Test drive Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 since 2009 coupe

I am a snake ...

The first class of AC, without an engine and transmission, arrived by an airplane from England in California on February 2, 1962. That night, Carola Shelby dreamed of an emblem - the head of a cobra, rising to strike. I woke up for a second and recorded a cobra in a notebook, which I always kept on a bedside table by the bed. I immediately realized that this name is exactly what you need for the car. Eight hours later, the 260 Hipo motor and a 4-speed Borg-Warner box was already on the car, and Carol Shelby and Dina Moon left for the new Cobra on the road. Unfortunately, they did not come across a single Corvette.

 

In December 1960, the famous athlete Carol Shelby performed in his last race - Los Angeles Rimes -Mirror Grand Prix for sports cars. His BirdCage Maserati 61 came the fifth, but Shelby won the championship of the year. He was almost 38 years old. Health no longer allowed Shelby to participate in competitions, but he was not going to refuse his passion for cars.

 

The next year, Shelby opened the School of Higher Driving School - Shelby School of High Performance Driving. An advertisement in the journal, for which he paid $ 90, turned into a stream of requests for training materials. The first profit was $ 1400.

 

At the same time, the English company AC Cars lost the supply of Bristol engine, which it used in its double family. Upon learning of this, Shelby suggested Charles Harloka, the owner of AC Cars, to build a sports car on the chassis of the English relatives with a 3.6 l V8 Ford engine that had just appeared. Harlock agreed ...

 

In March 1962 in Venice, California, the Shelby-american company created by Shelby was earned. Her first car with CSX 2000, piercing yellow, appeared on the Ford stand at the New York Motor Show in April. Orders went from dealers - Cobra was born.

 

The car was called AS COBRA, its assembly was established in the USA, where ready -made chassis with bodies was delivered from England. At the AC CARS factory in England, cars for the European market were assembled, they were equipped with motors that were brought in back flights. The car turned out to be so successful that it is still produced in England, not to mention the numerous remarks that are made around the world. AS COBRA deserves a separate story, and we will return to the sixties.

 

Carol Shelby registered the name Cobra as a trademark and at the enterprise that assembled AC Cobra in the United States, also began to engage in tuning serial Ford Mustang for those who were not quite satisfied with the high -speed indicators of this American bestseller. Since the end of 1964, simultaneously with the original Cobra, the Shelby enterprise produced Shelby Cobra GT350, a double version of the Mustang serial Fastbek with a 5.7-liter engine, a modified suspension and steering, wide wheels, a Warner mechanical box and increased friction differential. The engine power was 350 liters. With. The Shelby Cobra GT350 with a Ford Thunderbird and GT500 with a 7-liter engine appeared later.

 

In the late 60s, Shelby retired and sold the Ford Cobra brand, which from time to time for those who love the hotter, produces charged cars called Ford Mustang Cobra. From the original Mustang, they are distinguished by engines, suspension, brake system and, of course, an emblem - on the radiator grille, a wild horse is still a rude, where he wants, and on board - the head of a cobra rose to strike.

 

Our magazine wrote about the serial Ford Mustang in August last year (Motor 4). If you remember, the article ended with the words: this car will always find its buyer, both in America and beyond. And we were not mistaken - in the courtyard of the editorial office of the new 1997 Mustang, but not simple, but in the Cobra version. Of course, red. There is an opportunity to find out what tuning is in American.

 

Outwardly, the machine is practically no different, with the exception of the emblem and a new hood with more developed forms for the placement of additional engine equipment - the motor has become more powerful by 90 liters. With.

 

The car crossed the BF Goodrich tires with a tread, outwardly claiming sports. In the cabin, black genuine leather is used as the main finishing material, everything is done with great taste and quality. Generally speaking, it became noticeable that American cars, especially with a claim to sports, began to be more like their European and Japanese colleagues, which are characterized by severity and conciseness. The landing is convenient due to the large range of adjustments of the driver's seat. On the pillow from below there is a small lever that controls it with vertical and horizontal movements using electric drives, and the change in the back of the back is carried out by a round handle at the junction of it with a pillow.

 

The seats are quite soft, but with developed lateral support, the shape and material are such that when you find yourself in the chair, there is a feeling of complete unity with the car. The angle of inclination of the steering wheel can be selected for yourself within a few fixed positions. The steering wheel with an integrated airbag does not close devices with new -fangled white dials.

