Here’s Why The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Is Much Better Than You Think

This is how much the car has moved on in the past half-century

On paper, the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is on another planet from the original 1967 model. You’d fully expect that — march of progress and all that — but in this video, Roman heads out to Las Vegas, Nevada to see just how much the two cars have changed over the past five decades.

Here's Why The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Is Much Better Than You Think
The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 packs a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine with 760 horsepower. [Photos: Ford]

Back in the day, the original car had a massive 427 cubic inch, 7.0-liter V8 with two four-barrel carburetors producing around 350 horsepower 420 lb-ft of torque, in this case mated to a three-speed automatic transmission. In 52 years, the modern 2020 Shelby GT500 has downsized its V8, but is much more powerful. It’s supercharged 5.2-liter cross plane crank V8 puts out a whopping 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque. Rather than an old three-speed unit, you get a seven-speed Tremec dual-clutch transmission, controlled by a rotary dial on the center console.

Ford says the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 is capable of 0-60 in 3.3 seconds. Its standard Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires help put all that power down to the ground, although you can get even gripper Pilot Sport Cup 2s as part of the $18,500 Carbon Fiber Track Pack.

Here's Why The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Is Much Better Than You Think

Loaded with technology

Apart from the modern traction control systems, push button start and rotary dials we’re used to, the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 comes loaded with more modern technology. The old car has an amazing character all its own, including the exhaust note from that huge naturally-aspirated V8. However, the new car does let the driver tailor the exhaust note depending on the situation. From a Quiet mode so you don’t disturb all your neighbors to the full-bore Track mode, you get four different settings that change up the sound to your liking. Instead of old-school wood and aluminum, you get Alcantara on the steering wheel on carbon fiber on the instrument panel.

Here's Why The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Is Much Better Than You Think
2020 Shelby GT500 interior.

As with the rest of the 2020 Mustang lineup, the Shelby GT500 also comes with Ford’s latest Sync 3 infotainment system. The $3,000 Technology Package adds a 12-speaker B&O sound system, a blind spot information system, heated exterior mirrors and voice-activated navigation. Ford’s 12-inch digital instrument cluster comes as standard equipment, while the Recaro leather seats are a $1,595 option.

2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
You can even get carbon fiber wheels as part of the $18,500 track pack.

Carbon Fiber Track Pack and customization options

But what about that $18,500 Track Pack? On top of the car’s $73,995 price tag, that is a hefty option. But for that money, you do get 20-inch exposed carbon fiber wheels for a start. Beyond that, Ford also fits larger Pilot Cup Sport 2 tires, the exposed carbon fiber instrument panel, a huge GT4 track wint, the Recaro seats and splitter wickers, making the car even more of a track-focused machine. If all that is a bit too much, the $1,500 Handling Pack dials it back to just shipping the gurney flap and splitter wickers with the car for installation post-sale.

While those are the only factory performance options, Ford does also offer a wide array of visual customization for the Shelby GT500. The car is available in eleven different exterior colors, including Grabber Lime, Rapid Red and Twister Orange. Adding a tape stripe is an extra $375, while a painted black roof will set you back $695. But if you want an actual painted racing stripe in either black, blue or white, that will cost either $1,000 or $10,000 depending on which one you choose.

Fully spec out a 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, and you’re touching the $100,000 mark. Again, something that’s moved on from 1967, where the original GT500 costs just $4,195 (around $32,250 in 2019 dollars). But for that money, you’re definitely getting much, much more car. Check out the rest of the video above for more, including Roman’s runs on the track, and let us know which GT500 you’d prefer in the comments below.