Shelby American considers bringing back rent-a-racer Mustangs

Shelby American is considering resurrecting its “rent-a-racer” program that offers upgraded Mustang GTs for enthusiast-oriented consumers, AutoWeek has learned.

Likely timed to mark the storied company's 50th anniversary, the program could launch as early as next spring. The cars would be offered in two traditional configurations: black and gold and white and gold. Power would come from the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8, which makes 412 hp in the 2012 Mustang GT, and an automatic transmission.

The rental racers would continue the lineage of street-legal Shelbys available for short stints. In 1966, the company teamed with Hertz to produce 1,000 copies of the performance Mustang. Forty years later, the program came back, and the GT-H was popular with enthusiasts despite limited availability. The Shelby GT-H cars were later offered for sale.

A rendering of the potential 50th anniversary GT-H.

Shelby hasn't finalized the potential 2012 program and is gauging interest. Hertz has been Shelby's historic partner for the rent-a-racer ventures. Hertz offers the Mustang GT in premium packaging for rental as part of it “Adrenaline” collection, but the Shelby hasn't been available recently.

In addition to the eye-catching livery, Shelby also usually goosed the Mustangs with a bit of extra horsepower and body treatments. Look for similar elements if this modern program comes to fruition.

By Greg Migliore