2026 Shelby GT500 w/ “Legend” Engine Confirmed in UAW Document

[MaddNomad]

Shelby in Vegas is a clown show compared to the real Shelby, which isn't actually Shelby, but Ford performance calling themselves Shelby until their own branding improves enough to where they don't need to call themselves Shelby to win over shelby fans. It's all over the place lol.

All the legendary Shelby mustang's like the gt 350 and gt 500 from the s550 generation have nothing to do with the Shelby corp. based in Las Vegas. Those are all Ford performance creations with no shelby input. So vegas Shelby is gonna have no idea what fake Detroit Shelby is developing.

I remember listening to a podcast with Aaron Shelby and he said they have those convos with Ford usually about those products. Could be wrong though.

In all those old Ford development videos, Carroll Shelby himself pretty much confirmed both are Shelby’s. It’s just crazy after he died that the team over there always says that the Ford factory cars aren’t real ones and the Factory Ford fans say the opposite.

It made more sense when Shelby American basically let Ford continue the GT350/500 names while they made Shelby GTs, modified Ford Shelby’s, Trucks and Cobra replicas.

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[Sirjinx]

The dealer markup on these will be INSANE!

 

[DeluxeStang]

I remember listening to a podcast with Aaron Shelby and he said they have those convos with Ford usually about those products. Could be wrong though.

In all those old Ford development videos, Carroll Shelby himself pretty much confirmed both are Shelby’s. It’s just crazy after he died that the team over there always says that the Ford factory cars aren’t real ones and the Factory Ford fans say the opposite.

It made more sense when Shelby American basically let Ford continue the GT350/500 names while they made Shelby GTs, modified Ford Shelby’s, Trucks and Cobra replicas.

Yeah it's really sad what happened to Shelby America after Carroll passed, they've just never been the same. They kinda stopped excited me once they started branding away from core car development and engineering with partners and instead started focusing on doing appearance packages and slapping on someone else's supercharger.

I feel like Multimatic is the new Shelby. They're the ones doing the hardcore engineering and development work now. Shelby helped develop the gt40 and all the craziest mustangs from the 60s. Multimatic helped develop the latest Ford GT and the GTD.

 

[DeluxeStang]

I remember listening to a podcast with Aaron Shelby and he said they have those convos with Ford usually about those products. Could be wrong though.

In all those old Ford development videos, Carroll Shelby himself pretty much confirmed both are Shelby’s. It’s just crazy after he died that the team over there always says that the Ford factory cars aren’t real ones and the Factory Ford fans say the opposite.

It made more sense when Shelby American basically let Ford continue the GT350/500 names while they made Shelby GTs, modified Ford Shelby’s, Trucks and Cobra replicas.

Which is a shame, because in the age of small auto startups taking off again, I feel like now is the prime time for Shelby to return to their more ambitious roots, building more unique ground up creations with more unique design and engineering work, a true return to form. But it doesn't seem like that's gonna happen

 

[MaddNomad]

Yeah it's really sad what happened to Shelby America after Carroll passed, they've just never been the same. They kinda stopped excited me once they started branding away from core car development and engineering with partners and instead started focusing on doing appearance packages and slapping on someone else's supercharger.

I feel like Multimatic is the new Shelby. They're the ones doing the hardcore engineering and development work now. Shelby helped develop the gt40 and all the craziest mustangs from the 60s. Multimatic helped develop the latest Ford GT and the GTD.

Multimatic reminds me of Kar Kraft more so. Shelby was like the early Ford Performance/SVT team. I see what you mean though.

Someone on the forums said it best, what Shelby used to do just doesn’t cut it today really. They have their niche still. They both still have some of that Shelby spirit to me, one with modified Mustangs, other with new insane performance from the factory.

 

[young at heart]

Which is a shame, because in the age of small auto startups taking off again, I feel like now is the prime time for Shelby to return to their more ambitious roots, building more unique ground up creations with more unique design and engineering work, a true return to form. But it doesn't seem like that's gonna happen

I think you’re likely correct, simply because there’s no big money anymore in going that route. And think of the development costs in having to comply with government regs, etc.

