Carroll Shelby founded Shelby American way back in 1962 and this company has become a hugely popular brand in the consumer automobiles market. Early on, the company’s work was only recognized by gearheads and racing enthusiasts, but with Shelby's continuous supply of high-performance and special-edition muscle cars, the brand’s impact is so big that, today, non-gearheads can easily identify the distinctive look of a Ford with the Shelby touch.

RELATED: 10 Surprising Facts About Carroll Shelby (And 5 About Ken Miles)

Shelby American doesn’t offer ordinary dress-up kits, they take a stock car and turn it into a more aggressive, high-performance machine that is also highly refined. From amazing horsepower (sometimes double its stock power), bold styling, to exclusivity, buyers get it all. One of Carroll Shelby’s best projects, which used a 1967 Ford Mustang GT500, resulted in the first Super Snake. It was so good that the Super Snake moniker is now associated with cars that have mind-blowing mechanical upgrades that recall the glory days of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when muscle cars ruled the streets.

Shelby, Ford's tuner extraordinaire, always comes through for buyers looking for muscle cars that can beat up cars owned by the MOPAR and Bow-Tie brigade. Below, we reveal the best 8 Shelby Super Snakes ever tuned by Shelby American.

8 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby Super Snake

An Image Of A Blue And White 1967 Shelby Super Snake
Via MotorAuthority.com

This is the car that started it all and has gone on to become the most expensive Ford Mustang ever. That's right, the 1967 Shelby Super Snake was auctioned for $2.2 million in 2019, no other Mustang rivals its value to date. Based on the 1967 GT500, this one-off classic was built as a demonstrator for Goodyear Thunderbolt economy tires. Surprisingly, its initial price of $8,000 was so high in the ‘60s that it had to be lowered to $5,000 for it to get a buyer. It’s 427 cu in 7.0-liter V8 engine — specced the same as the legendary GT40 Mk II that got Ford the top 3 spots in the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hour race — not only made 520 hp, but was also capable of 420 lb-ft of torque.

1967-Shelby-GT500-Super-Snake-Ford-Mustang 6
via mecum

Top speed? It could reach 170 mph, making it the pinnacle of muscle cars in the ‘60s. Fans of this old Super Snake model that had existed as the sole prototype for 50 years were delighted when Shelby American announced they’ll be making ten 1967 GT500 Super Snakes ($249,995) in 2018, dubbed “Continuation Models”.

7 2018 Shelby Mustang Super Snake

2018 Shelby GT500 Signature Edition Super Snake
Via: Shelby American

Ford gave its muscle car lovers an updated 2018 Mustang, then Shelby went ahead and radically resigned it to look mean with an attention-demanding stance that's deserving of the Super Snake moniker. For better aerodynamics, the standard Mustang front fascia was changed, an aggressive front splitter and chunkier side sills fitted, while the rear got upgraded with a cool ducktail spoiler. More improvements included fitting 20-inch forged aluminum Shelby wheels, and Brembo brakes with six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers.

RELATED: 10 Most Legendary Cars Built By Carroll Shelby

The 2018 Shelby GT500 Signature Edition Super Snake
Via: Shelby American

Its 5-liter supercharged V8 engine was upgraded for a standard 710hp output or 800+ horsepower for the top-spec Super Snake. With so much oomph, the 2018 Shelby GT500 Signature Edition Super Snake could accelerate from a standstill to 60mph in just 3.5 seconds. Only limited units have been built, each coming in at $113,445. Those with deeper pockets that desired the ultimate styling and handling could additionally get a Widebody package.

6 2020 Shelby GT500 Shelby Super Snake

via Motor1

The 2020 version of America’s most famous muscle car was offered by Shelby with 3 retro color packages used on ‘70s Mustangs — Twister Orange, Shadow Black, and Green Lime. Only a limited-edition run of 30 units got draped in each of the colors. But the paint wasn’t the only aftermarket change that took the 2020 GT500 to Super Snake status, buyers also got blacked-out 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, Shelby’s proprietary cooling system to handle the excess power, a tweaked suspension, and Shelby-specific Brembo brakes.

via Motor1

The improvements extended to the engine bay, where the standard 5.0-liter V-8 got fitted with a supercharger that puts out 710 horses — the base Super Snake. For the truly power-hungry buyers, 825 horses were available with the fully specced 2020 Shelby GT500 Shelby Super Snake. The turn-key price was $133,785 but with a donor GT500, Shelby owners were charged $71,395 to turn their Mustangs into a modern Super Snake.

5 2008 Ford Mustang Super Snake

2008 Shelby GT500 Ford Mustang Super Snake
Via: Mecum Auctions

After the initial ‘60s Ford-Shelby partnership, the next Shelby Mustang arrived 40 years later in 2007. Careful buyers could get a tuned but fully warranted Mustang, capable of 600 horsepower and 590 ft-lb of torque. Those not satisfied could get a 5.4-liter V8 engine that churned out over 725 horsepower, but had no factory powertrain warranty. The 2007 Shelby Super Snake was so good that it even outdid the limited-run Ford Mustang GT500 KR (King of the Road) by 50 horses.

