Do you remember the 2006 Shelby Terlingua? Well, Shelby is set to release a new model carrying this nametag 2016 Shelby Terlingua and with it more muscle. The limited edition Mustang GT is a dedication to Carroll Shelby, Jerry Titus and Bill Neale, the original crew of the Terlingua Racing Team.
It’s funny how the team came to be. Shelby and his friends Dave Witts, David E. Davis Jr., Tom Tierney and Neale used to vacation every year near the city of Terlingua and eventually bought a ranch in the area. Later, Neale came up with the black-and-yellow rabbit logo which Shelby decided to put on its racing cars and viola, the Terlingua Racing Team was born.
Shelby Terlingua Mustang
Unlike the 2006 Terlingua which was powered by a V-6 which didn’t go down well with enthusiasts, the 2016 Shelby Terlingua will have a V-8 under its hood.
The vehicle seeks to revive the spirits of the Terlingua Racing team that includes Jerry’s win at the 1967 Trans Am Series.
Previous Terlingua models
2016 Shelby Terlingua Exterior
On the outside, the new Terlingua looks like the Shelby GT which made its debut in January last year. At the front, Shelby has replaced the Mustang grille with a Shelby piece of anodized front and lower grille. The stock bumper has also received a large splitter. The vehicle also features a carbon fiber Shelby GT hood with Terlingua vents. At the center of the grille is a jackrabbit emblem which has replaced the usual running horse logo. The same rabbit is printed on the bulged hood.
At the back, the Terlingua features a 2-piececarbon fiber rear diffuser, a carbon fiber trunk-lid rear spoiler, black exhaust tips of the Borla exhaust system and a carbon fiber taillight panel. The sides feature carbon-fiber mirror covers. The Terlingua rides on a set of 20-inch WELD racing wheels.
The vehicle comes in Terlingua’s classic black-and-yellow color scheme. Buyers will choose between yellow with a black hood and graphics or black with yellow hood and graphics. Further, the graphics package features a thick stripe on the roof and its deck-lid and some thin stripes above its side skirts and Terlingua Racing Team lettering on its rear fenders.
The vehicle also features the No. 17 and sponsor tickets on its front doors and fenders. The “17” was the racing No. of Jerry Titus when he won at Sebring in 1967. There is also the Terlingua Team Crest below the A-pillar along with Carroll Shelby’s signature. You will also find signatures of the Terlingua founder Bill Neale and that of Jerry Titus.
2016 Shelby Terlingua Interior
Details on the Terlingua’s interior are still scanty as the automaker has only released a single photo so far. From the photo we can see Terlingua Racing Team floor mats and bolstered race inspired seats featuring the yellow rabbit and Terlingua Racing team lettering on their headrests.
Other features include a dash pod with three gauges and customized sill plates all with a carbon fiber trim. The vehicle also features a short-throw shifter. Since it is a limited-edition model, each will have a numbered dash plaque.
For those intending to take their Terlinguas to the tracks, you can opt for Sparco seats which come with 4-point harnesses; a roll cage is also offered. Most of other features are standard Mustang GT features. Be sure to check back later for more updates.
Engine Specs and Performance
The last Terlingua was fitted with a V-6 under its hood. The engine used to make 375 hp which was pretty impressive 10 years ago but would look conventional now. Now Shelby thought a V-6 would not be good enough particularly to the young buyers.
Therefore, to provide the younger enthusiasts with a more bang for their hard earned cash, Shelby has hooked up the new Terlingua with a supercharged 5.0 L V-8 which is paired with a Whipple blower.
The new engine pumps out over 750 hp. This power makes the Terlingua more powerful than any factory-built Mustang ever produced. Shelby is yet to release other performance specs such as top speed and acceleration. However, we believe the Terlingua will make the 0-60 mph run in 3.5 seconds or less.
5.0-liter V-8 engine
Other updates include adjustable coilovers and an Eibach sway bar. It also features Ford upgrades which include a loud Borla exhaust system and half-shaft. Stopping power for the “beast” comes from a set of Brembo brakes.
Price and release date
To get a feel of the new Terlingua, you will need $ 65,999. This is just for the upgrades. You still have to dig deeper for another $ 32,395 for the base Ford Mustang GT.
Shelby is making only 50 units for the US market and 25 for the international market so you need to hurry up if you want to lay your hands on the wheels of the new Terlingua.
Competition
The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat will be the main challenger to the Terlingua. The Dodge is powered by a 6.2 L supercharged V-8 engine which comes good with 707 horses.
and where am I supposed to drive this ? I don’t currently own a private air strip.