But mainly they’d have to compete with big factories who have virtually unlimited resources at their disposal. Meanwhile it’s pretty cheap to bolt on a Whipple, throw in stiffer springs and put on a couple of heritage-invoking stickers. Presto!

 

[MikeyV]

If you don't understand the difference between how a DCT works and how a standard automatic transmission works, you really should learn.

Each time a standard auto transmission changes gears, there is a moment where the engine and transmission are disconnected from one another. Think: shifting a manual transmission very, very fast, you still have to disengage power delivery with the clutch. At some point during a gear change, power delivery is disconnected between the engine and transmission.

100% incorrect. Surprised nobody else said anything.

When is the output shaft of an automatic disconnected from the engine while in drive?

An auto does NOT ever go into neutral when shifting thru forward gears.

 

[Ewheels]

I know Ford does their homework and has probably determined that the typical flagship Mustang buyer still wants the "supercharged muscle car" but man this platform needs to enter the 21st century and make the switch to turbos. Smaller, lighter, more efficient, more tunability, etc.

I'm sure I'm in the minority here but I just can't get excited about another steel-framed, supercharged, 4,000+ lb "sports car."
If they took the existing regular GT and put it in an aluminum-framed, 3,500 lb package, I'd be all over that.

Chevy did it with the Corvette. They said "F tradition" and made the car truly amazing.
Ford seems to be rehashing the same crap over and over. (Again, maybe that's what the majority of Mustang buyers want)

Until the Mustang platform starts dropping major weight, I'm not buying another one.

 

[MustangMitch69]

The Z06's come with a NA 5.5L with 670 horses, so if I were Ford and had the talent and business acumen to make the numbers work, I would design the "Legend" to be something like that to try to give that $100K-$140K class of track car some competition. Using the Predator again is just lazy and not at all innovative, in my opinion, but it wouldn't surprise me if that's what happens anyway.

There are already three other supercharged S650 options, so why do we need another one?: GT + SC, GT350, and Super Snake.

There's a point where more horsepower doesn't matter if you car is too heavy or doesn't have a track-focused chassis. Today you have M2's and Camaro SS's still putting up better times than the S550 GT500, and the Supra isn't far behind.

 

[BoostRabbitGT]

Okay, I know the Mustang doesn't directly compete with the Miata, but what if Ford made the Mustang with the driving experience of a Miata in mind? Keep the V8 by whatever means necessary, but make the total driving experience THE thing people remember the Mustang by. More than HP/torque numbers or engine/exhaust sounds, make the Mustang the 911-beater (I feel that's what Farley's trying to accomplish) for the people. And if you can somehow do it at prices people can actually afford and are willing to pay, in the words of one Shia LeBouf, JUST DO IT!

 

[MustangMitch69]

Okay, I know the Mustang doesn't directly compete with the Miata, but what if Ford made the Mustang with the driving experience of a Miata in mind? Keep the V8 by whatever means necessary, but make the total driving experience THE thing people remember the Mustang by. More than HP/torque numbers or engine/exhaust sounds, make the Mustang the 911-beater (I feel that's what Farley's trying to accomplish) for the people. And if you can somehow do it at prices people can actually afford and are willing to pay, in the words of one Shia LeBouf, JUST DO IT!

A miata isn't a muscle car nor a pony car by any stretch if the imagination, which is what the mustang HAS been since 1964.5. I don't see how the mustang could ever be anything else.

The mach-E seemed like blasphemy to me, although if Ford had to do it for political/EPA reasons in order to keep being allowed to make the V8 mustangs (which is pure speculation / conspiracy theory on my part) then I get that aspect of it.

The thing about making it a 911 beater, it would have to have its weight significantly reduced, it's chassis redesigned, and have a brand new engine, which would be VERY expensive, not just to design, but to mass produce, compared to Porsche who has basically mastered the supply chain and assembly line aspects of producing a product that is already so good and in such high demand that they're selling for tens of thousands of dollars above MSRP.

