GONE TOO SOON
We were recently shocked to hear of the passing of one of the automotive scene’s good guys: Keith Lane of The Gearbox Factory, East Tamaki, Auckland. Keith was a loyal supporter of NZV8 and a contributor of various gearbox-related technical articles. Having more than 30 years in the business, his knowledge was unsurpassed and he was always keen to help people find solutions to their driveline needs. Keith was a friend to many, a kind helper to all, and will be hugely missed by the industry, family, and friends. Our condolences go out to his wife Rosie, and kids Chris, Becky, and Rachel.
Following on from our in-depth interview with the guys behind Shelby New Zealand in NZV8 issue 177 a couple of months ago, the Matamatabased venture has just announced that it is bringing the monstrous Carroll Shelby Signature Series Mustang to our shores. Only 50 of these aggressive machines will be produced worldwide, and just three of those have been allocated to New Zealand. Pushing 615kW (825hp), the Mustang’s 5.0 is boosted by a Whipple supercharger system, and bristles with uprated equipment to support the increase in power and torque — an extreme cooling system, performance half shafts, one-piece driveshaft, short-throw shifter, and more. The newly improved induction noise is now matched by a thundering Borla exhaust system, while the roadholding prowess of the car has also been lifted to match the new grunt by way of a Shelby track handling suspension pack and big, ducted Brembo brakes hiding behind 20x11-inch forged, one-piece monoblock rims.
Keep in mind, this isn’t exactly a sleeper build from Shelby — those rims now sit under widened alloy fenders and complement a very aggressive and extensive aero package, a ram-air hood, and Shelby striping and badging. Subtle, this car is not. With a fully upgraded interior to match, this Mustang strikes a perfect balance between roadgoing comfort, face-melting performance, and great looks.
About the Signature Series car, Vince LaViolette, Shelby American vice president of operations and chief of R&D, explains: “There are many aspects to performance, which is why we addressed every aspect of the car. We spent enormous energy to maximize speed, reliability, and consistency. These enhancements will enable the Signature Series Shelby to perform flawlessly lap after lap and mile after mile.”
Shelby New Zealand is now taking orders for the 615kW weapon. Like all new Shelby New Zealand vehicles, this car comes with a threeyear/60,000km warranty, which works in conjunction with Ford NZ’s five-year warranty.