The name Shelby is teeming with automotive milestones, and it's not even close to stopping. The Cobra roadster and Mustang GT500 have embroidered the tapestry of Ford with cars bred from dreams of raw performance.
Now in 2021, Shelby is infiltrating factory Mustang GTs with a $25,000 package set to increase performance in every direction. With the Mustang GT's MSRP settled at around $37,300, that tallies the total to $62,310 out the door. That package includes better suspension, brakes, and a ton more power. Compared to the GT500 sitting pretty at $70,000, the GT sounds like a bargain.
8 Supercharger Package
A stock Mustang GT is equipped with the famous 5.0-liter Coyote V8, which in its current state produces about 460 horsepower. Buying the Shelby GT increases that number to 480 thanks to a new exhaust, no questions asked. However, there is a nuclear route that incorporates a supercharger to gain at least another 240 horsepower. There's another model Shelby Mustang, dubbed the Super Snake which nets 825 horsepower, but that brings the total cost to about $105,000. This allows the Mustang to scratch the surface of Supercar territory, but only for a limited number of customers.
7 Manual Transmission
Much to the chagrin of sports car enthusiasts, the Mustang Shelby GT500 only comes with a dual-clutch automatic transmission. They can now rejoice with the news of the Shelby GT, as prospective owners can now own a new Shelby Mustang with a manual transmission. It's unknown as to what Shelby has done to beef up the transmission to handle the extra power, suffice it to say thanks the car comes with the original powertrain warranty from Ford. Current generation Mustang owners report their manual transmission input shafts snapping at about 700 lb-ft of torque.
RELATED: 5 Reasons Why We'd Buy A Shelby Mustang (5 Reasons Why We'd Rather Have A Camaro)
6 20-inch Forged Aluminum Wheels
The 2021 Mustang GT weighs in at a lean 3,700 pounds, considerably less than its competition. The Charger and Challenger Hellcat both clock in at about 4,500 pounds. Shelby's taken steps to extend that advantage even further. A stock Mustang GT's wheels weigh about 34 pounds each, while the Shelby GT's wheels are made from forged aluminum, and only weigh 24 pounds. Also new for the Shelby GT are staggered wheels, mounted by Shelby spec performance tires. It might be possible to get the Shelby GT500's carbon fiber wheels, which could be even lighter, but also much more expensive to boot.
5 Proprietary Bodywork
The Shelby GT offers a considerable revamp to the Mustang GT's exterior. The new front end draws attention to the massive gill that's been scooped out of the hood. Tasteful "Shelby" logos don the front grille and boot lid, while side skirts line the car underneath the doors. A front lip juts out from the grating just below the grill, separated from the side skirts only by the new 20-inch wheels. A lip along the rear edge of the trunk stands above the silver "Shelby" logo, just above the famous Cobra emblem.
RELATED: 10 Things Everyone Forgot About The Hertz Rent-A-Racer Shelby GT350H
4 Adjustable suspension
Along with bigger wheels and more power, Shelby has its bases covered with new suspension. The Shelby GT is equipped with Ford Performance suspension, which includes springs and sway bars. The unsprung swagger doesn't stop there, as the car is also equipped with caster camber plates, which are imperative for setting up a car's suspension for track driving. The Ford Performance Track Handling Package is also available, which includes struts and rear shocks, lowering springs, sway bar kit, and rear toe links. The Track Handling Package is more geared for track driving and costs about $1,600 if buying directly from Ford.
3 Heavy-Duty Package
If the other options didn't convince prospective owners that the Shelby GT was geared towards the track, then the Heavy Duty Package will. This is an option that comes with a new radiator, coolant tank, wheel studs, and performance half-shafts. Shelby either has the gift of foresight, or some of the stock GT parts broke while they were testing their monster of a power upgrade package. Either way, an axle is the last thing a driver wants to brake while ripping through corners on a track day, other than the engine overheating from an inferior cooling system.
2 New Interior Features
At first glance, the only thing that may differentiate the Shelby GT's interior from the stock Mustang GT might be the outrageous color scheme. However, upon closer inspection, the differences become more apparent. The seats are seemingly covered with soft, plush leather, which may help with the sportier suspension. The amount of black plastics is overwhelming until they are offset by the sparse accented carbon fiber panels. In one particular color scheme, orange stitching offers a break from the blackness, and orange parts of the seat reflect in the steering wheel's muted silver bits for a bit of ambiance.
1 Six Piston Brembo Brakes
Opting for the Supercharger package will include the Shelby Performance brake package, which includes pads, rotors, and lines. Lines will help get faster feedback from the brakes. For extra stopping power, it might be worth considering an even more extreme option. While reserving the Shelby GT, there should be an additional option to include the Shelby by Brembo extreme brake package. This includes six-piston calipers in the front and four pistons in the rear. For the stock Mustang GT, six pistons would be nice but not necessary. The Shelby GT is no such car, especially if adding the Super Snake package on top.