Ford GTs arrive Down Under

Mustang Motorsport has just landed two of the hottest Fords ever. The Melbourne specialist importer has taken local delivery of its first 2007 Shelby GT500 Mustang and the grandaddy of Ford performance cars -- the limited edition Ford GT.

The two supercharged Fords will be converted to right-hand drive before being offered for sale to local enthusiasts. The GT is believed to be the first ever to be converted to right-hand drive.

Mustang Motorsport’s Craig Dean told CarPoint his company had secured very limited quantities of the GT500 Mustang performance flagship.

“These things are harder to get hold of than hen’s teeth. It’s taken a lot of work and we’re really excited to finally have the first one in Australia,” he said.

Pumping out over 373kw (500hp) from its 5.4-litre 32-valve supercharged V8 and featuring a six-speed manual gearbox, race-tuned suspension and aggressive bodywork, the Mustang GT500 is the handiwork of Ford Special Vehicles Team (SVT).

The most powerful factory Mustang ever, it is built in limited numbers in both coupe and convertible versions.

According to Dean, the car is available to Australian buyers to special order with delivery time ex-factory around 10 weeks. The cost is $206,000.

The mid-engined Ford GT will re-engineered for ADR compliance and be available for sale early in 2007 with a pricetag around $500,000, Dean said.

“It will certainly be a challenge to convert, but we’re excited about it,” he said.

“It’s basically engineered and built like a racecar. From the double-wishbone suspension to the carbon-fibre seats, everything about it says supercar. We’ve had many years of experience converting Mustangs, as well as preparing vehicles for racing and motorsport, so we’re prepared for the task.”

According to Dean, though the GT is already out of production Mustang Motorsport has been able to secure a handful of new and low mileage cars. They will also be imported to order.