2007 Ford Shelby GT500 Coupe

Snake-Bit

In the classic Cobra tradition, Ford unleashes a new Shelby GT500 Coupe for 2007 that can run with some of the quickest cars in the world, for less money

Legendary race-car driver and noted performance-car king Carroll Shelby has long been connected with the Ford Mustang. He first lent the automaker his expertise to help create the 1964 GT-350R racer, and later, the 1965 Mustang GT350 production car. The latest collaboration comes in the form of the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500, which is an ultimate-performance version of the current-generation Mustang.

With the coupe priced at around $41,000 (a convertible version is also offered), it’s essentially Ford’s budget-priced answer to costlier, old-school domestic powerhouses like the Dodge Viper and Chevrolet Corvette Z06, but with a backseat (albeit a barely useful one).

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The Ford Shelby GT500 has lots of added muscle. Its supercharged, 5.4-liter V8 engine borrows technology from the now-discontinued Ford GT sports car to produce 500 hp. That is a remarkable 200 hp more than the current Mustang GT’s 4.6-liter V8 engine, and it is on a par with the Viper and Z06.

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Since the Shelby GT500 is heavier than the Viper or Z06 (the Viper has about a 500-pound advantage, and the Z06 is lighter by around 800 pounds), those models are a bit faster to 60 mph.

A heavy-duty, six-speed manual transmission is standard, due to the lack of an available automatic that can reliably handle all that power under extreme circumstances.

The car’s suspension has been upgraded with revised shocks, spring rates and stabilizer bars to help keep all four of its 18-inch wheels and Z-rated performance tires planted to the pavement through the curves. Beefy Brembo discs and calipers are added to the car’s antilock braking system, along with electronic brakeforce distribution to help rein in the Ford Shelby GT500’s 500 galloping horses with authority. As in the Mustang GT, the car’s standard all-speed traction control system will allow some wheel slippage to afford aggressive drivers the ability to hang the rear end out a bit in a curve.

Ford Shelby GT500 Coupe Vehicle Summary

Cosmetically, the Shelby GT500 differs from an ordinary Mustang coupe via wide upper and lower fascia openings, with a functional air splitter up front, a unique rear fascia and a bulging hood that incorporates functional heat extractor vents that aid in engine cooling. The coupe also features Le Mans-style stripes along the top of the vehicle, in a nod to the racing heritage of earlier Shelby Mustangs. Identifying badging is prominent all along the car’s exterior.

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Inside the Ford Shelby GT500 Coupe the standard Mustang’s retro-flavored interior has been dressed up with light-faced gauges on the instrument panel, and the positions of the speedometer and tachometer have been swapped to give a better view of the tach while shifting. Chrome accents have been replaced with brushed aluminum, and identifying logos abound. The car’s front seats are more heavily bolstered, to help keep the driver and passenger firmly in place while cornering at speed.

Interior color schemes are Charcoal Black, or a two-tone combination of Charcoal Black and Crimson Red. Front side airbags are included. While you won’t find a spare tire in the trunk (to help minimize the car’s weight), a can of “Fix-a-Flat” is included for emergencies.

As is often the case with pure-performance cars, standard equipment is limited to the essentials, though it includes a 500-watt Shaker audio system with a six-disc MP3-capable head unit. The truly power-hungry audiophile will want to choose the optional 1,000-watt alternative. Satellite radio is also one of the car’s few options.