2008 Ford Shelby GT500 Coupe Review

Bargain Speed

A new high-output version of the Ford Shelby GT500 debuts for 2008, and can run with some of the quickest cars in the world for far less money.

Legendary racecar driver and noted performance-car king Carroll Shelby has long been connected with Ford, first lending the automaker his expertise to help create the 1964 GT-350R racer, and later, the 1965 Mustang GT350 production car. The latest collaboration came in 2007 in the form of the Ford Shelby GT500, Ford’s answer to costlier domestic powerhouses like the Dodge Viper and Chevrolet Corvette Z06, but with a back seat (albeit a barely useful one). A convertible version is offered in addition to the coupe.

The Ford Shelby GT500 Coupe’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. A limited-production Ford Shelby GT500KR ("KR" stands for "King of the Road") version packs a 540-hp supercharged 5.4-liter V8. Both versions are subject to the federal gas-guzzler tax.

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A heavy-duty Tremec-supplied six-speed manual transmission is the only gearbox offered in the Ford Shelby GT500 Coupe, due in most part to the lack of an available automatic that can reliably handle all that power. The GT500KR version adds a short-throw Hurst shifter.

The Ford Shelby GT500 Coupe’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 brake discs and calipers, along with electronic brake-force distribution 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 curves.

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The Ford Shelby GT500KR version adds a Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack that includes a 3.73:1 rear axle ratio for quicker launches from a standing start and a performance suspension tuned for even tighter handling.

Cosmetically, the Shelby GT500 Coupe differs from an ordinary Mustang with unique front and rear styling with aerodynamic add-ons, a unique rear fascia, and a bulging hood that incorporates heat extractor vents to aid in engine cooling. The coupe features Le Mans-style stripes along the top of the vehicle in a nod to earlier Shelby Mustangs’ racing heritage; a lower body stripe carries the GT500 taxonomy, and other identifying badges are prominent all around the car’s exterior.

• Ford Shelby GT500 Coupe Vehicle Summary

The Ford Shelby GT500KR is further dressed up with a carbon composite hood, exclusive wheels, and unique striping.

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 enthusiastic motorists a better view of the rpms to help with shifting. Chrome accents have been replaced with brushed aluminum, and Ford Shelby GT500 logos abound. The car’s front power leather seats have deeper side bolsters to help keep the driver and passenger firmly in place while cornering at high speeds.

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Standard equipment on the Ford Shelby GT500 Coupe 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.