From a practical standpoint, the last thing this 2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 needs is more muscle. Its hand-built 5.2-liter ‘Predator’ V8 is already churning out a staggering 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque, courtesy of a 2.65-liter roots-type supercharger, and for most people, that’s more than enough.
This car was unveiled back in January of 2019 at NAIAS in Detroit, putting all other muscle cars on notice, including the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, which had enjoyed an uninterrupted reign within its segment.
That's right, this flagship Mustang came with more power than your “entry-level” Hellcat, amazing grip thanks to its Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber (part of the Carbon Fiber Track Pack), and a top speed of 195 mph.
As luck would have it, we just found one such car getting auctioned off to the highest bidder. It’s got the Carbon Fiber Track Pack, and the Pilot Sport Cup 2s, hugging its 20-inch seven-spoke wheels. Meanwhile, the exterior is finished in Shadow Black, and mixes well with the front splitter wickers and the large rear wing, both carbon fiber.
Other highlights include the louvered hood with pins, HID headlights, heated mirrors, Cobra puddle lights, LED taillights, red Brembo brakes, adjustable strut top mounts and a recently installed BMR suspension upgrade.
The interior features Ebony leather Recaro seats with Miko suede inserts and gray accents, a rear seat delete (instead you get a Watson Racing bolt-in four-point roll cage), the carmaker’s SYNC 3 infotainment system with the 8-inch touchscreen, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, blind-spot monitoring (part of the Technology package), an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, and a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.
As for that 5.2-liter supercharged V8, it is no longer stock, so you can kiss those 760-horsepower goodbye. Instead, it was modified by TJ Engineering in March of last year, and now features the following bits: a ported Jokerz Performance supercharger, 2.85” pulley, JLT intake, WMP Performance throttle body, custom fuel injectors, custom fuel pump booster, revised fuel lines and fittings, NGK spark plugs, 81-mm intercooler core, and Kooks 3” stainless steel headers.
Photo: Bring a Trailer
The result, according to the seller, is 1,169 horsepower and 859 lb-ft of torque, with everything going to the rear wheels via a Tremec seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
It’s safe to say that this Mustang will outrun any type of Hellcat spawn, including the Super Stock with its "lowly" 807 horsepower.
Code Red! I repeat: Code Red!
This tuned 2021 Shelby GT500 is actually the perfect substitute for the limited production GT500 Code Red, which sold out last year despite a massive $209,995 sticker price.
Those cars were boosted with the help of a twin-turbo system, producing over 1,000 horsepower on 93-octane fuel, and up to 1,300 horsepower on ethanol. But since you can’t have one, you might as well go for the next best thing, right?
Sergiu got to experience both American and European car "scenes" at an early age (his father drove a Ford Fiesta XR2 supermini in the 80s). After spending over 15 years at local and international auto publications, he's starting to appreciate comfort behind the wheel more than raw power and acceleration. Full profile
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