2008 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible Review

No Toupees Allowed

The Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible packs 500 horses and offers unmitigated open-air appeal.

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The Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible’s supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine borrows technology from the now-discontinued Ford GT sports car to produce 500 horsepower, a remarkable 200-hp improvement over the current Mustang GT’s 4.6-liter V8. Unfortunately, it means the car is subject to the federal gas-guzzler tax.

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A heavy-duty six-speed manual transmission is the only gearbox offered in the Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible, due in most part to the lack of an available automatic that can reliably handle all that power. While a stick shift is the transmission of choice for purists, less dedicated manual drivers who make their rush hour commutes in a Shelby GT500 could well pine for an automatic before long.

The Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible’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 on the pavement through the curves. Beefy Brembo brakes help rein in the car’s 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 drivers the ability to slide around a curve.

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The convertible’s power-operated top — available only in black — is constructed of fabric like that typically used on high-end luxury cars. As with the rest of the Mustang line, you’ll have to fight with a stiff set of latches to secure and release it. Since it has no fixed roof, the Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible is prone to shimmies, shakes, and rattles over bumps due to its compromised structural rigidity. The folding top also makes for a smaller trunk and even less backseat room than in the coupe.

• Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible Vehicle Summary

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 afford motorists a better view of rpms while shifting. Chrome accents have been replaced with brushed aluminum, and Ford Shelby GT500 logos abound. The car’s front power leather seats are heavily bolstered to help keep driver and passenger firmly in place while cornering.

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Standard equipment on the Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible is limited to the essentials, with front-side airbags standard and a 1,000-watt Shaker audio system being among the car’s few options. While you won’t find a spare tire in the trunk (to help minimize the car’s weight), a can of “Fix-a-Flat” tire sealant is included for emergencies.