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Which one would you like to drive/own ?
20 Hot Convertibles: 2012 Shelby GT350 Convertible - First Drive

Open top, balanced performance.




By Andrew Bornhop / Photos by Brian Blades
April 18, 2012

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20 Hot Convertibles >>

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Las Vegas—After I hopped out of the Shelby 1000 development car (May issue) at the company’s headquarters in Las Vegas, the new GT350 Convertible—even in supercharged 525-bhp form—felt like a pussycat. This is a refined automobile, with slightly softer Ford Racing suspension and big Baer brakes serving to perfectly complement the wheel-spinning power of the blown 4-cam 5.0-liter V-8.

2012 Shelby GT350 Convertible




Yep, the new Shelby GT350 Convertible has an OE level of refinement, with an easy-to-modulate clutch and a tractable V-8 that idles smoothly and can be loafed along at parking lot speeds with nary a difficulty. Feed it a little throttle, though, and this Mustang gets out of the hole in a hurry, able to hit 60 mph in the low 4s while emitting a particularly throaty sound from the center-outlet Borla exhaust and just a hint of whine from the Whipple blower. And structurally, this topless Mustang feels remarkably stout, because that’s how Ford builds ’em these days.

2012 Shelby GT350 Convertible




The A-pillar-mounted trio of gauges (for fuel pressure, oil pressure and boost) serves as a constant reminder that this is a high-performance post-title Mustang, one that’s also fitted with a serialized Shelby dash plate, special bodywork, unique badging and embroidered floormats. Prices for Shelby’s supercharged GT350 package—coupe or Convertible—begin at $33,995. While that’s by no means inexpensive—and this price is in addition to the cost of a standard Mustang GT—you’ll be getting a turn-key open-air Mustang with great heritage dating back to the precious few original GT350 Convertibles of 1966. More: 2012 Shelby GT350 Convertible Auto Show World Premiere >>


2012 Shelby GT350 Convertible




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20 Hot Convertibles



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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=150>2013 Porsche Boxster >></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150>2012 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster >></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150>2012 Mini Roadster >></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150>2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 >></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=150></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=150>




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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=150>2013 Chevrolet 427 Corvette Convertible >></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150>2012 Audi R8 GT Spyder >></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150>2012 Volvo C70 Inscription >></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150>2012 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible >></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=150></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=150>




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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=150>2013 Volkswagen GTI Cabriolet >></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150>2012 Shelby GT350 Convertible >></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150>2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition >></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150>2013 Porsche 911 Cabriolet >></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=150></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=150>




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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=150>2012 BMW 650i Convertible >></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150>2012 Ferrari 458 Spider >></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150>2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante >></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150>2013 Ford Mustang Convertible >></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=150></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=150>




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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=150>2012 Bentley Continental GTC >></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150>2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible >></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150>2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible >></TD><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top width=150>2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster >></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

My Choice below 4 the $'s..
The ZL1 wants to avoid traffic and take the long windy road to the beach instead. Life is a `Beach 4-Sure LOL


By the R&T Staff
April 18, 2012

Slideshow >>


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Nothing beats a ragtop pony car when it comes to cruising. Infused with 580 bhp, PTM and MR suspension, the ZL1 wants to avoid traffic and take the long windy road to the beach instead. Just like the ZL1 coupe, it’s available with either a manual or automatic transmission. More: 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible Auto Show World Premiere >>

 

Id take the new GT500 convertable with 650hp

 

here are a fer of my favorite convertibles. a big old caddy, a chevy blazer and the buick electra 225.

 

Thanks Lou for sharing your Monster Convertible Dream Rides...Super Pic's..I like the GMC..

One of the senior has a 76 Caddy Conv & he still drives it.
It's like the below

I've driven `it & it's a Monster on the Road & doesn't get very good MPG's...
Thanks for sharing...EnJoyed...

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Mike (JG), you have expensive taste 4-Sure....I hope you play the Lotto & have your dreams come true

OK, whose next to post their fav ?