SEMA: Fords builds a GT500 for street, strip and scary track driving
click on image to enlarge
The Mustang is currently Ford's hottest hand, and at this year's SEMA show the Blue Oval is laying its cards on the table. Front and center in the place of honor within Ford's display are three GT500s, each tuned and tweaked for various activities: a drag racer, hybrid racer/daily driver and full blown racer. The most brash by far was the Shelby GT500 Professional Road Racer, which looked like it just drove out of a video game where such machines can be driven without the fear of injury or death. It features Ford Racing's 5.0-liter Cammer engine producing "more" than the stock GT500's 500 horsepower. The car includes a 6-speed sequential race transmission, and 6-piston (front) and 4-piston (rear) calipers clamp on 2-piece rotors all around. Meanwhile, the suspension's damping can be adjusted three ways to suit track conditions. And how about that GT-spec rear wing that looks right at home on the GT500's short rear deck? Unfortunately, the GT500 Professional Road Racer is just a concept study, though we hope the Blue Oval has the brass to take it out on the track soon to see what it can do.
Check out the Shelby GT500 Draggin' Snake from Paul's High Performance and the Shelby GT500 Road and Track after the jump.
PHOTO GALLERY (click on any image to enlarge):
2007 Shelby GT500 Professional Road Racer
2007 Shelby GT500, Paul's High Performance Draggin' Snake
2007 Shelby GT500 Road and Track
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ohmy 4:55PM (10/31/2006)
Is it just me or is the front end of the blue one much sharper than stock?? It could be just the camera angle, but to me the front end of the blue one (especially in the first picture) looks so much better than the "cinder block" mustangs I see on the road. The current mustangs just looks plain old and slow to me, so I have never been a big fan of them, but there is something about the first picture that makes the car look fast even standing still.... nah, its probably just the camera angle...
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Saracen 4:53PM (10/31/2006)
*drool*
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Agent MOO 4:56PM (10/31/2006)
The FR500 is INSANE! gimme gimme gimme
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iQuack 5:00PM (10/31/2006)
More plastic add-ons?
Enough of SEMA, already!
http://xs108.xs.to/xs108/06442/SEMA.jpg
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Hamud 7:19PM (10/31/2006)
One of each please...
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Rob 7:37PM (10/31/2006)
#2, maybe the camera, or maybe the slightly different front end on the GT500's with the different grill/headlight that looks more like the original concept from a couple years ago. I think the 5.0 cammer should have been the motor for the GT500. Lighter than the 5.4 and same power. Even if they used the $15000 400hp cammer from FRPP would have been nice. Trade the HP for a few hundred less lbs over the front wheels. This engine is too expensive to be made into a Boss 302 car and sold for $35000. But I think that engine with an IRS tuned by SVT and sold for that would be the best Mustang ever, excluding the classics. Can anyone here say Cobra R?
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Jeff 7:52PM (10/31/2006)
Hey number 2, i totally see what you mean about the nose of the blue one. These are some sick cars. I just saw the new Car and Driver on my way home today and they have the FR500 on the cover with the title MOTHERFR500 lol...
They say its got 550hp, i believe.
You guys got me so excited with the hybrid racer/daily driver description which i inevitably and optimistically interpreted as "hybrd racer"/"daily driver"... as in hybrid drive train in a GT500... that'd be so sick. As if that car really needs electric assist... Although it could maybe use the extra torque. And it could definitely use a couple more mpg's.
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Wyce 12:38AM (11/01/2006)
No. 2, if you look at the blue Mustang, the top of the grill is cut off. I definitely agree with your comments on the Road Racer's improved nose, by the way.
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MK 11:37AM (11/01/2006)
Ford would be insane not to build this car. Yes, the blue one is absolutely stunning. Come on, Ford, don't leave this as a mere "comcept study." :)
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KT 4:10PM (11/01/2006)
They will probably make it available to racers. They have a regular GT that is made just for racing but it cost in the 6 figures.
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Kyle B of ft.myers 9:56PM (11/02/2006)
I love all three of them, Im not a big fan of huge spoilers, but i could deal with it. The problem is that ford loosing the Ford GT means we have no supercar to compete with the corvette or viper. My favorite car is the mustang gt500 and i lov it, but come on Ford its no replacement for a supercar. It lacks the aerodynamics and dimensions to make it as a supercar. The only worthy cars to be fords supercar is the GR-1 Coupe and ford and shelby's greatest acomplishment together in racing, the cobra. Bring it back and sell it in different packages priced like corvette!
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Stevie 1:13PM (11/10/2006)
Ok, I've got my Christmas wish list complete! GIMME!!!! I want all of them!
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Christopher 6:38PM (11/15/2006)
The Shelby GT500 Professional Road Racer be great in the FIA GT3 Championship not that it needs more cars but still.
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