The YouTuber known as Shmee150 (Tim Burton was already taken by a relatively famous filmmaker) has been traveling around the United States exploring the performance potential of his Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. A guy who's used to driving all kinds of supercars around Europe might not seem likely to appreciate the Ford product's front-mounted and supercharged V8, though it's hard to argue against the most powerful Mustang ever built by Ford. Shmee stopped by Hennessey Performance on his journey and a few days ago, his Mustang challenged a stock C8 Chevrolet Corvette. Now, the GT500 steps up to some more serious competition by taking on John Hennessey's personal McLaren 765LT.
Supercharged Vs Twin-Turbocharged V8 Engines
Against the C8 Corvette, the GT500 performed admirably with two wins out of three races. And that comparison, despite the mid-engined Corvette's nearly 200-horsepower disadvantage, was a little more fair given that both cars cost about the same. But a McLaren 765LT starts at just shy of $400,000 (and that's before Hennessey gets a crack at some tuning).
Shmee's Shelby Mustang With The Carbon Fiber Track Package
The Mustang's V8 displaces 5.2 liters and produces 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque from the factory, with the only transmission option available coming in the form of a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Shmee's Shelby, other than the radical exterior color, also came equipped with the Carbon Fiber Track Package which adds a massive rear wing and wheels constructed from the miracle material, while deleting the rear seat to shave weight.
Weight And Aero Concerns For The Mustang
But even with a few saved pounds, the Shelby GT500 weighs 1,000 pounds more than the 765LT, which also benefits from a significant aerodynamic advantage. No mention is made of how tuned Hennessey's 765LT may or may not be—a critical detail when it comes to the Texas-based tuners, who reportedly can boost output up to 1,000 horses—though the McLaren has already proven itself as one of the best sprinters on the market day in and day out online. And the result comes just as expected, with the supercar stepping away from the one-fifth-priced Mustang until the race terms are changed to allow the Ford product a rolling start.
Sources: youtube.com and hennesseyperformance.com.