The Ford Mustang->ke428 created quite a stir when it was unveiled to the world in 1964, but it wasn't until 1965 that the first high-performance pony cars hit the streets and tracks. Often called "Cobras" due to the emblem and paint scheme it shared with the Shelby Cobra Roadster, the first-gen Shelby GT350s reshaped the pony car market, marking the birth of the lightweight, track-prepped muscle car. Initially offered in Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue stripes, the GT350 became available with non-white colors in 1966. Among them there was a special run wearing a black paint and golden stripes, along with a "GT350-H" badge. These became known as the Hertz "Rent-a-Racer" cars and they're about to return on the sixth-generation Mustang.

It's been 50 years since the first Shelby GT350-H was built for the Hertz Corporation and Ford has launched a 50th Anniversary Edition. It is called the Ford Shelby Hertz GT-H and it was unveiled on March 21st, at the Classic Car Club Manhattan in New York. The new Hertz Mustang is based on the standard, V-8-powered Mustang GT, but Shelby and Ford's Performance division added a few aftermarket bits to make it interesting. The new Shelby GT-H that will be available for rent beginning Memorial Day weekend through the Hertz Adrenaline Collection at select airport locations in the continental United States.

Updated 03/22/2016: Shelby and Hertz unveiled the new GT-H 50th Anniversary Edition Mustang at the the Classic Car Club Manhattan in New York.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 Ford Shelby Hertz GT-H 50th Anniversary Edition.

2016 Ford Shelby Hertz GT-H

Specifications
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  • Model: 2016 Ford Shelby Hertz GT-H
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Pros
Cons

Exterior

While it might not be as aggressive as the high-performance GT350, the Shelby GT-H has plenty of bespoke features to stand out next to the standard Mustang GT. Naturally, the first thing that catches the eye is the black exterior paint with twin gold racing stripes reminiscent of the original Hertz "Rent-A-Racer."

The rocker panels also received gold stripes with "Shelby GT-H" lettering, while several emblems and logos were added to the body. There are "Hertz Edition" emblems on the front fenders and "GT-H" logos on the front grille, rear faux gas cap, and trunk lid.

To set it further apart from the standard GT, Shelby also replaced the front splitter and rear spoiler with carbon-fiber elements and crafted a special engine hood with vents and a big bulge in the center. Rounding off the GT-H appearance is a set of 19-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in high-performance Michelin tires.

Interior

Not surprisingly, the interior is heavily based on the Mustang GT's, with only a handful of features to set it apart. The sporty seats have "GT-H" logos on the headrests, there are customized sill plates with "Hertz Shelby GT-H" lettering, and a numbered plaque on the dashboard. It might not sound like much, but these features are similar to those offered in the previous, 2006 Hertz model.

Drivetrain

Motivation for the Shelby GT-H comes from the same 5.0-liter V-8 found in the Mustang GT. Shelby didn't say a word about the mill's output, but it's safe to assume that the naturally aspirated "Coyote" cranks out the same 435 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque (unlike the previous Hertz, which received 25 extra horses and 10 additional pound-feet). As a result, performance should be identical with 4.5-second 0-to-60 mph sprints and 13-second quarter-mile times.

The only change Shelby made to the drivetrain is a cat-back exhaust system made by Ford Performance for a throatier sound.

The brand also added a Shelby GT-H engine plaque and engine cap kit, but these features don't alter the car's performance.

More significant updates were made to the chassis, by means of a Ford Racing Handling Pack. The bundle includes special-tuned dampers, lowered springs, and revised sway bars. Thanks to these improvements, the Shelby GT-H should deliver a more race-like driving experience.

Prices

Pricing information for the GT-H is not available simply because this limited-edition Shelby won't be sold to customers. The brand plans to build 140 examples, but all of them will be shipped to Hertz as rental cars. The GT-H could become available on the used car market in a few years, but don't get your hopes up on that happening anytime soon. If you really want a Shelby GT-H in your garage, your best option is to by a Mustang GT and the aftermarket parts from Ford Performance and Ford Racing and build one yourself.

Competition

Chevrolet Camaro SS

The Hertz Mustang never had an actual competitor as neither Chevy nor Dodge built similar vehicles for a car rental agency, but the Camaro SS is a similar option given its powerful V-8 engine and more aggressive body. Redesigned from the ground up for the 2016 model year, the Chevy SS comes with a naturally aspirated, 6.2-liter V-8 under the hood. The powerplant is borrowed from the Chevrolet Corvette, but received certain modifications before being dropped into the Camaro. Output sits at 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque, a 20-horsepower and 55-pound-feet increase over the Mustang. Sprinting from 0 to 60 mph takes 4.3 seconds, a bit quicker than Ford's muscle car. The power routes to the wheels through either a six-speed manual gearbox with rev matching technology or an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Pricing for the Camaro SS starts from $37,295.

Find out more about the Chevrolet Camaro here.

Conclusion

The original Shelby GT350-H went on to become a legend only months after it went into production and it is now one of the most sought-after and expensive classic Mustangs. The 40th anniversary model was more than worthy of the Hertz name and the prospect of seeing yet another GT-H, this time around based on the sixth-generation Mustang GT, leave the Ford factory is exciting to say the least. Unlike its predecessor, the new Hertz is just a standard GT with a few aftermarket parts and special badges, but Mustang gearheads shouldn't be disappointed given the capabilities of Ford's sixth-generation Mustang.