Shelby Revives the Terlingua Racing Team 2016 Ford Mustang
In 2007 Shelby American brought back a piece of Mustang racing history with release of the limited-edition V6 Terlingua Mustang that paid homage to the 1967 Trans Am championship-winning Terlingua Racing Team. Well, Shelby has done it again, as Shelby Revives the Terlingua Racing Team 2016 Ford Mustang, but this time the Shelby packs a 5.0L V8, supercharger and 750 horsepower!
The Terlingua Racing Team, headed by Carroll Shelby and Bill Neale, was so much more than a racing team, the gang would hunt, ride motorcycles and tear up on a 200,000-acre ranch in Texas. They also created a technical school for young men in the desolate region of Texas.
"The Terlingua Racing Team was created in the 1960s to have a lot of fun for a lot of people," said Bill Neale, designer of the famous Terlingua Racing Team Crest. "Our rough and ready group was as passionate about playing as we were about racing. From our wild weekends on the Rio Grande in South Texas to racetracks across the world, the Terlingua Racing Team took no prisoners. The team crest and racing livery that I designed came to symbolize that raucous, irreverent lifestyle that thumbed its nose at the establishment."
“This car will have more of the cult following from customers who appreciate not only performance, but the history,” said Shelby expert Scott Black. They want to experience bleeding edge technology but yet be very focused on Americana and have a connection to the Shelby legacy and the racing history.”
Shelby will build a limited run of 75 post-title Terlingua Racing Team Mustangs (50 for the U.S market and 25 will be sold internationally) that will be built around the wildly popular 2015-2016 Ford Mustang GT. “The Shelby Terlingua is our most track-inspired Mustang and is built as a tribute to the Terlingua Racing Team and their 1967 Trans Am Championship,” said Gary Schechner, VP of Marketing and Sales at Shelby American.
Power comes from an intercooler and yellow-powdercoated Whipple supercharger that produces 750 hp. Handling is improved with an adjustable Eibach suspension and the Mustang is fortified with a Shelby clutch, Barton shifter, Ford Performance half-shafts and a Brembo Big Brake kit for racetrack-proven performance. It also features 20-inch Weld Racing wheels, Michelin tires, tons of Shelby-designed carbon fiber components and the distinct Terlingua Racing Team badging.
Brothers Performance recently put the 2016 Terlingua Mustang through its paces at Spring Mountain Motorsport Ranch about an hour outside of Las Vegas. The Mustang is amazingly fast, but is also very easy to drive at speed. Shelby engineers have created a track-ready Mustang that has endless power, predictable handling and killer brakes.
The suspension enhancements and cooling features let you get out there and run hard all day, without fear of overheating the engine or brakes. “The Eibach suspension is comfortable on the street, but performs on the track,” stated Vince LaViolette, lead designer and test driver for Shelby. “Our goal is to let you to run a full day on track without touching the car. We’ve incorporated 2.5-inch cooling ducts and we pick up air from the nose of the car.” To achieve maximum performance, Shelby chose adjustable dampers and rear toe bar, along with progressive springs, and IRS mounting enhancements to resist deflection. We pushed the bright-yellow screamer to the limit. Shelby enhancements to the S550 chassis let us brake late, turn in aggressively and get off the corners with massive grunt. And we loved the sound pouring from the Ford Performance Borla pipes. But despite being lowered and stiffened, the ride quality was suitable for daily driving.
The Terlingua is a real in-your-face track killer. It’s not shy, sporting racing stickers, carbon fiber hood and racing roundels. And while we’re featured the traditional scheme, the Terlingua post-title package can be added to any color Mustang GT, although owners will be limited to a yellow or black hood. Furthermore, each Terlingua is serialized and will feature a dash plaque with autograph of Bill Neale (a Terlingua founder and designer of the racing team crest), Carroll Shelby and Jerry Titus, the 1967 Trans Am Champion winning driver. Shelby Terlingua package is offered starting at $65,999.
