Many have seen the “magazine data” on the new 2015 GT350, but now we have weights we took in person on our scales, which we trust. Trunk junk removed (see below), fuel level verified (and calculated for), etc.
If you have heard of Vorshlag then you probably know we are fanatics about weight. There’s not a Vorshlag project car ever built that didn’t get weighed on 4 digital corner scales, and we weigh most parts that go on or off these cars. We also weigh OEM cars when new models come out. So yesterday when we were invited to Five Star Ford of Plano by salesman Corey White (below) to weigh the first 2015 Shelby GT in Dallas, we jumped at it. Corey and Five Star Ford takes care of local racers and actually sponsors track days at local race tracks, which is not what you typically find in a car dealership.
Jason and Terry from Vorshlag brought our digital scales, some measuring equipment and a camera to Five Star to weigh this new pony car. We weren’t allowed to drive it – this car is already sold – but we were able to see it up close without 200 people surrounding the car, like the only other times we’ve seen this Shelby lately at car shows.
The new 2015-up “S550” chassis Mustang replaced the outgoing 2005-15 “S197” Mustang chassis. Major differences are the S550 has Independent Rear Suspension, an all new chassis, a 100% new body, and all new suspension. The engine lineup carried over the (mostly unchanged) 5.0L DOHC V8, the 300hp V6 and added a new “ecoboost” turbocharged 4 cylinder. The S550 did not get any smaller and thus it was doubtful that it would be any lighter. Newer cars are coming with better crash-worthiness, more insulation, and more power options as standard, to they tend to always get heavier.
We have weighed several of the V8 S550 Mustangs, including the Performance Pack equipped 2015 GT 5.0L (see above) and the “base” 5.0L GT (see below) which has smaller wheels and brakes, among other changes. The GT “PP” cars are about 3650 pounds with no fuel (3678 for the car above with 1/4 tank), and the “non-PP” or Base GT 5.0 S550s are about 50 pounds lighter (3598 on the car below with nearly no fuel).
We try to weigh cars without any fuel but that isn’t always possible, but we will go the extra mile to remove the “trunk junk” – things like a spare tire, inflation tools, jack, and trunk mat. This stuff is commonly removed for track or autocross events so we try to weigh them at actual “Race Weight” that most folks would run them at.
The new Shelby GT350 differs from the S550 GT Mustangs in several key areas. There’s a new 6-speed transmission (Tremec TR3160) is a tick lighter; it has a a new high revving, flat plane crank, 5.2L “voodoo” V8 that makes 526 hp; is equipped with wider front fenders and unique bodywork from the A-pillars forward; and comes with wider wheels and larger brakes (the GT350R wheels are even bigger).
The GT350’s front wheels measure 19×10.5″ and carry 295/35/19 Michelin Pilot Super Sports and the rears are 19×11″ with matching 305/30/19 tires. The brakes are larger iron 15.5″ 2-piece rotors with 6-piston Brembos up front and 15.0″ 2-piece rotors with 4-piston calipers out back. This is likely what probably accounts for the slight increase in weight over the PP-GT. If you subtract the fuel load the GT350 we weighed is right at 3700 pounds, whereas the GT-PP is 3650 sans fuel.
The car we weighed had the optional Track Pack which also includes transmission and engine oil coolers and special “MagneRide” dampers. The rotor sizes seem a tad excessive, but on a car this heavy it might not be bad to have “too much brake”. We’ve tracked the 2015 Mustang GT Performance Pack cars, which come with 15″ 6-piston front Brembo brakes, and they are extremely capable. As always better brake fluid and pads make them much more reliable on track – nobody delivers a stock vehicle with proper track pads or track worthy brake fluid.
Overall the Shelby GT350 is a VERY nice car and comes with a lot of unique content that falls outside of the performance bits already mentioned: unique interior coverings, steering wheel, seats, and even custom aero bits. There are also a limited number of these cars and the Shelby badging all over will likely make these hold their value more than the regular Mustang GT. So if you want to own a piece of history, call your Ford dealer (or Corey at Five Star: 972-985-3600) and see if you can get your hands on one. I doubt you will be disappointed.
Of course if you want to make a track terror with any S550 Mustang GT we can help with that (see above). Vorshlag has helped develop parts for the S550 including: MCS monotube coilovers, 18×11″ wheels that fit 315mm tires under stock sheet metal, and we have made our own camber plates to add camber and caster up front. We know how to make the S550 handle even without a nearly $60K sicker price. Of course if you start with a GT350, we can just make it faster!
