The Shelby GT350, a masterpiece of automotive engineering, quickly became a groundbreaking phenomenon upon its release. Crafted by a brilliant Texan innovator, this homologation special of the SCCA championship-winning car emerged as the pinnacle of Mustang performance, offering unmatched speed for those who could afford it. Initially priced at USD 4,311 (equivalent to about USD 35,000 in today's currency), it represented a significant investment for everyday enthusiasts desiring a thrilling weekend drive. Recognizing an untapped market opportunity, Hertz stepped in to procure approximately 1,000 GT350s, making them available for rent and bringing high-speed joy to the masses.
The collaboration among Ford, Shelby, and Hertz promised mutual benefits. Hertz differentiated itself by offering a unique rental experience, while Ford and Shelby leveraged the rental scheme as a marketing strategy to entice potential buyers towards owning a Shelby GT350. This partnership not only enhanced Hertz's prestige but also served as an effective promotional tool for Ford and Shelby, driving interest and sales among car enthusiasts.
The innovative Hertz Rent-a-Racer program lived up to its name, offering nearly race-ready Shelby GT350s for rent. As a homologation model closely mirroring its SCCA racing counterpart, the GT350-H—where "H" stands for "Hertz," not "Hybrid"—underwent only minor modifications. Initially, these vehicles boasted the iconic Hertz Raven Black and Gold color scheme, adding a metal hood and rear seats for practicality, contrasting with the GT350's lighter fibreglass hood and absence of rear seats. Yet, the heart of the racer, including its Cobra-derived 289 cu in engine, front disc brakes, and Shelby-tuned suspension, remained unchanged. This made the GT350-H an almost direct transfer from the track to the road, available for just USD 17 per hour and 17 cents per mile at select Hertz locations—a genuine race car experience made accessible.
The pioneering Hertz Rent-a-Racer program encountered its share of challenges. Initially, the plan was for all GT350-H models to feature a manual transmission, but after the first 85 cars were equipped with a 4-speed manual, the approach had to be adjusted. Hertz didn't anticipate the extent of wear and tear from aggressive driving by renters, leading to frequent clutch replacements every two weeks. Furthermore, to accommodate the high demand and ease the production burden on Shelby American's already stretched facilities, many GT350-H cars deviated from the exclusive Hertz black and gold livery to standard Shelby colors of red, white, and blue. Despite these changes, the cars maintained the GT350-H branding, making it difficult for anyone to mistakenly claim ownership of these distinctively marked rental vehicles.
Despite the enticing name of the Rent-a-Racer program, Hertz customers were explicitly barred from racing the Shelby vehicles, a policy that might seem ironic but was deemed necessary to mitigate risk. Yet, legendary tales circulate about enthusiasts who allegedly rented GT350-H models, swapped their engines into personal race cars for competitions, and then meticulously reversed the process before returning the vehicles. In a 2006 interview, Hertz executive Walter Seaman dispelled such myths, emphasizing the stringent checks and controls in place even in the program's early days. "Forty years ago, when Hertz introduced the program, our procedures might have seemed less stringent, but we were quite thorough with detailed inspections at both rental and return phases," Seaman remarked. He noted that while some customers believed they could outsmart the system, they ultimately bore the cost for any damages incurred, ensuring the integrity of the Rent-a-Racer fleet.
The rigorous demands placed on the original Hertz racers meant their tenure in the rental fleet was relatively short-lived, and by the late 1960s, they were phased out and sold to private owners. As anticipated, the survival rate of these vehicles has been low, rendering them somewhat scarce in the current collector's market. Today, a GT350-H in good condition can command prices upwards of USD 150,000 at sale, reflecting its rare status and significant historical value as a piece of automotive history.
Hertz continues to celebrate its iconic Rent-a-Racer heritage by partnering with Ford and Shelby for special anniversary editions of the Shelby GT-H Mustangs, released in 2006 and 2016 to commemorate the 40th and 50th anniversaries of the original program. However, the legacy of the original GT350-H extends far beyond these milestones, having laid the groundwork for the modern concept of luxury and performance car rentals. Today, Hertz offers an exclusive range of "Dream Cars" and "Adrenaline Collection", enabling enthusiasts to experience the thrill of driving a high-performance sports car. This evolution signifies Hertz's ongoing commitment to providing unique and memorable driving experiences to customers worldwide.
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