Difference between 15 & 16 GT350s

[GRTWHT]

I had an opportunity to buy a 2015 Shelby GT350, white, blue stripes, and Tech Package. The price was way more than I wanted to spend. I eventually purchased a 2016 model, same color, same options, for less than half the price of what the dealer wanted for the 2015 model. I may be wrong here, but I could not find one difference between these two cars. Am I correct in assuming that all 2015 and 2016 GT350s are exactly the same car. The only difference is that there are 137 models titled as 2015? If people are willing to pay more than twice the amount of money for the exact same car, more power to them and they can have the car. If you look at the Boss 302, both in years 1969-70 and 2012-13, they were different cars, as were the Boss 429s for 69-70. These are not different production runs, meaning the 2015s were not built with the other 2015 mustangs; they were built at the same time as the 2016, in fact, (my opinion) some or all of the 2015s were built after the start of the 2016 builds. One of telling aspects of this is that the 2015 Mustangs had Sync 2 and Sync 3 was only available on 2016 models, yet the "2015" GT350 has Sync 3. All I am saying is that I don't see the "value" in the 2015 models. JMO!!

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[DrumReaper]

Extremely limited # makes the collector guys go nutz... Only differences I know of are chassis/VIN designations and that the 2015 owners may get a "surprise".

 

[mattlqx]

Basically only collectors care as there's no functional difference between the two. Lots of money for an F in the VIN. But they'll be the ones with a hefty price tag decades down the road.

 

[PP0001]

The 2015 GT350 Anniversary cars were essentially a very late model year production car or in other words a 2016 MY car in all reality but in order to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Shelby GT350 Ford had to call them 2015 Shelby GT350 Anniversary cars.

Remember when the '68 1/2 Mustang Cobra Jet cars came out in April of 1968 they were also considered '68 1/2 cars but were titled as 1968 cars much the same as when the '68 Shelby GT350KR's came out that spring of 1968 as well.

It is my understanding that all of the 2015 GT350 cars were produced during the last 2 weeks of July and I am not aware of any 2016's being produced in July and ahead of these cars but could be wrong. I understood the 2016's started production in August.

Other insignificant differences would be items such as the owner manual and not sure if the Shelby GT350 car covers differentiate from a 2015 to 2016?

Remember these GT350 car covers were a standard item on the 2015 cars at no cost to the buyer but optional on the 2016 cars. Not a big deal but another small difference between the two model years.

Lastly, I will guess that the 137 owners of the 2015 cars may end up with a "2015 Shelby GT350 50th Anniversary Owners Kit" of some sort and possibly similar to the Boss 302 Owners Kits that those owners received but this is just speculation on my part but knowing Ford for many years I suspect they will do something along this line.

:cheers:

 

[Voodooo]

Technically my car is a 2015. But ford goes by 1/2 years. Even though my vin build date is 10-21-15 it's a 2016. So it's not as rare. Fords always done this. Ford didn't build 1970 shelby mustangs. They were rebadged 1969s that didn't sell

 

[GRTWHT]

Technically my car is a 2015. But ford goes by 1/2 years. Even though my vin build date is 10-21-15 it's a 2016. So it's not as rare. Fords always done this. Ford didn't build 1970 shelby mustangs. They were rebadged 1969s that didn't sell

Your last statement is basically the reversed of what I am saying - that the 2015 GT350 is a rebadge of a 2016 model.

Nearly all manufacturers come out with their next year model in late months of the previous year.

I am still looking into this as I was told no 2015 or 2016 GT350 models were built until after the factory was closed down for retooling during August.

 

[jasonstang]

I would imagine the 15 has MFT and the 16 has Sync 3 right?

 

[mattlqx]

No, they're the same frickin car. I don't know how many times it needs said.

 

[Voodooo]

No, they're the same frickin car. I don't know how many times it needs said.

Lol:lol:

 

[GRTWHT]

The 2015 GT350 Anniversary cars were essentially a very late model year production car or in other words a 2016 MY car in all reality but in order to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Shelby GT350 Ford had to call them 2015 Shelby GT350 Anniversary cars.

If I read you correctly, all 2015 GT350 are 2016 MY cars. That is my point, unless you mean something else. I understand the importance of this car and how it relates to the original 350 of 1965, thus an anniversary edition. And it was a great marketing idea by Ford to produce a low number (137) editions.

But you are not getting a unique car, and I think in time, collectors will reassess its value in the coming years.

