OREANDA-NEWS. August 28, 2015. Applause erupted throughout Flat Rock Assembly Plant as Jeff Carrier, plant manager, took the stage to welcome UAW and Ford leaders to the launch of Ford Shelby GT350® Mustang and Shelby® GT350R Mustang.    

Carrier thanked plant employees for their hard work and commitment before introducing Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company.

Ford told employees he’s thrilled to add a Shelby GT350 to his Mustang collection.

“You have built many Mustangs for my family over the years,” Ford told the crowd. “We still have every single one of them and will continue to buy them because they’re the best.”

Ford talked about his friendship with Carroll Shelby, designer of the original Shelby Mustang, who passed away in 2012. He wants to pay homage to Shelby with the 2016 model.

“Carroll was personally involved with every Shelby GT350 Mustang we ever made,” Ford explained. “He would have loved this car, with its independent rear suspension, great exhaust sound and very easy shifting. It is exactly what Carroll would have wanted.”