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The Car: 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT-H

Ford, Shelby and Hertz first started renting Mustang Shelby 350GTH models forty years ago. The story goes that the first batch of racers were built with four-speed manual transmissions, a decision quickly reconsidered when it became quickly apparent that most were limping back to rental lots with toasty clutches and little rubber left on the wheels. In total, 85 original Rent-a-Racers were built with manual transmissions. So thank Dad when you climb behind the wheel of a 2006 Mustang Shelby GT-H only to find an automatic paddle staring back at ya. You can also thank them for the rental price -- $100 a day. If they only knew how to drive a machine like this, why, you’d be able to row your own darn oars!

-- Brian Chee

The Car: 2007 Ford Shelby Cobra GT500

Outside, the Shelby Cobra GT500 is accented by dual racing stripes, GT500 lettering, Shelby badges, those 19-inch alloys, and revised front and rear fascias. A rear diffuser has been added, and the integrated spoiler is smaller than that found on the regular Mustang GT. Affixed to the front air dam is an air splitter, and the aluminum hood has a noticeable center “dome” under which lies the supercharger.

-- Thom Blackett

The Man: Flying High

With only a “little driving” under his belt, Shelby joined the U.S. Air Force training command following high school and became a pilot, training with Chuck Yeager. “After leaving the service at 29, I started driving and within three years I was on a factory team in Europe. I had always wanted to build my own cars,” said Shelby. He would eventually , thanks to partnerships with Ford and other domestic automakers. “Working with a big company you can do more than working with a niche company, in my opinion,” posited Shelby. “I’ve worked with all three companies at different times, but you have to work with people day-to-day. I love the business, but I’m just a little bitty cog. I really enjoy working with Hau Tai Tang.”