple install, that leaves 50K on the table for mods.

$50K buys a lot of suspension and brake parts.

The funny thing is since the EPA said a dealer or non manufacturer could not install a supercharger until the vehicle was titled to the buyer, Shelby can't install the Whipple until the car is actually sold.

So I guess there won't be a lot of them sitting in select dealers showrooms for sale, if you want one you order it, pay for it, Ford will ship it to Shelby, Shelby will do the work then send it to the selling dealer for delivery.

 

[robvas]

Your "authorized Shelby dealer" installs it. Just like the ford performance whipple (all the same thing remember)

they aren't going to "ship the car back to Shelby" that wouldn't make any sense

 

[MustangMitch69]

2 times the price of a well optioned 2026 ragtop with a 401A package,

$64K should buy you a nice ragtop, then say another $14,000 tops for a Whipple install, that leaves 50K on the table for mods.

$50K buys a lot of suspension and brake parts.

Agreed. At this price I can see the appeal to those who just want a garage queen or something to sit next to at car shows. But for the budget-conscious and those using it as a daily driver, I think a GT + whipple + leftover $ for custom upgrades is the way to go.

Shelby doesn't seem to advertise anything they do to shore up the suspension other than sway bars, but if they aren't doing anything on that front then I'm shocked. Only costed me about $2K in parts and labor for that for my GT convertible and it handles like a completely different car now.

 

[robvas]

9:15

 

[MustangMitch69]

9:15

Just a BMR kit, yikes! Not surprising though. Thanks for sharing the link.

I agree with a lot of what this guy's saying about the S650 Shelby's. He nails the demographic of buyer.

Think he's also right about BMW being a competitor now. When I bought my mustang is was between that and a M440i, and my daily driver is actually a 330i M-Sport.

Disagree where he says S650 sales are down because they're not tunable. Sounds like he tunes for a living so he's talking his book.

 

[Neggytive]

Just a BMR kit, yikes! Not surprising though. Thanks for sharing the link.

I agree with a lot of what this guy's saying about the S650 Shelby's. He nails the demographic of buyer.

Think he's also right about BMW being a competitor now. When I bought my mustang is was between that and a M440i, and my daily driver is actually a 330i M-Sport.

Disagree where he says S650 sales are down because they're not tunable. Sounds like he tunes for a living so he's talking his book.

If I were buying today, instead of June 2024, I would not be in a Mustang GT Ragtop 401A at the price they are asking for the car now, vs what I paid for my 2024.

My car was $56.7K out the door on an X plan purchase.

I cringed when I added the $5K for the ragtop figuring buy once cry once, but almost 57K for a Ford, and a Mustang was pushing my limits and I was paying cash so the pain was instantaneous.

My car as a 2026 would be pretty close to $65K, and there is nothing special about it.

3 stage red which went from a $495 option to $995, 401A, automatic, spare tire, B&O radio.

My car is one of about 5000 made the same way if I had to take a guess.

If I was buying again at current prices, CT4-V Blackwing or a little more money and go German or a 2 year old Corvette

 

[MustangMitch69]

If I were buying today, instead of June 2024, I would not be in a Mustang GT Ragtop 401A at the price they are asking for the car now, vs what I paid for my 2024.

My car was $56.7K out the door on an X plan purchase.

I cringed when I added the $5K for the ragtop figuring buy once cry once, but almost 57K for a Ford, and a Mustang was pushing my limits and I was paying cash so the pain was instantaneous.

My car as a 2026 would be pretty close to $65K, and there is nothing special about it.

3 stage red which went from a $495 option to $995, 401A, automatic, spare tire, B&O radio.

My car is one of about 5000 made the same way if I had to take a guess.

If I was buying again at current prices, CT4-V Blackwing or a little more money and go German or a 2 year old Corvette

Ha that's about exactly what I paid for mine out the door in 2024 also. I cringed at paying not only the +5k for the ragtop but +10k to go from ecoboost to GT too. But if you looked at how '24 camaro SS vert's were selling for at the time it wasn't a huge stretch for better tech and a car you can actually see out of.

Just wait till the next gen comes out, and the prices we paid will seem like a steal.

 

[LouG]

That, or DHSC

DHSC for me.

 

[Sofa King]

Ha that's about exactly what I paid for mine out the door in 2024 also. I cringed at paying not only the +5k for the ragtop but +10k to go from ecoboost to GT too. But if you looked at how '24 camaro SS vert's were selling for at the time it wasn't a huge stretch for better tech and a car you can actually see out of.

Just wait till the next gen comes out, and the prices we paid will seem like a steal.

The prices we paid in 2024 already seem like a steal... and we got more options as well!

 

[COBill]

What are "post-title sales?"

Just what it says - a dealer can't send a new vehicle over and get the supercharger installed and sell it as a new Shelby GT 350; you have to buy your own Mustang, then send it over to have the supercharger installed (post-title.)

 

[When Pigs Fly]

Looks cool, but almost $128k for a convertible seems more than a bit high. If that price doesn't include things like the 401A pkg, Brembos and B&O, then it's *way* overpriced. I'm at $73.5 for my loaded 401A convertible with 60th Anniversary package and Whipple installed - almost $55k less. 95% of the car for 60% of the price....

 

[MustangMitch69]

Looks cool, but almost $128k for a convertible seems more than a bit high. If that price doesn't include things like the 401A pkg, Brembos and B&O, then it's *way* overpriced. I'm at $73.5 for my loaded 401A convertible with 60th Anniversary package and Whipple installed - almost $55k less. 95% of the car for 60% of the price....

That is my logic exactly. Looks good but the Shelby tax is too high for something I could build 95% of myself for a fraction of the price.

Personally, I could afford one of these and pay cash for it, but I'd get more joy from doing the same major mods myself and putting the extra coin toward a first home or college for my kids or grandkids.

These are for the cars-and-coffee or car show type who want sit next to their cars and hear about how pretty they are. Meanwhile everyone around who knows mustangs is whispering, "Yeah but it's a GT with a whipple and body kit, not a flat-plane-crank 5.2L like the past GT350's. That guy must have more money than he knows what to do with."

If these still came with the 5.2 and could be had for $100K (which is a +$30K premium over a used low-mileage GT350 fastback with a 5.2), sign me up, but the reality is Shelby probably couldn't do that for less than $200K.

Again though, I think these look great, and would be the first to walk up to someone with one and compliment them because 99% of mustang owners I've talked with have been pleasant, whereas with the corvette crowd I don't even bother talking to them anymore after so many rude experiences.

An actual GT with a whipple under the hood is not only a surprise but more relatable to the budget-conscious and personalized mods crowd.

And if you're so inclined to take a GT convertible to a drag strip or a street race where people don't expect it to be supercharged, people will be positively surprised by its unexpected performance rather than disappointed due to its badge putting it in a league with more track-focused competitors where it gets embarrassed.

 

[samson]

The prices we paid in 2024 already seem like a steal... and we got more options as well!

Ain't that the truth. My '24 looking more and more like a "bargain" every day

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