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Shelby’s ‘New’ $500,000 Coupe Is Actually 25 Years Old

Remember the Shelby Series 1? Released in 1997, it was an odd catfish-faced trying try at a supercar that got here straight from Shelby American, promising Cobra-like efficiency with modern-era tech. Instead, it delivered patrons with an Oldsmobile-Aurora-powered parts-bin GM automotive that suffered from severe high quality issues. Just 249 were made, so that you’re forgiven should you forgot about it. The Series 2, launched in 2018, promised to repair all of these woes, and now — 25 years after the introduction of the Series 1 — orders are open for a batch of ten Series 2 coupes, constructed underneath license by Wingard Motorsports.

 

While this technically is not the primary run of the Series 2 — four Series 2 cars were sold in 2018, additionally underneath license by Wingard — that is the primary time that the Shelby Series 2 can be accessible as a hardtop coupe. Three of those ten whole coupes can be made solely out of aluminum; the remaining seven will get carbon-fiber physique panels. Wingard is constructing the vehicles as engineless rollers, however has assembled a number of drivetrain decisions for homeowners to have put in later, together with a Windsor V8 with a sequential six-speed transmission or an unspecified “Performance EV” electrical package deal. The chassis is reportedly able to dealing with as much as 1,100 horsepower, and six-pot brake calipers come customary on all corners, so these accessible drivetrains can get a bit of loopy if desired.

Whatever drivetrain patrons select, they should come ready to pay for it. The Series 2 curler begins at $385,600 for a carbon fiber mannequin; aluminum-bodied vehicles will begin at $498,200. The least expensive drivetrain will begin at an extra $83,500 — earlier than set up — and climb from there, that means even these seeking to scrimp can be spending round half one million {dollars} to drive their new Shelby Series 2. The vehicles, regardless of being rollers constructed underneath license with out engines, will get a Shelby American serial quantity and be recorded within the official registry of Shelby vehicles.

2018 Shelby Series 2

2018 Shelby Series 2 Interior

The unique Series 1 was a little bit of an automotive oddity, and it is good to see the remaining components nonetheless used to construct drivable vehicles. Let’s simply hope that for half one million, the inside will get one thing a bit extra… premium this time.