SP Rides: Ride, Shelby, Ride
By Michael Kitchens
Name: Bayview Auto Sales
Year/Make/Model: 2016 Ford Mustang 350 Shelby Cobra
Color: Lightning Blue with Black Racing Stripe
The Shelby GT350 stretches back some 50 years — to a time when Shelby American produced a model that was intended to hit the ground running. Since then, the brand has remained focused on being more than your average Mustang. And in many ways, the 2016 Ford Mustang 350 Shelby Cobra is just that: a track-ready, performance-focused and well-produced sports car.
With newly styled, aluminum-vented fenders, an aggressive yet functional hood, as well as impressive add-ons such as a rear spoiler and svelte integrated diffuser, this Shelby is simply gorgeous. The front fascia is menacing and resembles the striking head of a Cobra even more so than any previous iteration of the style. The ride is sleek and functional while featuring the iconic LeMans stripes, which run the entire length of the car.
With 526HP and 429HP on tap, the 5.2L Voodoo V8 engine features a flat-plane crank and is hand-assembled. Most V8s are cross-plane cranks and the difference is noticeable when it comes to the GT350. Its redline is 8,250 rpms and the car is comfortably known as the highest-revving V8 that Ford ever produced. Thanks to its flat-plane crankshaft, the car’s lighter weight and higher revs produce one of the gnarliest engine growls under hard acceleration. The quad exhausts certainly don’t hurt as well.
Compared to a standard Mustang GT, this car is in a performance category of its own when it comes to the suspension and braking components. The GT350 features the MagneRide Damping System, a special suspension developed by Delphi Automotive Corp. that helps to keep the ride very compliant and adaptive through constant changes in the viscosity of the dampers.
The brakes feature enormous cross-drilled rotors paired with six-piston Brembo calipers up front with four pistons in the rear. With a car as powerful as this one, it’s absolutely useless without the proper brakes. This ride has brakes in spades while also featuring some very sexy aluminum 19-inch wheels fitted with Michelin Pilot Super Sport P295/35ZR19 fronts and P305/35ZR19 in the rear.
The interior combines a very high-tech package of instrumentation with some very nice styling cues. You simply can’t miss the huge tach and speedo as well as the digital instrumentation front and center behind the Cobra-emblazoned wheel. Recaro seats fill the cockpit and hold the occupants snugly. It really is an incredible design that provides a luxurious addition to the monstrous power this car puts out.
There have been a ton of reviews on the GT350, and the consensus seems to be there has never been a better example of the Shelby name. Indeed, this 2016 Ford Mustang 350 Shelby Cobra is worth the ride!
