Introducing SA’s (soon to be) fastest, most exclusive bakkie

South Africa’s definition of a bakkie is about to be rocked as Shelby South Africa primes itself to release the Shelby F150 to the local market.

Only 500 Shelby F150s will be sold worldwide (with each bakkie entered into the Shelby American Registry), making the opportunity to own one all the more special. But, when priced between R2,5 and R3 million, just how special is it?

Local buyers will have the choice of the standard vehicle, or the exclusive Baja trim that comes complete with a full Fox Suspension system. This particular model has the all-new 3,5-litre twin-turbo V6 motor.

Otherwise, the ultimate F150 is powered by a 565-kW, Shelby-engineered, supercharged five-litre V8, complete with aluminium performance heat exchanger and an upgraded billet throttle body; upgraded high-performance fuel injectors and a Shelby-tuned Borla Performance Exhaust system finished with dual black ceramic tips.

Under a dual-intake Shelby Ram Air Super Snake hood, an enhanced supercharger (powder coated in Ford Racing Blue) and open-air performance intake are paired with an oversized carbon-fibre air-intake tube with a high-flow filter. Front fender vents assist with engine cooling.

While South Africans are unlikely to mistake the Shelby F150 for anything else on the road, there are a few specific details that define it.

Based on Ford’s fully loaded US-spec F150 Lariat Luxury, the Shelby F150 gets 20-inch Shelby alloy wheels shod with BF-Goodrich KO 235/12.5 R20 all-terrain tyres (complete with speedo and tyre-sensor recalibration).

Riding on Shelby BDS suspension with rear performance traction bars, the Baja option adds an exclusive optional Shelby-engineered Fox Shock System with Raptor-style 2,5-inch Fox Aluminium Reservoir dampers on all four wheels. These allow the vehicle to be set up from luxury-car smooth to hardcore off-road or track handling.

Shelby’s F150 is set apart by a honeycomb racing grille with a Shelby Snake insert atop the custom front bumper and fender flares and vents.

There’s a set of full-body Shelby rally stripes running along the length of the truck, Shelby rocker-panel graphics, hood, tailgate and bed branding, a supercharged logo on the hood air intakes and a Shelby Registry engine plaque.

A body-colour solid Tonneau Cover with a Shelby bed liner and black powder-coated step bars are also fitted.

Inside the Shelby, F150 gets two-tone leather upholstered seats with Shelby Snake embroidered headrests and console lid, as well as a carbon-fibre interior trim package, deep tinted windows, Shelby floor mats and a Shelby serial-number dash plaque.

The bakkies will be converted to right-hand drive at Hi-tech Automotive, Shelby’s approved F150 upgrade facility.

“The Shelby F150 represents a rare opportunity to acquire a bit of real bakkie history,” says Shelby South Africa CEO Peter Lindenberg.

The Shelby F150 will come with a three-year/50 000 km Shelby warranty.

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Focus on Transport

FOCUS on Transport and Logistics is the oldest and most respected transport and logistics publication in southern Africa.
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