Tag Archives: Shelby

Classic Recreations’ Shelby Mustang GT500 CR Is An 810 HP Carbon Fiber Beast

Saving weight is very hard to do. Yet, Classic Recreations has managed to save a whole wack of it thanks to a full carbon fiber body.

The company is the only one licensed to make Shelby continuation cars and it partnered with SpeedKore for its carbon-fiber know-how. Together, they’ve made a Shelby GT500 CR that weighs 600 lbs less than steel-bodied cars.

In order to make it, the company first scanned a real Classic Recreations 1967 GT500CR and designed a carbon fiber body in CAD. Once molded, the carbon body panels were autoclave-cured. That means that they can be exposed (they’ll also paint them if you want), so the company was sure to make the weaves match from panel to panel.

As a result of the lower weight, the “Carbon Edition” GT500 comes with a Detroit Speed suspension, JRI Coilovers, and a quadralink rear suspension. It also features high-performance Wilwood brakes to make sure it stops as quick as it scoots.

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Also Read: Ford Built The Final Mustang Bullitt In Late 2020

Under the carbon hood, there’s a 5.2-liter Gen3 Coyote V8 with stainless steel headers and a Ford 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission. The one in these pictures makes 810 hp, but the carbon-fiber upgrade is available on GT500CR 900C, 900S, and 545 models as well.

Inside, you get an Alcantara headliner, Kicker audio system, a Kenwood media system, ProCar leather seats, and custom red gauges.

The company unveiled the images of the first completed production car at Motorsport Ranch in Texas on February 2. The location was a reference to Carroll Shelby’s lineage and the date a reference to when he started building the first Cobra in 1962.

Carroll’s grandson Aaron Shelby was on hand to observe the latest iteration of the car his kin launched.

“Shortly after my grandfather beat Enzo on the track at Le Mans, Carroll and Ford engineered the all-new 1967 Shelby GT500 as a ‘Ferrari killer’ for the street,” said Aaron Shelby. “Fifty-five years later, this car has new life with the capabilities to take on Europe’s biggest names once again. I’m proud of Classic Recreations’ efforts to keep Carroll’s dream alive.”

Prices for the carbon fiber-bodied Shelby GT500CR start $265,000, but the Carbon Edition is priced at $298,000.

PHOTO GALLERY

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How Does The 495 HP 2020 Corvette Fare Against A 760 HP Mustang Shelby GT500?

Whenever a performance-focused vehicle is released in the U.S, you can be assured that Hennessey Performance will get its hands on one and bump up its performance. However, before working on a recent C8 Corvette and Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 that came into its shop, the tuner lined up the two to see how they compare in a straight-line.

Kicking things off is a drag race from a standing start where the Corvette has an advantage. You see, while the ‘Vette’s 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8 engine ‘only’ churns out 495 hp with the Z51 Performance Package, it is mid-engined and has much better grip than the GT500.

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Consequently, the Corvette gets off the line for quicker than the Mustang which, by the way, uses a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 with no less than 760 hp. The Chevy holds on to its lead for quite a long time and it isn’t until the C8 hits roughly 120 mph (193 km/h) that the Mustang overtakes it and storms ahead thanks to its added power.

For the second test, the two went toe-to-toe in a rolling drag race from 40 mph (64 km/h). This race favors the Mustang because it is able to put all of its power to the ground from the get-go without encountering any traction issues like it does when getting off the line.

Neither of these results are surprising but they have made us very intrigued to see how Hennessey’s twin-turbo Corvette will stack up against a GT500 when it’s been tuned and is running at full power.