 

[MaddNomad]

The mach-E seemed like blasphemy to me, although if Ford had to do it for political/EPA reasons in order to keep being allowed to make the V8 mustangs (which is pure speculation / conspiracy theory on my part) then I get that aspect of it.

The thing about making it a 911 beater, it would have to have its weight significantly reduced, it's chassis redesigned, and have a brand new engine, which would be VERY expensive, not just to design, but to mass produce, compared to Porsche who has basically mastered the supply chain and assembly line aspects of producing a product that is already so good and in such high demand that they're selling for tens of thousands of dollars above MSRP.

They made the car to be compliant but it didn’t have to have the name to do so. Originally it had 2 different names.

You’re right. Porsche made sure to develop the 911 thing like crazy and protect it, almost bankrupting themselves. Eventually coming out with the cayman/boxter and Cayanne suv to dig out of the ditch they were in. (On top of improving reliability) Lol

 

[Upacurb]

Okay, I know the Mustang doesn't directly compete with the Miata, but what if Ford made the Mustang with the driving experience of a Miata in mind? Keep the V8 by whatever means necessary, but make the total driving experience THE thing people remember the Mustang by. More than HP/torque numbers or engine/exhaust sounds, make the Mustang the 911-beater (I feel that's what Farley's trying to accomplish) for the people. And if you can somehow do it at prices people can actually afford and are willing to pay, in the words of one Shia LeBouf, JUST DO IT!

ford all ready did … it’s called the GT350R
It’s taken out Porsches in multiple comparison tests … just the only thing missing is the low price …

I’ve owned Miatas and S2000s in the past

I’ve driven Dark Horses with HP and it’s amazing it really is a completely different driving experience… I could drive a Dark Horses 500 miles no issue … I want to kill my car after a few hours lol the Dark Horse to me actually drives more like the GT500 so it’s definitely not an insult to the Dark Horse …

if you haven’t seen this video… it’s a 350R being reviewed by a bmw and Miata guy

 

[young at heart]

I’ve driven Dark Horses with HP and it’s amazing it really is a completely different driving experience… I could drive a Dark Horses 500 miles no issue … I want to kill my car after a few hours lol the Dark Horse to me actually drives more like the GT500 so it’s definitely not an insult to the Dark Horse …

I have less than 400 miles on mine but I completely agree. The DH HP is unlike any car I’ve ever driven before and I’ve driven a few. It’s scary good.

 

[9secondko]

A miata isn't a muscle car nor a pony car by any stretch if the imagination, which is what the mustang HAS been since 1964.5. I don't see how the mustang could ever be anything else.

The mach-E seemed like blasphemy to me, although if Ford had to do it for political/EPA reasons in order to keep being allowed to make the V8 mustangs (which is pure speculation / conspiracy theory on my part) then I get that aspect of it.

The thing about making it a 911 beater, it would have to have its weight significantly reduced, it's chassis redesigned, and have a brand new engine, which would be VERY expensive, not just to design, but to mass produce, compared to Porsche who has basically mastered the supply chain and assembly line aspects of producing a product that is already so good and in such high demand that they're selling for tens of thousands of dollars above MSRP.

the Mach e does nothing to help the Mustang. They named it “Mustang” to help sell the suv. If the Mach e helps anything, it’s to even out CAFE numbers for the bazillion f150s ford sells each year.

but then again, they don’t sell enough Mach e’s to do that. And the Mustang is selling in low enough numbers that it’s fuel mileage isn’t hurting anything.

that whole line about epa was smoke to try to throw unthinking masses off the real reason - simply hijacking the cool car name to add fake heritage to some new ev suv.

not only does it not help the Mustang, it adds confusion and also seems to have hurt the SUVs sales numbers. Just a dumb move all the way around with zero redeeming qualities. Tragic actually.

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