Image: Shelby
Image: Shelby
Image: Shelby
Image: Shelby
Image: Shelby
Image: Shelby
Image: Shelby
Image: Shelby
Image: Shelby
New ModelsBy: Ryan De Villiers
As the founder of Ford’s revered performance wing, Carroll Shelby’s legacy has stood the test of time for 100 years. To honour and celebrate his legacy, Shelby has unveiled the Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition Mustang GT.
Image: Shelby
Carroll Shelby’s name demands respect and admiration. If he were still around today, Shelby would’ve celebrated his 100th birthday on January 11th. However, in his absence, Shelby (the performance offshoot of Ford) unveiled the most maniacal rendition of the Ford GT in honour of the performance division’s founder.
This version of the Mustang GT is kitted with a Whipple supercharger mated to the sonorous 5,0-litre V8 pumping out a ludicrous 559 kW! Other added go-faster bits included a vented hood, performance radiator, Borla Cat-Back exhaust, performance springs, upgraded sway bars, camber/caster plates and Ford’s Perf-Pack Brembo front callipers. A significant bump in power output is not all this special edition ‘Stang has to offer as Shelby has put immense effecting into refining the handling capabilities of this special edition GT.
Image: Shelby
Cosmetic enhancements range from aluminium extended-width front fenders, Shelby upper grilles side rockers, a Shelby-spec rear spoiler, Le Mans black vinyl striping, CSM numbered dash and engine bay plaques, Shelby door sill plates and Shelby floor mats. These Shelby-branded bits and pieces take the already aggressive GT package and turn the dial up to 11! Only 100 units will be made in 2023 for the American market with only a handful of them earmarked for international markets.
Image: Shelby
Aside from performance and cosmetics, the Centennial Edition Mustangs include a black Stetson hat and a copy of the commemorative Shelby Centennial book published by the Shelby team. Shelby is confident that the Centennial Edition Mustang lives up to the standards required by Shelby to have his name on the car. Additionally, each model sold will contribute towards donations to the Carroll Shelby Foundation in honour of Shelby’s history of supporting charity programs.
Image: Shelby
“To properly honour him required us to build a car that was truly born to run. It delivers all the performance that Carroll required to have his name on a car. We’re so confident that he’d approve that we are throwing in a black Stetson like the one he wore, with each car” — Vince LaViolette, Shelby American Vice President of Operations and Chief of R&D
Keyword: Shelby celebrates founder’s leagacy with 559 kW “Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition Mustang GT”