Anytime you see a Shelby badge, you know you’re in for something special. So special in fact that hopped-up Mustangs are simply badged Shelby, dropping the Ford altogether. And perhaps the rarest of them all is the 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 Super Snake. In this HotCars Exclusive Render, digital artist Timothy Adry Emmanuel is bringing it back — but as a next-generation Super Snake.
The current Shelby Super Snake builds on the sixth-gen S550 Ford Mustang, turning it into an 825 hp missile. But we all know the 2024 Ford Mustang, or the next-gen S650 Mustang, turns the wick up even more, going by the Mustang Dark Horse at least. There’ll probably be a S650 Shelby coming in as a 2026 Shelby Mustang GT500. And now this S650 Super Snake is here to really whet your appetite for what the ultimate tire-shredding, track-bred performance muscle car from Shelby would look like.
Will There Be A 2026 Shelby Mustang GT500?
Many Mustang fans were more than a little surprised when Ford decided to end the run of sixth-gen Shelby Mustang GT500s leaving no 2023 Shelby GT500 available. But rest assured, the Shelby GT500 will be back with the S650 Mustang around the corner. And probably badder than ever.
The first will probably show up in 2025 as a 2026 Shelby Mustang GT500, which is a pretty exciting prospect to look forward to. This render makes the wait even more unbearable, dressing the S650 up in menacing Super Snake guise with a pretty close version of Shelby-engineered components all around.
There’s just no missing the twin-nostril hood scoops that make it look like a cobra about to strike. Or the signature grille-inset driving lamps that give it that squared-off, don’t mess with me-look. This S650 Super Snake render also goes the whole hog with a widebody kit, side exit exhausts and it brings back the original ’67 GT500’s body side air intakes. At least two of them, that is. There’s no room on the S650’s C-pillar for the top-mounted intakes, but we consider it a job well done anyway with the way the roof flows into the aggressive rear end. If you see a bit of Eleanor, the Shelby GT500 that shot to fame in Gone in 60 Seconds, we don’t blame you.
The modern take on Eleanor’s Halibrand wheels are stunning, of course, and play a big part in that. But it’s also the mean gunmetal paint shade this render wears, with the Eleanor-style racing stripes.
What Is In A Shelby Super Snake Package?
The last forced induction Mustang was the 2022 Shelby GT500 with 760 hp, thanks to its supercharged 5.2-liter V8. The 2021 Shelby Super Snake instead takes the Coyote 5.0-liter V8 and pushes it to 825 hp, making for a near-200 mph Mustang. It also makes for a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, which is pretty darn impressive.
The Shelby Super Snake package is more than just the impressive engine though. It includes Shelby-engineered exterior enhancements like the functional hood scoops, brakes, wheels, suspension, cooling systems and much, much more. The Shelby widebody package is one such enhancement that definitely makes a Super Snake really special.
Shelby hasn’t got to being the best Ford performance tuner for no reason, after all. All Shelby Super Snakes also wore numbered plaques to signify just how rare and special they were.
How Much Is A 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 Super Snake Worth?
The original ’67 GT500 Super Snake was a one-off prototype built for Shelby to show off Goodyear Thunderbolt tires, for which he was a dealer. The fact that there’s just one already makes it one of the rarest American cars ever. But the rarity and its history also makes it the most expensive Mustang ever. The original car was sold for a record-breaking $2.2 million!
Not long back, Shelby decided to bring back the classic Super Snake. Only ten were made, and each carried a price tag of $249,995. Built on original 1967 Ford Mustangs, the remake also carries the signature of Carroll Shelby, and serial numbers from the official Shelby registry to make them as authentic as possible.
But we say, bring back the modern Super Snake. Bring on the 2026 Shelby Mustang GT500 Super Snake, in particular. We’re ready and waiting to have our minds blown by another Shelby with the go to match the show.