Ford Shelby GT500 Part 1: Design Review

The Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 - first shown to the public at the 2003 New York International Auto Show in near production form - became the first Mustang to officially wear the Shelby name in more than 35 years. A collaboration between Ford's Special Vehicle Team and Carroll Shelby, the GT500 sat atop the Mustang performance ladder from its introduction just over two years ago until earlier this year when the Shelby GT500KR arrived on the scene to take over the top spot.

Based on the highly successful Ford Mustang GT, the Shelby GT500 shares nearly all of its sheetmetal with its more pedestrian stable mates. The only unique body panel is the vented hood, which is raised on its leading edge by one inch forming the top of the taller and wider grille opening. The shape of the grille is much more aggressive than that of the base performance Mustangs and is inspired by the late '60s Shelby Mustangs.

The fully functional vents in the hood have a dual purpose: 1. They extract hot air from the engine bay, and 2. They help alleviate under-hood pressure buildup - a lesson learned through Ford's Grand Am racing efforts and proof positive that racing does in fact improve the breed.

So the Shelby GT500 borrows some functional details from the current Ford Racing Mustangs, as well as some design cues from the Shelby's of the past. It also borrows a few bits from the futuristic Ford Mustang GT-R Concept of 2005, such as the front splitter and the rear diffuser.

Both are part of the blacked-out lower body, which is intended to reduce visual weight making the GT500 seem lighter on its Goodyears. The effect works to an extent, but unfortunately, the blacked-out lower sections also make the car seem higher up off the ground - a look that is reinforced by the massive gap between the top of the rear tire and the fender. At least it's something that a quick trip through Ford Racing's performance catalog can fix with a set of lowering springs.

The wheels on the GT500 are great looking and similar in design to those on the Ford GT supercar. It is a little disappointing that the New York Auto Show car had 19-inch versions, while the production car makes due with 18s, but again, there's always the aftermarket.

Moving around to the back of the car, we find a nice, clean looking rear deck spoiler that is fully functional. It's nice to see some restraint here, as a big wing would have looked completely out of place. At the bottom, we find the diffuser previously mentioned, framed by a large, 3-inch exhaust pipe at each side.

While the newer retro muscle cars on the scene seem to be stealing all of the attention from the Mustang lately, this Shelby GT500 does a great job keeping the Mustang flame alive by refining the already great looks of the car with a dose of bad-ass attitude - racing stripes and all.

Watch the video
Read Part 2: Interior & User Experience
Read Part 3: Performance

Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Performance
- Acceleration: Tire-shredding torque accompanied by awesome supercharger whine results in serious quickness
- Handling: More body roll than expected, but tons of grip once it takes a set - throttle steer always an option
- Braking: Big Brembos do what they're supposed to - lots of dive though

Design
- Exterior: Surprisingly restrained and true to its heritage - still a great looking car... once it's lowered a bit
- Interior: Too much hard plastic and cheap looking materials - more leather than other Mustangs helps though

Utility
- Comfort: Surprisingly comfortable ride given its handling capabilities
- Space: Lots of room in the front - decent sized trunk, but really, who cares?

Safety
- Dynamics: A little bit of understeer built in to keep you out of trouble
- Technology: Four airbags, but 500 horsepower and no stability control... yikes!

Value
- Price: Lots of money for one Mustang... but nothin' for 500 horses
- Mileage: Seriously? If you have to ask, put it in 6th gear and just try to stay out of it. Good luck.

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: Grows on you with every push of the accelerator
- Fun to spank: An absolute kick-ass car to drive - makes you laugh like a little kid

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / Rear wheel drive
Engine: 5.4 liter, Supercharged V8
Power (SAE): 500 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 480 lbs-ft @ 4500 rpm
Redline: 6250 rpm
Gearbox: 6 speed manual
Curb Weight: 3920 lbs.
0-60 mph: 4.5 sec.
1/4 mile: 12.8 sec. @ 115 mph
Top Speed: 155 mph (electronically limited)
Mileage: 14 city / 20 highway
Base Price: $42,685
Competitors: Dodge Challenger SRT-8, Chevrolet Corvette, upcoming Chevrolet Camaro SS