 

There is enough space in the cabin for two people, passengers of the front seats feel comfortable, and only children are enough for children - the car body is built according to the 2+2 formula. Access to the salon is very convenient due to a wide door, but the threshold is higher than usual, which is compensated by the high position of the pillow relative to the floor. This caused surprise - in a sports car it is more familiar to be closer to the ground.

 

The lever of the gearbox gearbox is short -lived, the transfers are turned on easily and clearly. I liked the location of the pedals, at first it was somewhat alerted by the large course of the accelerator pedal and its softness, but then it thought that for a motor with a large volume and a high torque, this is normal. Review is good in all directions, the front racks do not interfere in corners, and everything that is necessary is visible to the side mirrors.

 

The motor launched with a characteristic hum, muffled by good sound insulation. Touching. The motor confidently gaining momentum, the car touches, presses the back in the seat, but not as much as expected. The car accelerates well, but we would not call it with a shot.

 

The joint operation of the clutch pedal and the gearbox lever was pleasantly pleased with the informativeness and the ability to play adhesion to obtain additional thrills. The work of the suspension left a strange impression. In short - naked standard. We expected sports hardness, and the suspension seemed to remain the same, we did not feel any changes. But with their direct responsibilities - to keep the car on the road and not bother the driver and passengers with constant reminders of road irregularities - the suspension is quite coping.

 

In corners, the car is tangled significantly, but the wheels are kept by the road; If you take the steering wheel more, then the controlled wheels break, and the front of the car pulls out the turn. Perhaps this is due to the excessive softness of the elastic elements of the front suspension - it would not hurt to put the silent blocks harder.

 

The force on the steering wheel is quite low in all modes of movement, which is actually familiar to American cars, but we did not expect such softness from the sports Mustang Cobra GT. Parking is not difficult, and on the road it is necessary to amend the operation of the amplifier and the large gear ratio of the steering mechanism. The brakes, on the contrary, were pleased with their sensitivity and effectiveness. The car is equipped with ABS, which is asleep until the right moment, without annoying the driver on trifles.

 

In the rear bridge (the word bridge is best suited - the rear suspension of the archaic structure with an uncertain beam) there is a differential of increased friction, which slightly improves the picture of the acceleration, especially in the absence of wheel slipping with a slight folding of the steering wheel. But the rubber disappointed - a very unsuccessful choice for such a car. Perhaps the car will not recognize it with its replacement.

 

In general, the Ford Mustang Cobra GT left ambiguous impressions. A cult American sports car, more than 300 wild horses under the hood, a snake head on board ... We expected something like that ... But it turned out - just a good car, soft, smooth, with a calm, painful engine.

 

Ford Mustang is a typical representative of the Muscle Cars so popular in the USA, or muscular cars, in appearance, but in fact almost ordinary cars, and it seemed to us that the Cobra version is only the beginning of the Mustang refinement to a sports mind. Or maybe it's only about our too high expectations?

 

Alexey Vasiliev

miller Pilot team racer

 

Workplace of the driver

Everything is as usual, in the right places. I liked the location of the gearbox lever. The seats are comfortable, with good lateral support.

 

Landing

Convenient, with a full set of adjustments.

 

Review

Good forward and back, side racks do not interfere.

 

Steering wheel

The shape of the steering wheel did not really like it because of the large built-in pillow. An interesting adjustment of the column on the angle of inclination is made - around the cardan hinge near the hub.

 

Pedals

Good location, slight efforts, especially on gas pedal, which is why it seems insensitive.

 

Salon

Convenient, modern, closer to European than to the American one. There are enough places for the driver and passenger.

 

Suspension

The car does not break in corners. I did not like the right of the front wheels in steep turns. The suspension is soft and comfortable, which is strange for a sports car, but on our roads - what is needed. The choice of rubber is unsuccessful.

 

Dynamics

Smooth, not outstanding.

 

Brakes

Good ones.

 

Bliss

Like a racer, you don’t get it. But by behavior on the road and the appearance of Cobra, Ford Mustang is better.

 

General impression

A good car for a consumer who does not have much money, but who wants to feel confident on the road. The car is above average, with an even engine, an inexpensive sports car for those who want to accelerate smoothly and calmly, without jerking; Not a shell. It is quite suitable as a car for every day for driving around the city and the freeway.

 

Sergey Ivanov, Mikhail Vasiliev
 
 

 

Source: Magazine Motor