SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1384811
A BAJA-READY RIG Shelby’s F-250 Super BaJa Is Well-Equipped For Serious Off-Road Capability By Dan Sanchez Photos by Stuart Bourdon and Dan Sanchez When it comes to building the ultimate chase truck, it usually depends on the parts and crew that SCORE race teams need to carry with them out into the Baja desert. With this in mind, Shelby American, with their experience in upgrading Ford Raptors to go beyond factory performance levels, turned their attention to the Ford F-250 and focused more on its capabilities off-road rather than adding more horsepower and torque. According to Shelby American’s VP of Operations and Senior Designer Vice Laviolette, the company’s Shelby F-250 Super Baja had to be worthy of the “Baja” nomenclature. “We wanted to create something different for the serious off-road enthusiast, but also to be able to carry and tow lots of equipment when necessary,” said Laviolette. “In fact, this truck makes a great chase truck with the capabilities and suspension system we added to it.” Shelby American starts with a standard Ford F-250 with a 6.7L Power Stroke® turbo diesel engine that makes 1,050 lb.-ft. torque and uses the factory 10-speed automatic transmission. The truck maintains its best-in-class towing capabilities of up to 15,000 lbs. Then they added a Shelby tuned suspension system with Fox Factory 2.5 adjustable reservoir shocks and a BDS lift kit with heavy-duty front trailing arms. A set of 18-inch Shelby alloy wheels mounted to BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tires measure 37-inches in diameter and provide plenty of traction for extreme off-road conditions. Additional items include Fox Factory 2.0 steering stabilizers and two spare tires mounted to the Shelby chase rack in the bed. Inside the cab, custom leather seats with the Shelby logo and Shelby CSM serial number plate lets the owner know they are part of the Shelby family and registry. Carbon fiber accents and stainless steel gauges accent the interior and dash, along with custom floor mats and Shelby billet pedals. To make the truck immediately identifiable as a Shelby vehicle, the company added exterior stripes and badging, along with a functional Ram Air hood with heat extraction vents, and a painted front factory grille and fender flares. A custom front bumper has a 40-inch curved LED light bar built into it, along with two driving lights and tow-hook points. At the rear, the custom bumper features rear lighting and tow-hook points. While someone could take a brand new Ford F-250 and create something similar, in the end, it’s not a Shelby. “Shelby licensed vehicles have a high resale value and come with a full factory warranty,” said Laviolette. “Plus it’s just an awesome truck you can’t get anywhere else.” Shelby American plans on building 250 of these limited production vehicles, which have a price tag starting at $125.805. Taking it out for a spin on the SpeedVegas off-road course in Las Vegas, Nevada, the truck can truly handle catching a little air and corners well for a large, four-door pickup. The heavy-duty suspension upgrades from BDS and Fox, make the truck much more capable off-road than a standard FX4 model 4x4 F-250. The ride is also smooth on the highway, and with the adjustable shocks, it can handle some of Baja’s most extreme terrain, as well as ride smoothly across the Interstate. For those SCORE fans who want a “Raptor-Like” performance from a heavy-duty tow vehicle, the Shelby Super Baja is a solid performer. SJ