USA
Step this way, sir/madam – there's a US tuning firm that will shove a six-speed manual in your Mustang
Say, have you always fancied the idea of a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 but you can’t go near the filthy thing because it only comes with an automatic transmission? Well start warming up your clutch leg, because US tuning firm HPJ Performance has come to the rescue with a manual conversion kit.
The gearbox is a six-speed Tremec T56 Magnum XL, rated to take up to 700lb ft of torque, and reassuringly comes with a flywheel and bellhousing approved by the SFI, a US foundation that looks after motorsport safety standards. You also get Ford factory pedals, a new centre console with your choice of leather or suede for the shift gaiter and a selection of clutches to choose between based on your car’s power and usage. So that’s all very nice.
HPJ does also offer a range of options for your Mustang GT500 to increase the power by a little or to frankly stratospheric levels if you’re so inclined, this Ford really could be your flexible friend. The outfit says that the manual conversion can be paired up with its power increase packages too, if you want to go the whole banana on your Shelby.
Of course, it won’t cost pennies to make the swap (no word from HPJ Performance yet on what it’ll be charging for the big switcheroo), but on the plus side the company says it’ll give you the bits it whips out in a nice doggy bag so you can sell them on yourself and recoup some of the cost. Or keep it all in the garage, have it your way.
Unfortunately in the UK we don’t get the option of the Shelby GT500, which starts at $72,900 in the US (around £54k), but would cost a chunk more to bring over to the UK what with all the stamps and things you’d need. If you can’t be bothered with the fuss, there’s the £56,955 Mach 1 version of the Mustang available in the UK with a six-speed manual, but of course it’s much less track-focused than the big bad Shelby. Although there is a bonkers option available in the UK via Clive Sutton if you simply must.
Would you ditch the auto on your Shelby GT500 in favour of a gearstick? Let us know in the comments below, then make sure to have a read of our Mustang GT500 UK drive before you go.
Keyword: Sick of your Mustang Shelby GT500's auto gearbox?