SHELBY AMERICAN REVEALS CODE RED PACKAGE FOR THE GT500 - IT'S A R4MIL CONVERSION!
Carroll Shelby was synonymous with high-performance Fords, and his legacy still roars through the streets today. Since 1965, the Shelby badge has been a symbol of something extraordinary - a guarantee that the Ford it graced was more than just a car; it was a masterpiece. Though Shelby himself has been burning rubber on the racetrack in the sky since 2012, his spirit lives on in the latest creation bearing his name: the CODE RED. This is no ordinary Mustang - it's a limited-edition conversion package for the new-generation Ford Mustang GT500, and it’s going to set you back a hefty chunk of change. The price tag is steep, especially when you factor in our stellar currency, but that’s the cost of perfection and a little piece of automotive history. Inspired by a one-off experimental build from 2008, the CODE RED was born out of the desire for more power in an already insane GT500. Designed to be the ultimate expression of a Shelby Mustang, the GT500 CODE RED is packing some serious firepower. Under the hood lies a hand-built, twin-turbocharged V8, cranking out an earth-shattering 969 kW (1,300 hp) and 1,356 Nm of torque. But the transformation doesn’t stop at the engine bay - every CODE RED Mustang also gets a complete overhaul, including upgraded suspension, cooling systems, and a fresh new look. This is a rare beast, with production limited to just 10 GT500s from each of the 2020-2022 model years, a total of only 30 units. And for the first time, Shelby has taken what was once an experimental concept and turned it into a production reality. The history of Shelby's experimental "EXP" cars is legendary, with icons like the Green Hornet, Little Red, and the original 2008 twin-turbo CODE RED paving the way. These cars were groundbreaking, from the '67 GT500 Super Snake’s 427-race engine to the Green Hornet's pioneering fuel injection and independent rear suspension. The 2008 CODE RED, with its twin-turbo 5.4-liter V8 and cutting-edge performance tech, was a marvel of engineering but just too extreme for mass production.
Fast forward to today, and the new production-ready CODE RED has been fine-tuned to perfection. Shelby teamed up with top-tier partners to craft a machine that’s not only more powerful but also reliable for everyday use. The 5.2L engine is now equipped with high-performance internals, boosted by an intercooled twin-turbo system, along with an upgraded fuel and engine management system. On standard 93-octane pump gas, the CODE RED delivers 745 kW (1,000 hp) and 1,058 Nm of torque, while running on E85 cranks it up to the full 969 kW (1,300 hp) and 1,356 Nm. CODE RED isn’t just about brute force though, it’s a complete package. It comes with a widebody kit, new wheels and tyres, upgraded axles, tuned suspension, and a host of aesthetic tweaks, including a carbon fibre hood and exclusive interior details. Every Shelby GT500 CODE RED is documented in the official Shelby Registry and includes membership in Team Shelby, the global club Carroll Shelby founded in 2008. Starting at an MSRP of $224,995 (around R4,045,000), not including the base Mustang, this is an investment in both speed and heritage. Production is already underway in Las Vegas, and if you’ve got a 2020-2022 Shelby GT500 sitting in your garage, you might want to give Shelby American a call to turn your ride into a CODE RED legend. We do have Shelby agents here in SA, but we’re not sure if the Las Vegas head office will let a branch in another country build one of these CODE RED cars up. It would be frikkin awesome if it did happen though. We can’t think of anyone who’d spend around R6mil on a Mustang in SA though. Did we mention that it can run a mid-9-second quarter mile?
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows off just how insane this CODE RED upgrade package is for the modern GT500. A freaking 8-second quarter-mile pass is no joke!: Shelby GT500 CODE RED Quarter Mile Run - 8.59s at 161 MPH! 😲🔥 | Shelby American
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