Ford Mustang FAQs

Less than one month has passed since Ford and Shelby released the GT500KR that was said to be able to “rule over all Mustangdom, or at least until the next special edition comes along.” Well, the King of the Road’s rule was shorter than William Harrison’s 31-day presidency.

At least the KR didn’t have to die when it gave up its throne. So what does it take to relegate the King to mere stable boy? A horsepower total in excess of 600, Ford is avoiding specifics for now, ought to do it right snappy-like. Ford Racing parts are to thank for the power boost, as well as improved handling.

A supercharger upgrade kit squeezes that extra power from the blown 5.4-liter V-8, and a handling package includes adjustable dampers, lowering springs, stabilizer bars, and a front strut-tower brace. Externally, the Super Snake (pictured right) will resemble a GT500KR with different rocker stickers. Interestingly, Shelby claims another tuning package will push this Mustang to “over 725” horsepower but gives no further details.

If the name “Super Snake” sounds familiar, that’s most likely because a car with the same name was the headliner at Barrett-Jackson last January. That Supersnake was once Carroll Shelby’s personal Cobra, modified with two superchargers capable of making the scenery really blurry. Eight hundred horsepower was the official output. Shelby built a similar 800-hp Cobra for Bill Cosby, who wisely sold the car before it killed him. A subsequent owner lacked that foresight and used the car to commit involuntary suicide shortly after acquiring it. Barrett-Jackson managed to set a record for American cars by selling Shelby’s Supersnake for $5.5 million.

Dodge has already announced that the 2008 Viper will have 600 horsepower, and the only people not talking about the 650-hp Corvette are the ones at Chevrolet who still think the car is a secret. As Ford’s only representative in the sports-car arena, the Mustang arguably had no choice. It seems silly to one-up your own product, especially one called the “King,” before a single order has been filled. Production of the Super Snake will begin in late 2007 at a price yet to be determined, but plan on paying Viper-level money for Viper-level power.