The Shelby Mustang brand has underlined performance for more than five decades since Carroll Shelby built the 1965 Shelby GT350. A car that took go-faster stripes viral, and now almost every Mustang looks better with racing stripes. The original Shelby Mustang was built to focus on weight reduction and increasing performance to create a capable race-spec car with little regard for comfort and ease of driving. In 1967 Shelby released the GT500, and it was built until 1970. Both cars have remained some of the most coveted classic sports cars ever.
After a stint with Dodge, Shelby and Ford renewed their partnership, and they have been working on a lineup of special high-performance Mustangs. A new supercharged Ford Shelby GT500 arrived in 2007, almost four decades after the last Shelby Mustang. This modern iteration of the legendary muscle car is a different beast from the original cars. Although it is better refined, it still features the unmistakable Shelby soul, making it ready for the modern pony car wars. The 2013 model was the last car the legendary Carroll Shelby approved before he passed on. Here are things most people don't know about the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.
10 Most Powerful Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang has remained the best-selling American sports car for a long time, primarily thanks to offering world-beating performance in an affordable package. The cars are also popular with tuners, who have transformed Mustangs into wicked performers. Besides these tuned beasts, the current Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 is the most powerful Mustang and street-legal production car Ford has ever made.
Powering the pony is a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine making 760 hp and 625 pounds-feet of torque. The engine is hand-built from aluminum alloy.
9 Comes With A Usable Trunk
Practicality was never on the menu when Shelby worked on the first GT500, and the Ford Mustang isn't a car you would classify as practical. But the current GT500 is relatively practical, featuring the same trunk space offered on the regular Mustang GT. But the 13.5 cubic feet pales in comparison to the 16.2 cubic feet of the Dodge Challenger. It is much better than the similar track-focused Camaro ZL1, which only offers 9.1 cubic feet for your groceries.
There is an option to delete the rear seat for additional cargo space. Inside the cabin, you will find ample space on the door pockets, glovebox and center armrest bin to tuck your small items, and a pair of cupholders for your drinks.
8 Optional Add-Ons Make It A Better Beast
Even in its base form, the GT500 is unmistakably the king of the Fords. But if you are willing to spend a little more on add-ons, you can make it even a better beast. The $18,500 Carbon Fiber Track Package lowers the car and makes it lighter. Inside the car, you can opt for the Recaro seats and the Technology Package.
Performance-wise, there are two handling package options, the handling package and the carbon fiber track pack with 20-inch carbon wheels. Exterior customization options include a black roof and racing stripes in Ebony, Bright White, Wimbledon White, or Kona Blue. You can also get side stripes and red brake calipers.
7 Basic Mustang Interiors
Perhaps the only downside with the Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 is its cheapish and somewhat plasticky interior. For its massive performance reputation, the GT500 has adopted the basic Mustang's interior, which is depressingly average for an expensive car.
The only way around this is to fork out more money to get the optional carbon fiber dressings. But it isn't all doom and gloom since the Sync 3 infotainment system works seamlessly, the 12-inch digital instrument cluster is impeccable, and the six-way power-adjustable seats come with heating and ventilation.
6 More Than A Muscle Car
The GT500 can hold itself against anything you throw at it. Yes, the Dodge Challenger Hellcat has more horsepower with 797 hp, but the Shelby is 400 pounds lighter, which gives it an advantage in a drag race. The performance is also approachable, although not so much for newbies.
It is more than a classic muscle car, with Ford able to balance the mammoth power with sports-car-like handling. Also, it is impressively stable at high-speed handling, helped by its aerodynamics, making it the ultimate American muscle car to dominate the track and put exotic European cars to shame.
5 Considerably Pricier Than Close Rivals
Ford has slapped an MSRP of $79,420 for the 2022 Mustang Shelby GT500. That includes a $2,600 gas guzzler tax, but you have to fork out another $1,195 destination and delivery cost on top of the steep price. If you add the $18,500 worth of Carbon Fiber Track Package and the pricey racing stripes, the price pushes north of $100,000.
The base Mustang GT upon which the GT500 is based costs less than half starting at $36,285 while still being a capable performer with 450 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque.
4 Impressive Dual-Clutch Transmission
Sadly, Ford is not trying to save the manuals with this one; they want your hands on the wheel at all times. They use a seven-speed Tremec dual-clutch transmission, and reviews on it are overwhelmingly positive. The gearbox shifts seamlessly fast in just under 100 milliseconds when pushing the car hard and is also smooth when taking things easy, like while commuting.
A manual would have derived maximum fun, and the pair of paddle shifters are as close as you will get some control. Although, you are better off leaving the quick-shifting auto to do its thing as it helps the car accelerate 0-60mph in under 3.5 seconds.
3 Impressive Grip And Poise
The brains at Shelby did an impeccable job balancing the monstrous power output with immense grip and poise. Thorough development and re-honing have tuned the GT500 into an attentive, snappy beast with exceptional grip from both ends. One major contributor is the weight, which can make it feel less fast than it is, but also makes the car feel solidly planted.
The impressive grip, slight laziness on the lower revs, and a unique ESC system keep the car straight when you floor the gas. Also, the six-piston Brembo brakes add to the confidence to drive the beast faster.
2 Easy On Tires And Brakes
High-performance cars have a knack for eating up tires and brakes faster than other cars. The tires prioritize grip and predictability when pushed hard, so they undergo significantly higher stresses than regular cars. But Shelby found a way around this, and the GT500 is somehow easy on tires and brakes by design.
As part of the Carbon Fiber Track Package, you get a set of Carbon Revolution wheels with simple-looking Brembos with plain discs. The race-ready brakes are excellent with repeated and aggressive braking. The tires are special FP spec Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 that use three rubber compounds. The GT500 will likely be cheaper to run on track than its peers.
1 Extremely Thirsty
No one will ever buy a Shelby GT500 and keep their attention fixated on the gas gauge or fuel bills. But the car's fuel economy is bad enough to drain your retirement fund. It has an EPA rating of 12 mpg in the city, 18 mpg on the highway, and 14 mpg combined. Depending on how hard you push the car, don't be surprised to see it drop down into single digits.
Performance muscle cars don't return good fuel economy, but the GT500 lags behind everyone. For instance, the Hellcat-powered Challenger SRT rates 16 mpg combined.