Ford, Shelby and Hertz first started renting Mustang Shelby 350GTH models forty years ago. The story goes that the first batch of racers were built with four-speed manual transmissions, a decision quickly reconsidered when it became quickly apparent that most were limping back to rental lots with toasty clutches and little rubber left on the wheels. In total, 85 original Rent-a-Racers were built with manual transmissions. So thank Dad when you climb behind the wheel of a 2006 Mustang Shelby GT-H only to find an automatic paddle staring back at ya. You can also thank them for the rental price -- $100 a day. If they only knew how to drive a machine like this, why, you’d be able to row your own darn oars!

-- Brian Chee