Shelby-tuned Ford Mustangs will soon become part of the New Zealand motoring landscape now that the famous American performance house has an official Down Under distributor to modify right-hand-drive models.
Melbourne company Mustang Motorsport has become the first one-stop Shelby shop in this part of the world – and its managing director Craig Dean told Automotive News NZ that he is already looking for a Shelby outlet on this side of the Tasman.
“We have the Shelby licencing for Australia and New Zealand,” said Dean from his Melbourne office. “I am getting Australia set up first and then I’ll go looking for a Shelby agent in New Zealand, perhaps a Ford dealership, preferably an FPV (Ford Performance Vehicle) one, if available.”
Dean’s company is the first offshore operation approved by famous Texas-based performance house Carroll Shelby International since Ford went RHD with the 2015 Mustang. The first shipment of Shelby components for the 2015 Mustang is expected to land in Melbourne from the US next week.
“We already have customers waiting and there’s more each day,” Dean said. “We deal direct with Ford dealers or the customer. It will take about two weeks for conversions and up to four weeks for more involved work.”
He said the kits start from $A49,990 for the Shelby GT. “If the customer wants a supercharger added, the kit climbs to $A64,990,” said Dean. “For the Super Snake, it’s $A84,990. This is on top of the price of the car. We will also do a Roush Mustang – it is not as expensive.”
In Australia, the Mustang starts from $A44,990 for the four-cylinder 2.3-litre Ecoboost model to $A63,990 for the 5.0-litre V8 automatic convertible. In NZ, the 2.3-litre unit sits at $56,990 and the top-draw V8 soft-top at $76,990.
The Shelby kits will be available for both the 233kW/432Nm four-cylinder EcoBoost Mustang and the 303kW/525Nm V8.
“It’s early days,” Dean said, “because we’re not sure of demand for the four-cylinder models. Most people who buy a V8 want to hot it up. The kits go up to 750kW so the sky’ s the limit.”
The kits include a Ford Performance Racing supercharger along with heavy-duty components like gearing, suspension and axles. Among the options is a custom bodywork package.
Dean, who has been converting left-hand-drive Mustangs in Australia for many years, is no stranger to the NZ motorsport scene – he won the 2000 Targa NZ driving a Mustang.
He is putting the finishing touches to a new on-line store at www.mustangmotorsport.com.au for buyers who want to kit out their Pony cars.
And he is also shipping to the Auckland Mustang owners’ club meeting north of Auckland this week brochures outlining what his new Shelby venture is all about.
There will be no lack of interest from this side of the Tasman in Dean’s Shelby operation – Ford NZ already has orders for more than 400 Mustangs. The first of the cars arrive next month.