Carroll Shelby's Legacy Lives On In New Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
At a time when automakers are building greener sports cars with hybrid engines and electric motors, Ford Motor Co. decided to produce its most powerful -- and quickest -- Mustang in 55 years: The Shelby GT500.
Mustangs that bear the widely recognized Shelby Cobra emblem celebrate the storied history of Carroll Shelby, the visionary Texas car designer and race car driver who is portrayed on the big screen by Matt Damon in the new movie, “Ford v Ferrari.”
Shelby was tapped by Ford in the 1960s to develop high performance Mustangs. The first, a Shelby GT350, debuted in January 1965. Shelby’s partnership extended beyond Mustang; he was in charge of the winning Ford GT40 Mark II that defeated perennial winner and rival Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. “Ford v Ferrari” delves into how Shelby and Ken Miles (Christian Bale), a maverick British racer, were brought together to accomplish Ford’s quixotic dream.
Today, Ford produces a limited number of Mustang Shelbys to "maintain that exclusivity and value for the customer," according to Jim Owens, Ford Performance marketing manager and a former employee of the racing legend.
The majority of owners are familiar with Shelby's legacy and are willing to spend a premium on the car, according to Owens.
"The Shelby component is big but the customers also want the best," he said. "These are people who want the biggest, baddest of everything.”
