Ford to limit 2011 Shelby GT500 Production to 5,500 units, Almost Sold Out

 

2011 Shelby GT500

2011 Shelby GT500

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We all know the 2011 Shelby GT500 is one badazz sports car with a 550 horsepower 5.4-liter all aluminum engine so it should come as no surprise Ford has announced the GT500 is seeing strong demand in the sales department.  What you may not want to hear is Ford will be limiting production to just 5,500 units for the 2011 model year to maintain exclusivity for what reason we do not know.  If they wanted to maintain exclusivity on the GT500 why did the produce close to 23,000 of them from 2007-2009.

Already to date, dealer and retail orders have surpassed 3,300 units for the 2011 Shelby GT500 with more being sold everyday.  If you have any plans to buy one of your own you better get on down to your local Ford dealer to place an order before they have all been allocated.

“We are pleased with the pace of retail orders for the 2011 Shelby GT500,” said Fritz Wilke, Mustang brand manager. “The car continues to be popular with sports car enthusiasts and collectors who are blown away by the increase in horsepower and performance. The limited production of the 2011 should make this year even more desirable.”

For more about the limited production of the 2011 Shelby GT500 check out the press release below.

Press Release

Customer demand for Ford’s new 2011 Shelby GT500 is growing nearly as fast as the world’s fastest production pony car. More than 3,300 orders have been placed for the new Shelby GT500. To ensure exclusivity, U.S. sales of the 2011 Shelby GT500 will be limited to 5,500 units.

“We are pleased with the pace of retail orders for the 2011 Shelby GT500,” said Fritz Wilke, Mustang brand manager. “The car continues to be popular with sports car enthusiasts and collectors who are blown away by the increase in horsepower and performance. The limited production of the 2011 should make this year even more desirable.”

The 2011 Shelby GT500 is powered by a new aluminum-block 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine, which produces 550 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque, a 10 horsepower increase over the 2010 model. The engine is 102 pounds lighter than its predecessor, delivering a better power-to-weight ratio, improved fuel economy, acceleration, handling and steering precision.

The new engine uses a state-of-the-art Plasma Transferred Wire Arc (PTWA) liner coating, a process that applies a 150-micron composite coating that contains nanoparticles on the internal surfaces of engine cylinder bores, replacing cast-iron liners typically used in aluminum engine blocks. The Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation honored the inventors of the Ford-patented PTWA technology with the 2009 National Inventor of the Year Award.

Customers are showing an appreciation for the GT500’s performance on and off the track, as well as its many features.

Standard 2011 performance features include the 550-horsepower aluminum 5.4-liter V8 engine, a new 2.75-inch exhaust system
, revised brake cooling and pedal box construction for more consistent brake pedal efforts and feel, and electric power-assisted steering (EPAS). SVT worked hard to make EPAS better than the outgoing hydraulic steering system, with improved torque build-up and road feel.

New for 2011 is an optional glass roof providing customers with yet another open-air option that does not compromise the coupe’s versatility, headroom or climate-controlled environment. Three times more 2011 GT500s have been ordered with the glass roof compared to the base Mustang showing the popularity of this new feature.






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Comment (1)
  1. I remember when they did this in the '90's. They limited the # of Cobras produced. It drove up the price, and you didn't see as many on the road.
    I'm sure there's some great, wise business principle this is based on. The Cobra is produced by Carroll Shelby's company, after the Mustang comes off the Ford assembly line. Shelby American might be just filling the orders that they need for the year, and then dealing with aftermarket parts that enthusiasts will want farther down the road.
    I think it would increase market share and exposure to produce more of the Cobra. But what do I know?
    Personally, If I had a choice, I would want the non-supercharged 2011 SMS Supercars Mustang 302.
     
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