Hey, folks--here's the body of a post to the NorCal mail list (added emphasis
is mine)---
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NEW YORK, Wed., April 12, 2006 - In a throwback to the famed Shelby GT350H
"Rent-A-Racer" program from the 1960s, Ford Motor Company, Shelby
Automobiles and The Hertz Corporation are partnering to produce a special
run of performance-modified Ford Mustang GTs - designated Shelby GT-H, for
"Hertz" - that will be available for rent later this spring exclusively
through Hertz. Approximately 500 units will be available through the Hertz
Fun Collection at select airport locations Arizona, California, Colorado,
Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.


Forty years ago, Carroll Shelby and The Hertz Corporation came up with an
ingenious plan to help get a batch of high-performance, special-edition
Shelby Mustangs into the hands of rental customers who also happened to be
car enthusiasts. Ford supplied the new Mustangs with V-8 engines and mostly
automatic transmissions, Shelby added extra performance and style, and
Hertz gave the public access to the kind of unique driving experience that
one would normally only find on a racetrack. Today, the story of the
Shelby/Hertz "Rent-A-Racer" is legendary and surviving Shelby GT350H
Mustangs are among the most sought-after collector cars in the world.


To connect the magical past of the original Shelby GT350H with the modern
capabilities of the new Ford Mustang, Shelby, Ford and Hertz have again
teamed up, and - together with the Ford Racing Performance Group - have
given the 2006 Ford Shelby GT-H a very classic, muscular look as well as
some true performance credentials.

"Like the original Hertz cars, the Ford Shelby GT-H will be fun to drive,"
said Carroll Shelby, CEO of Shelby Automobiles, Inc. "We started with a
terrific Mustang and modified it with some Ford go-fast parts and gave it a
distinct look for Shelby-style driving. Whoever gets the opportunity to
rent one of these unique cars will get an experience of a lifetime."

Hertz Fun Collection

Further enhancing its position as a leader at U.S. airports in the leisure
car rental market, Hertz launched its Fun Collection in January 2006.
Featuring vehicles tailor-made for travelers seeking exciting driving
experiences, the Fun Collection adds more entertainment to the driving
experience as each car comes equipped with SIRIUS Satellite Radio.


The 2006 Ford Shelby GT-H Mustang will be available at select airport
locations that feature the Hertz Fun Collection including Phoenix, Arizona;
Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and San Francisco, California;
Denver, Colorado; Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm
Beach, Florida; Maui and Honolulu, Hawaii, and Las Vegas, Nevada. In
addition, the car will be available in Boston, Massachusetts; Portland,
Oregon, and Seattle, Washington.


With the addition of the Ford Shelby GT-H Mustang into the Fun Collection,
Hertz now offers 36 models that can be specifically reserved, ranging from
mid-size to luxury cars, convertibles to SUVs and is the only nationwide
car rental company able to allow customers to reserve the specific make and
model vehicles at the time of reservation. More than 8,000 Fun Collection
vehicles are available at 18 major airport locations in the United States.


"With 2006 marking the 40th anniversary of the Shelby GT350H joining the
Hertz fleet, we're thrilled to be bringing legendary Mustang driving
excitement back to our rental customers," said Walt Seaman, staff vice
president, Worldwide Fleet, Maintenance, and Car Sales Operations for The
Hertz Corporation. "The Shelby GT-H is a fun, powerful Mustang to drive,
and will be a special part of the Hertz Fun Collection. As all cars in the
collection are reserved by exact make and model, customers can rest assured
that when they reserve a Shelby GT-H Mustang to drive, they will receive
the Shelby GT-H Mustang upon arrival."

Extra "Show"

Like its predecessor, the 2006 Ford Shelby GT-H will be instantly
recognizable - thanks to several eye-catching styling enhancements that are
so much a part of the Shelby Mustang heritage. First and foremost, each
Shelby GT-H will wear Black exterior paint set off with Gold racing
stripes, a hallmark of Hertz's vehicle history dating all the way back to
the 1920s.


