Photo: Gabriel Brindusescu
Fifty-fifty. This is how we see the chances for the 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 Convertible to happen. We'll be stalking Blue Oval execs on the Detroit floor next week, so we hope to be able to find out how that balance is tipped, but until then, we can only bring you a rendering.
Truth be told, an universe where the open-top Shelby GT350 is built and one where it is not should coexist and each of us should be allowed to choose between these two parallel worlds.
We have to remind you a document that was leaked back in September last year talked about the 5.2-liter naturally-aspirated mill of the GT350 together with the term "Convertible". This should be enough for us to expect a Voodoo-powered open-air 'Stang, but since nothing is official yet, the magic will have to wait, at least for now.
Then there are the other examples on the market. Sure, one might say the track-addicted spirit of the GT350 doesn't go well with the drawbacks of a canvas roof, but what about cars like the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible?
In fact, Ford itself is no stranger to building such cars, since the Shelby GT500 is also offered in Convertible guise.
We know comparing the Z06 supercar and even the GT500 musclecar to the GT350 athlete means entering apples vs oranges territory, but we feel this story is about something else than the extra weight and inferior rigidity affecting a Shelby's laptimes.
If the Blue Oval finds a solid business case behind the serious investment required in order to build such a car without compromising it, we'll receive it. Last time they came up with a track-friendly Mustang, the Boss 302, the answer was "no".
We have to remind you a document that was leaked back in September last year talked about the 5.2-liter naturally-aspirated mill of the GT350 together with the term "Convertible". This should be enough for us to expect a Voodoo-powered open-air 'Stang, but since nothing is official yet, the magic will have to wait, at least for now.
Then there are the other examples on the market. Sure, one might say the track-addicted spirit of the GT350 doesn't go well with the drawbacks of a canvas roof, but what about cars like the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible?
In fact, Ford itself is no stranger to building such cars, since the Shelby GT500 is also offered in Convertible guise.
We know comparing the Z06 supercar and even the GT500 musclecar to the GT350 athlete means entering apples vs oranges territory, but we feel this story is about something else than the extra weight and inferior rigidity affecting a Shelby's laptimes.
If the Blue Oval finds a solid business case behind the serious investment required in order to build such a car without compromising it, we'll receive it. Last time they came up with a track-friendly Mustang, the Boss 302, the answer was "no".
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