Mustang Forum Article on GT350H and the trannys being swapped out. What?

[6s1640]

Hi all,

Here is a story that if read by too many non-informed people will become fact.  I had not heard this story before, but is 100% false.  Am I wrong? Ford did not swap out manual transmission for automatics in the GT350H.  Here is the quote from the article:

"Adams also mentioned that most of the rental Mustangs were actually manual transmission, but after taking so many beatings at the track, they started experiencing clutch issues. To remedy that problem, Ford swapped out all manuals with automatic transmissions. It didn't keep people from beating them into the ground, though, so soon they were pulled from the lots altogether.

See full article:

https://mustangforums.com/articles/the-beauty-and-the-beat-up-rare-mustang-collection/

Cory

[chris NOS]

Hey well , it's another misinformation going on internet !!!

[S7MS427]

Wow!  Those stories were wrong on so many levels they are hard to count.  I think some of the statements are made to just make the story and some are inaccurate at best if not just downright wrong.  And of course this is how bad information gets out to the public who then believes it.  Now we'll have to combat another myth that all Hertz cars were built with automatic transmissions.  Sheesh!

[gjz30075]

And you need an SCCA license to drive one.

[pchmotoho]

We've all seen Shelbys name spelled wrong but on one hand can I count the times its been spelled Carol

[gt350hr]

   Irritating information.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Another indictment of the public school system. Lots or red flags for that career - another one that's too smart to do basic fact checking. Maybe she's trying out for a position with the Blue Lady guys? I wonder if she ever attended the Monterey Historics where she could learn the basics of collector cars.

Kristen Finley
Before she was old enough to go to school, Kristen Finley spent a majority of her childhood rebuilding rusted Chevy Novas with her dad. Once high school and college came around, she was still actively rebuilding cars, though she found out she had a second greatest love: writing and photography.

Now, in her last year of college, she's pursuing a bachelor's in Journalism and Media Studies from California State University, Monterey Bay after receiving her AA in Communications. She has been writing for three years, and as her school newspaper's automotive expert, she started and solely maintained the weekly automotive section detailing posts on car care, safety tips, features, and news. She covers stories for Mustang Forums, Dodge Forum, JK-Forum and more.

Finley can be contacted at krisfin95@gmail.com

[Chad]

Looks like Ford swapped out the tach on his Hertz car as well!

[Side-Oilers]

What percentage of GT350H models (back in the day) were ever "beaten on" at a track?   Maybe 1%?

Dear Kristen:  "Rent a Racer" was a marketing slogan, not an edict. 

[Don Johnston]

I hope that the Mustang Forum site gets these responses and does not allow the misinformation to perpetuate.  So much for quality journalism.

[OldGuy]

This is one of those stories that if read often enough, becomes assumed fact. Kinda like there's no crisis at the border.

[gt350hr]

Too bad she didn't know about the rarest Hertz cars, the 18 white with blue side stripes. "I" think 15% or less actually saw the track and "maybe" 5% had their engines swapped during rental.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

I" think 15% or less actually saw the track and "maybe" 5% had their engines swapped during rental.

I don't think it was that high. That would be 150 cars on the track and 50 having their engines stolen. I can't recall ever seeing a period photo of a Hertz car on the track during their rental life.
I did see a new Hertz Camaro at Buttonwillow during a VARA school in 2020.

[69mach351w]

I emailed her earlier today. 

As I am trying to learn as much about the first generation Shelby's it really bothers me that this crap continues.   

[KR Convertible]

My guess is she is just repeating what the owner told her.