Helping to put the power of the GT500's supercharged V-8 to the pavementis a T-56 six-speed manual gearbox. The evenly spaced gears mean lessstirring is needed to find the "sweet spot" in keeping the revs "on cam"for power to pass, while at the same time making the most of theengine's broad torque curve. The heavy-duty transmission has provenitself a willing companion to V-8 power in Mustangs in both road andtrack environments, including the 2000 SVT Mustang Cobra R, 2004 SVTMustang Cobra and the new race-winning Ford Racing Mustang FR500C.
Great power requires great control
The great Shelby Mustangs of the 1960s were anything but one-trickponies. They earned their stripes on twisty roads and race tracks acrossAmerica and Europe. The Shelby Cobra GT500 show car continues thatlegacy of all-around performance.
The GT500 starts with the solid 2005 Mustang underpinnings. The all-newMustang's platform was designed from the beginning with performancederivatives in mind, providing an exceptionally rigid, well-engineeredstarting point for SVT chassis engineers.
Using real-world experience gained during more than 12 years of buildinggreat-handling SVT Mustang Cobras, SVT engineers retune and upgrade keychassis components. Improvements such as revised shocks, spring ratesand upgraded stabilizer bars help the GT500 stop and turn with the sameauthority as it goes.
The GT500 features a MacPherson strut independent front suspension with"Reverse L" lower control arms, and a solid-axle, three-link rearsuspension with coil springs and a Panhard rod for precise control ofthe rear axle.
This rear suspension design has been validated on the track by FordRacing. The race-prepared Ford Racing Mustang FR500C was purpose-builtfrom the base 2005 Mustang body structure and suspension geometry to runin the Grand-Am Cup series, a class of road racing for production-basedcars. Competing against the best from Germany and Japan, a MustangFR500C competed in and won its first ever race in the season-opener atDaytona International Speedway in February 2005.
"SVT and Ford Racing will be working closer than ever as we go forwardon future projects, especially Mustangs," says Thai-Tang, a Ford Racingalumnus who served as the race engineer for the Newman-Haas Racing teamin 1993. "The Mustang FR500C racing program is an exact demonstration ofthe capability we engineered into the mainstream Mustang to be capableof. Now, we have both a Daytona victory and the return of the ShelbyCobra GT500 to showcase Mustang performance possibilities."
To match this power and handling ability, SVT fitted some of the biggestbrakes in the business to the GT500. Fourteen-inch cross-drilled Bremborotors up front and 13-inch discs in the rear continue SVT's legacy ofgreat-braking Mustangs. Secure footing is provided by 19-inch wheelswrapped in high-performance tires.
The snake is back - Legendary looks with SVT function
The Shelby Cobra GT500 combines the dramatic design genes of the all-newMustang with Carroll Shelby's legendary performance image to create anSVT Mustang that broadens the power brand's design approach and appeal.