 

[shelby_r]

Your last statement is basically the reversed of what I am saying - that the 2015 GT350 is a rebadge of a 2016 model.

Nearly all manufacturers come out with their next year model in late months of the previous year.

I am still looking into this as I was told no 2015 or 2016 GT350 models were built until after the factory was closed down for retooling during August.

Actually, @PP000 is correct. All 2015s were produced by the end of July 2015.

In all reality, people could argue this situation either way. Yes, some of 2016 non-Rs were produced before the 2015s, but they were pre preproduction cars. Also, there were some 2016 Rs that were produced in July that were not preproduction that have been/are being delivered.

You mentioned being able to purchase a 2015 for, what sounds like, a huge mark up. There are no less than 4 2015s available currently throughout the U.S., but they come with huge mark ups. That being said, I know of at least 10 2015s that were sold outside of the Ford VIP program for $10K over or less - one sold for $5K over MSRP.

Value is in the eye of the beholder. People can say that the 2015s are the exact same as the 2016s, but that isn't true either. The VINs match the chasis number on the 2015s - they don't match on the 2016s, as the 2015s (my understanding) were built sequentially. Is that minor? Depends on who you ask. Ask Ron Pratte. The man built most of his collection by purchasing rare and low VIN numbered cars - most of which were auctioned at Barrett Jackson this past January. His cars (such as the 2006 Shelby GT-H CSM VIN 002 sold for $110K. You can find the "exact same car" minus the VIN and mileage online for under $40K. To a purest and collector, the 2015s are worth more to them; which is why one 2015 in PA sold on eBay for $115K several months back.

One final thought: if you could buy either a 2015 or 2016 for the same price, which would you buy? You mentioned wanting a 2015, but the price was too high and decided to buy a 2016 for much less. It sounds like what you really wanted was the 2015. Again, some would prefer a 2016 vs a 2015 because they wouldn't be worried about putting miles on the car, and some have paid the same or more for a 2016 than a 2015 without knowing it.

Perceived value - it's what makes the market go round :-)

 

[Five Oh Brian]

I am still looking into this as I was told no 2015 or 2016 GT350 models were built until after the factory was closed down for retooling during August.

2015 GT350R #37 was built on July 27th, FYI.

 

[GRTWHT]

One final thought: if you could buy either a 2015 or 2016 for the same price, which would you buy? You mentioned wanting a 2015, but the price was too high and decided to buy a 2016 for much less. It sounds like what you really wanted was the 2015. Again, some would prefer a 2016 vs a 2015 because they wouldn't be worried about putting miles on the car, and some have paid the same or more for a 2016 than a 2015 without knowing it.

What I said was I had an opportunity to buy a 2015, but the asking price was over $130K. I was in the market for a GT350 and was looking at what was available, either a 15 or 16. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and there was only one GT350 available at $40k over MSRP. I was talking with dealers all over the US when one became available at Fremont Ford. We made a deal over the phone, and I picked up the car the next day. I agree with the mileage use on 2015, but I didn't buy this car to let it sit in my garage so that 20 years down the road it would be worth more, simply because it has a matching vin/serial number. I want, and do, drive my car. As you can tell from my photo, I used to own a 1966 Shelby GT350, way back in the day. Yes, I am an old guy and probably will not be around when 2015 GT350s are selling for $200k or more; but at least I am enjoying my final years by driving the hell out of this car.

 

[ohtobbad]

If you are a collector and plan on driving little to none at all and could get 2015
at a sensible price it would be wise, I believe some day it will be worth even more.
For most of us, who plan on driving the car, then it is not worth extra.
Putting miles on these cars will devalue them also.

 

[Glhshelby]

I agree with the mileage use on 2015, but I didn't buy this car to let it sit in my garage so that 20 years down the road it would be worth more, simply because it has a matching vin/serial number. I want, and do, drive my car. As you can tell from my photo, I used to own a 1966 Shelby GT350, way back in the day. Yes, I am an old guy and probably will not be around when 2015 GT350s are selling for $200k or more; but at least I am enjoying my final years by driving the hell out of this car.

If you want to drive it I'd definitely say you made the right decision. I was fortunate to get a 2015 through the VIP program at MSRP and I love it to death. I'm not a collector, I wanted a car that I'm going to drive, even if just on the weekends. But knowing that it may well be a collectors item one day I'm also very conscious how many miles I put on it, and I'm constantly worried about someone smacking it in a parking lot or that sort of thing.

It's a bit of a double edged sword, but I still wouldn't trade my car for anything!

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