Few automotive rivalries date back as far back as Ford and Chevrolet, specifically with the performance-oriented Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette coupes. Defining vehicles in the history of American sports cars, each car has a dedicated fan base. Appropriately, these two cars are in red and white.
If a blue Dodge Challenger had made an appearance, this recent clip from YouTube channel Drag Racing and Car Stuff would have been the perfect American sports car battle. Check out the short video to see Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 versus a C8 Chevrolet Corvette and which comes out on top in this race.
Updated December 2022: With the announcement of the 2024 Ford Mustang, many fans speculate on whether Ford will make another Shelby GT500. Since the muscle car segment is moving toward EVs like the new Dodge Charger Daytona SRT and an electrified Chevrolet Camaro, the current generation GT500 could be the last of a dying breed. Read on below to why there could still be an S650 Shelby GT500 with an even more powerful engine.
Shelby GT500 Vs C8 Chevrolet Corvette
Unlike many videos on the channel, this one starts off without revving of engines or smoky burnouts. The red C8 Corvette and the white GT500 Mustang line up quietly and inch toward the starting line. Both cars come equipped with the potential to take away the win with powerful specs.
The Shelby GT500 outputs 760 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm from its 5.2L V8 engine along with 625 lb-ft of torque. The GT500 is the most powerful Ford Mustang available for sale today.
The C8 Corvette brings a powerful list of specs of its own to the drag strip. The base model Corvette has a 6.2L V8 engine that outputs 490 horsepower @ 6,450 rpm and 465 lb-ft of torque. The upcoming 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will up those numbers but for now, the standard Corvette Stingray doesn't mess around when it comes to power either.
On paper, while the Corvette is an impressive car, it begs the question if it will have what it takes to go against the more powerful GT500.
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Vs C8 Chevrolet Corvette 1/4 Mile Drag Race
As the two cars leave the starting line and begin to speed down the strip, it appears almost immediately that the GT500 will have an advantage. Both of their initial accelerations are smooth off the line though the GT500 takes a slight lead at the beginning of the race.
While the Corvette manages to keep pace closely with the GT500, it never fully catches up to or passes by it. The race, which is at night, almost seems tranquil compared to many drag races against two such powerful cars.
At the end of the strip, the Ford Shelby GT500 ultimately finishes with an 11.24-second time and a top speed of 127.52 mph. The Corvette manages to reach the end of the 1/4 mile in a pretty close 2nd place finish time of 11.88 seconds and a top speed of 114.78 mph. This time around, the victory goes to Ford.
Will There Be A GT500 S650?
With the current S550-generation Ford Mustang coming to the end of its life cycle, the world is ready for the new S650 generation of Mustang to arrive in the summer of 2023. However, the lack of an official announcement about the Shelby GT500 left fans wondering if Ford would make another.
With the entire automotive industry focusing on moving to EVs, high-horsepower internal combustion engines may soon be a thing of the past. After all, the current generation GT500 gets horrible fuel economy with its supercharged 5.2-liter V8.
While we know that a GT model with at least 450 hp and a Dark Horse model with about 500 hp are both confirmed by Ford, there are some Mustang fans who want the absolute top-of-the-line performance pony car that the GT500 offers.
However, there may still be some light at the end of the tunnel. According to Ford Authority, sources tell them that there will still be an S650-Generation Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 in 2025 as a 2026 year model.
If this information is true, we would love to see more power from the same engine since we know it can make at least 1,000 hp. Whether it uses the same engine or a different powerplant, we'll just be happy to see another top-dog Mustang in the lineup.