While it's true that the Shelby GT350H was eventually made available in
other color combinations, the Black-and-Gold combo is often referred to as
"Hertz colors" by most Mustang aficionados. Shelby's traditional "Le Mans"
dual overbody racing stripes are combined with a set of rocker stripes that
include special "Shelby GT-H" nomenclature. Each car will also wear a Hertz
Edition emblem on the front fenders, and feature Hertz Shelby GT-H sill
plates and a numbered dash badge with Carroll Shelby's signature inside the
cockpit.


To give a hint of the Mustang GT 4.6-liter 3V V-8 engine's added
capability, the Ford Shelby GT-H is fitted with a custom Shelby Performance
hood with pins, and a brushed aluminum grille with running horse emblem. A
unique front fascia with integrated lower grille, as well as a set of body
side scoops - reminiscent of classic Shelby Mustangs is incorporated for a
distinct look. To further catch the enthusiast's eye, the Mustang GT brakes
are dressed up with painted calipers, which can be seen through the GT-H's
17-inch aluminum wheels wearing P235/55ZR17 performance rubber.

Added "Go"

Ford Racing Performance Group is supplying its popular Power Pack (FR1) to
add a genuine 25-horsepower Ford performance kick to the 300-horse Mustang
GT 4.6L V-8/Five-speed automatic transmission powertrain and an increase of
10 lb.-ft. of torque. The package includes Ford Racing's 90mm Cold Air kit,
the Muffler Kit, a new X-pipe similar to the one used on the new Ford
Shelby GT500 Mustang, a performance calibration and a cat-back performance
exhaust for that throaty sound that will make this car unmistakably a
Shelby Mustang GT-H.


"Any Mustang that traces its roots to a Shelby GT350H has to boast
increased performance and handling over its factory stock configuration,"
said Cisco Codina, group vice president, Ford North America Marketing,
Sales and Service. "Ford Racing's involvement with niche performance
Mustang builds like this Hertz project is a natural for us as well as for
Hertz and Shelby."


To put that extra horsepower to the ground, the Ford Shelby GT-H also comes
with the Ford Racing Handling Pack (FR3) installed, including special-tuned
dampers inspired from the FR500C, lowering springs, sway bars and a strut tower
brace - plus a Ford Racing 3.55:1 ratio rear axle assembly for extra
off-the-line acceleration.


Ford Racing will be working hand-in-hand with engineers and technicians at
Shelby Automobile's assembly facility in Las Vegas during the build-out of
the GT-H for delivery to Hertz. With total production expected to number
only around 500 units exclusively destined for Hertz rental fleets across
the country, this special-edition Ford Shelby GT-H is sure to give Hertz
customers a truly exclusive driving experience like only Shelby and the
Ford Mustang can deliver.


"This GT-H project has been terrific," said Amy Boylan, president, Shelby
Automobiles Inc. "My team here at Shelby Automobiles is very excited with
what we have put together with Ford, and Hertz - a pony that not only has a
special look, but can really run, too. Those who get to rent a GT-H in the
coming months will have the opportunity to enjoy a car that looks,
accelerates, handles and sounds the way a high-performance Shelby-ized Ford
Mustang should. It will prove lots of fun for Hertz customers looking for
some real driving excitement."


For more information about Shelby Automobiles, and to a sneak-peak of the
build of the first Shelby GT-H, visit www.shelbyautos.com.

The Hertz Fun Collection features convertibles including the Ford Mustang,
Mazda Miata, Toyota Solara, PT Cruiser and Chrysler Sebring;
coupes/roadsters including Ford Mustang (hard-top), PT Cruiser, Chevy HHR
and Nissan 350Z; and SUVs such as the Ford Escape XLT Sport, Jeep Wrangler,
Nissan Murano and Hummer H3. For Shelby GT-H or other Hertz Fun Collection
reservations, or to see which vehicles are available at participating Hertz
locations visit www.hertz.com. The Hertz Fun Collection may also be
reserved through travel agents or by calling the Hertz toll-free at
1-800-654-3131.

Sincerely,

Dave Marchand
Mustang/Thunderbird Club Center
Address: PO Box 2909
* * * * * * ** Farmington Hills, MI 48333
Phone: 1-800-576-PONY/1-800-TBIRD10
E-mail: mustangcenter (AT) minacsusa (DOT) com

..* ** Go to www.fordvehicles.com and go to the Mustang homepage.
..* ** Click on 'Mustang Clubs Website' under the 'View All News & Events'
section.