Up close: Shelby releases insane $200,000 1200hp Mustang, new apocalypse-ready Raptor

By Stephen Edelstein March 28, 2013

At the 2013 New York Auto Show, Shelby American unveiled its first new performance cars since the death of company patriarch Carroll Shelby last year. The 1000 S/C Mustang and Shelby Raptor continue the proud Shelby tradition of ungodly amounts of horsepower.

Shelby unveiled the 1000 last year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Cobra, and consequently had to use the 2012 Ford Shelby GT500’s existing 5.4-liter supercharged V8. Ford brought out a new GT500 for 2013, with a 5.8-liter engine, and the 1000 S/C is better for it.

Last year’s 1000 came in with a “base” 950 horsepower and track-only 1000 S/C form. For 2013, every 1000 will produce an incredible 1,200 hp, and all will be street legal. Total price for the 1000 S/C will clock in at around $200,000, which includes the purchase of a GT500 for Shelby to spiff up.

To extract Bugatti Veyron-rivaling horsepower from the V8, Shelby tweaks nearly every part, from the fuel system to the exhaust, which is replaced with a custom Borla system.

On the outside, the 1000 looks suitably menacing, but no more so than the 662 hp GT500 or Shelby’s own 850 hp Super Snake. Luckily, Shelby put some “1000” stickers on the side so people will know the difference.

Shelby also unveiled a tuned version of the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. It gets a Whipple supercharger, upping power output to 575 hp.

The rest of the changes are mostly cosmetic. The Raptor has functional side vents, Shelby-specific wheels and tires, a custom interior, and side graphics.

Shelby says there will be different graphics packages available, so owners can personalize these already unique vehicles. The company will also offer light bars, off-road bumpers and spare tire carriers, so Shelby will still have street cred after the apocalypse.

Shelby is normally associated with the Cobra and its custom Mustangs, but the Raptor isn’t its first truck. Shelby built a tuned Dodge Dakota in the 1980s, and a supercharged V8-powered F-150 Super Snake from 2007 to 2009. We’re pretty sure this is Shelby’s first off-roader, though.

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Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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