The Ford Mustang is the definitive pony car, an iconic steed now sold in more than 140 countries worldwide. It came to fame in the 1968 classic flick, “Bullitt,” starring Steve McQueen. Since its inception, numerous variations have been studiously designed by such noteworthy individuals as Carroll Shelby. Shelby died in 2012, but a special Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 lives on thanks to the work of Ford Performance.
From Mustang to Shelby
Former race car driver and entrepreneur Carroll Shelby was the first outside designer to work with Ford to develop special performance variants of the Ford Mustang, starting with the 1965 Shelby Mustang. Also known as “Cobras,” the first Shelby models represented modified Mustangs with enhanced headers, manifolds, …show more content…
Inside and out, this Shelby screams “sports car,” but it is what’s found under the hood that makes the most profound statement.
Flat-Plane Crank V8 Engine and All That
Most modern Shelby models benefit from a V8 engine exclusive to this model. Where the Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 engine, the Shelby delivers a 5.2-liter V8 with 526 horsepower at 7,500 RPM and 429 pound-feet of torque at 4,750 RPM. A Tremec-supplied 6-speed manual gearbox sends power to the rear wheels.
What’s special about the Shelby’s engine is that it operates like a pair of four-cylinder engines wedged together, notable for its sequential right-left firing order. This unorthodox arrangement, common to race cars and Ferraris, allows engines to rev higher and louder — two important attributes of any high-performance car.
Start Your Engine…Quietly
Slip behind the wheel, engage the clutch and ignition, and a tremendous bellow flows from the Shelby’s exhaust system. Indeed, the note is so loud that Ford Performance developed a “quiet mode” to hush the exhaust — your neighbors will thank you at 6
From Mustang to Shelby
Former race car driver and entrepreneur Carroll Shelby was the first outside designer to work with Ford to develop special performance variants of the Ford Mustang, starting with the 1965 Shelby Mustang. Also known as “Cobras,” the first Shelby models represented modified Mustangs with enhanced headers, manifolds, …show more content…
Inside and out, this Shelby screams “sports car,” but it is what’s found under the hood that makes the most profound statement.
Flat-Plane Crank V8 Engine and All That
Most modern Shelby models benefit from a V8 engine exclusive to this model. Where the Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 engine, the Shelby delivers a 5.2-liter V8 with 526 horsepower at 7,500 RPM and 429 pound-feet of torque at 4,750 RPM. A Tremec-supplied 6-speed manual gearbox sends power to the rear wheels.
What’s special about the Shelby’s engine is that it operates like a pair of four-cylinder engines wedged together, notable for its sequential right-left firing order. This unorthodox arrangement, common to race cars and Ferraris, allows engines to rev higher and louder — two important attributes of any high-performance car.
Start Your Engine…Quietly
Slip behind the wheel, engage the clutch and ignition, and a tremendous bellow flows from the Shelby’s exhaust system. Indeed, the note is so loud that Ford Performance developed a “quiet mode” to hush the exhaust — your neighbors will thank you at 6