Dealer Refused $45K For This Hertz Mustang Shelby Rent-A-Racer
Will this special edition become valuable in the future, or will it be viewed as no better than a standard Mustang GT?
https://www.carscoops.com/author/bradcarscoops-com/
by Brad Anderson
Rare Shelby GT-H Mustang with 15,300 miles failed to meet its auction reserve.
Only 171 examples of this Shelby Mustang were built for Hertz’s rental car fleet.
Power comes from Ford’s 5.0-liter V8 with 435 hp paired to a manual gearbox.
Some special-edition Fords built for Hertz have gained a surprising second life as sought-after collectibles for enthusiasts with a taste for rare rental history. Of the more recent batch, the 2016 Mustang Shelby GT-H stands out as one of the more desirable. But that doesn’t mean every example is fetching top dollar. One of these cars just failed to sell at auction after bids didn’t meet the reserve.
Ford, Shelby, and Hertz teamed up to build 171 units of this S550-based Mustang GT, a limited run aimed at giving renters a taste of V8-powered Americana with a splash of gold. Market prices vary widely depending on mileage and condition. For example, at a Barrett-Jackson auction back in January, one sold for $58,300 with 23,000 miles on the clock.
Read: Never-Rented Hertz Chevy Camaro SS With 37 Miles Is One Rare Find
A different 2016 Shelby GT-H, this one showing just 15,300 miles, recently came up for grabs on Cars & Bids. But despite the low mileage and decent condition, it didn’t clear the reserve. Bidding topped out at $45,250. The seller didn’t disclose the reserve price but noted it was almost $20,000 shy of what they were hoping to get.
The listing included a few recent maintenance highlights, such as an engine oil and filter change before the sale, along with a replacement carbon fiber front splitter installed in May 2022. It’s unclear how many miles this Shelby spent under Hertz’s care as an active rental, but the seller is listed as the car’s first private owner after its time in the fleet.
In upgrading the Mustang GT for Hertz, Shelby installed a new exhaust, a special handling package, a body kit, gold stripes, 19-inch aluminum wheels, embroidered headrests, and a numbered dash plaque. No changes were made to the 5.0-liter Coyote V8, meaning it continues to deliver 435 hp and 400 lb-ft (542 Nm), coupled to a six-speed transmission driving the rear wheels.
For collectors interested in limited-edition modern muscle with a bit of rental-car lore, the GT-H still holds plenty of appeal. But as this auction shows, pricing can be just as unpredictable as the car’s rental history.
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