Skip to main content

850hp 2013 Shelby GT500 Super Snake hammers a 10.66 at the strip – for a price

Shelby GT500 Super Snake
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When Ford released the 662-horsepower Mustang Shelby GT500, Shelby American wasn’t content.

So on its own, the legendary aftermarket tuner went back to the design board – and upped the power to 850 horses.

Shelby recently sent an “independent test driver” down to Brandenton Motorsports Park in Brandenton, Florida to put the 2013 Shelby GT500 Super Snake to the test at the drag strip. Amazingly, the driver was able to make a quarter-mile run in 10.66 seconds, hitting 137 miles-per-hour.

Even more impressive? He did it all with pump gas and street tires.

Shelby brags that the Super Snake is “more than just raw power and ridged track performance. Owners can drive this car every day with its docile and comfortable ride in normal traffic situations.” We drove the standard Ford Shelby GT500 and if the Super Snake is anything like it, the good folks at Shelby aren’t just blowing smoke.

But what will an extra 188 horsepower cost you over the stock $54,650 GT500 from your local Ford dealer? Why, just an extra $39,995 is all.

At just shy of $100,000, the Shelby Super Snake is surely best suited for someone with a big checkbook and who also doesn’t know that the Nissan GT-R exists, which will do the quarter-mile in 10.8 seconds and for less money.

Only 500 of the Super Snakes will be built at Shelby American in Las Vegas, so it’s sure to be a classic in 30 years time. While we love calculating cars like the Nissan GT-R, there’s something to be said about the bullheadedness of a true American pony car like the Super Snake.

Editors' Recommendations

Nick Jaynes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…
Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.

Read more
Cybertruck production reportedly halted over pedal issue
Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck. Tesla

Tesla’s Cybertruck has been hit by a production delay caused by an issue with a part of the vehicle, a number of media reports have claimed.

Read more
Don’t let the gimmicks fool you. The Ioniq 5 N is a serious track car
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N drifting.

We’re finally getting to the fun part of automakers’ methodical quest to replicate their lineups with electric cars.

Performance versions of ordinary cars have been a staple of the auto industry for decades. But while we’ve already seen some variants of EVs boasting more power and more impressive stats — think Tesla Model S Plaid or Lucid Air Sapphire — the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the first to truly apply that format to an EV.

Read more