The 2008 Shelby GT500 Ford Mustang Super Snake
Via: Mecum Auctions

For regular GT500 Mustangs to get the Shelby Super Snake conversion, owners had to part with an extra $28,000. Other upgrades that were part of the Super Snake package included a revamped front fascia with extra brake cooling ducts, a new carbon-fiber front splitter, rocker panels plus a fiberglass hood with a functioning scoop.

4 2020 Shelby F-150 Super Snake

2020 Shelby F-150 Super Snake
Via: Shelby American

When Shelby touched the 2020 F-150 with their magic hands, they produced an unrivaled four-wheel-drive super-truck with 770hp which strictly speaking shouldn’t even exist. It’s the most powerful Ford truck ever; in comparison, the standard 2020 Ford F-150 with a 3.3 liter V8 produces only produces 290 hp — that’s less than half. Only 250 units were built, and they’ve all been sold with the non-supercharged version going for $86,085 while those with a Whipple supercharger went for $93,385. The supercharger variant comes with a Borla side exhaust and "RAM AIR" hood to help the engine breathe with ease.

RELATED: Shelby F-150 Pickup Enters Supertruck Realm

The 2020 Shelby F-150 Super Snake
Via: Shelby American

Some of the cosmetic and aerodynamics features include an integrated front splitter, fender flares, larger streamlined front bumpers with functional vents, and Shelby racing stripes on the hood for a street-performance look. For the F-150 to handle the 770hp safely, its stance got lowered, a Baer brake system got fitted and the front and rear suspension got upgraded. On its new 20-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in Shelby high-performance spec tires, it can sprint from 0-60 mph in only 3.5 seconds.

3 2014 Shelby Mustang GT500 Super Snake

2014 Shelby Mustang GT500 Super Snake
Via: Pinterest

Those looking for tire-shredding power for the street could get their 662hp 2014 Mustang GT500 upgraded by Shelby American to produce an awe-inspiring 825 hp. This power was achieved by upgrading the stock 2.3-liter supercharger attached to the 5.2-liter SVT V8 engine with a 3.6-liter Kenne Bell blower. Some drivers who bought the 2014 GT500 Super Snake have managed quarter-mile times of below 10 seconds at 137.60 mph.

Red 2014 Shelby Mustang GT500 Super Snake
Via: YouTube

The package was limited to only 50 coupe and convertible models. For the full-bore 850 hp model, owners who had donated their 2014 GT500 paid $44,995 for the Shelby Super Snake refinements. These modifications and cosmetic upgrades added a Shelby Performance cooling package to handle the extra power and heat, a modified front clip and hood, a revised suspension, Wilwood brakes with six-piston calipers, and bespoke 20-inch aluminum wheels.

2 2021 Shelby Mustang GT500 Super Snake Speedster

2021 Shelby Mustang GT500 Super Snake Speedster
Shelby American

This sleek 2021 GT500 Super Snake Speedster is a pony car that stands out a lot because of its stunning styling and the fact that it’s the first roadster built by Shelby Automobiles. It is based on the Super Snake coupe that’s primarily based on the Ford Mustang GT. Out of the 98 Super Snake coupes being built to commemorate Carroll Shelby’s 98th birthday, only 25 open-air Speedster versions will be available in the US.

RELATED: Everything You Need To Know About The Aston Martin V12 Speedster

The 2021 Shelby Mustang GT500 Super Snake Speedster
Via: Shelby American

Under its racing stripe-adorned hood lays a supercharged 5.0-liter Coyote V8 powerplant mated to either a standard automatic or manual transmission. The 2021 Super Snake Speedster produces 825 horses when fed 93-octane fuel, helping it scoot from 0 to 60 mph in only 3.5 seconds. Its Shelby upgrades include a custom-made hard-top tonneau cover that goes over the rear seats, a new front fascia, a Borla exhaust system, huge front, and rear Brembo brakes, side rockers, and a rear wing. It rides on 20-inch forged monoblock aluminum wheels wrapped in Shelby-spec tires. Pricing starts at $133,785, but those with a Mustang GT bought after the 2018 model year can get the Speedster upgrades for $79,995.

1 2009 Prudhomme Edition Shelby Super Snake

2009 Prudhomme Edition Shelby Super Snake
Via: Mecum Auctions

In 2009, hardcore enthusiasts got a mean machine Shelby built to honor Don Prudhomme, a drag racing legend many dubbed “The Snake”, who started his career in a Shelby car. This limited-edition car (only 6 units built) cost $145,995; those that donated their GT500s got the Prudhomme treatment for $99,995. And It was worth it, those planning to set respectable quarter-mile times on the drag strip could use race fuel to motivate its supercharged 5.4-liter V8 to push out 800 horses. Using it as an everyday car with regular 93 octane fuel guaranteed 750 horsepower, which is still nothing to sneeze at.

The 2009 Prudhomme Edition Shelby Super Snake
Via: Mecum Auctions

Shelby’s Super Snake package in 2009 included Bogart custom wheels, drag tires, a front and rear adjustable racing suspension system, a Ford Racing 3.73 rear end, a massive rear wing, a short-throw shifter, Kenne Bell air intake on the hood among other features. Inside, there were 2 racing seats at the front while the rear seats were removed and an eight-point roll cage was added for safety.