In 2012, Shelby American celebrated its 50th Anniversary, a milestone few could have imagined the company to have ever reached when it first launched decades prior. At the helm of Shelby American, was automotive luminary Carrol Shelby, who would ultimately be responsible for producing some of the most iconic Mustangs to have ever been built.
In celebration of this milestone, Ford and Shelby American paired together once again, in a bid to produce three distinct Anniversary edition Mustangs. Of these three commemorative Mustangs, none were more powerful than the 2012 50th Anniversary GT500 Super Snake.
Performance Personified
The 50th Anniversary GT500 could be easily distinguished from base GT offerings of the same year, by its outwardly striking appearance. The Super Snake featured custom carbon-fiber front and rear fascias, as well as a unique hood, which included a hulking air scoop of rather epic proportions.
This commemorative Shelby also featured a front and rear brake cooling duct kit, “Shelby” rear deck lid lettering, and a host of billet 50th Anniversary badges.
The Super Snake was offered in two individual color schemes, Performance White with Gold stripes, and Black with Gold stripes. A total of only 50 Shelby’s of each color were produced. Performance White Super Snakes were fitted with Durabrite finished wheels, while those of a Black color scheme were equipped with matte black finished Shelby/Alcoa wheels.
The 50th Anniversary Super Snake also received a revised interior, which included custom stitched Katzkin trim, gold contrast stitching, perforated seat inserts, and Anniversary-series floor mats.
Additional interior upgrades included custom leather shifter/emergency brake boots, embroidered seatbacks, A-pillar mounted gauges, and a white cue-ball billet short-throw shifter.
All 50th Anniversary Super Snakes also featured sequentially numbered dash plaques, that could be found directly above the vehicle’s console. This plaque was used to validate the authenticity of every Super Snake produced by Shelby American.
Endless Power On Tap
Perhaps most notable, was the 50th Anniversary GT500 Super Snake’s 750 HP output. This was made possible through the use of a Whipple-supercharged V8, which proved more than capable of pinning one to their seat under periods of spirited acceleration. This engine also featured a Shelby/Borla cat-back exhaust system.
Additionally, a 3.6L liquid-cooled Kenne Bell supercharged powerplant was also available to consumers, which produced an astounding 800 HP. The Super Snake’s output was directed through a Dynotech single-piece driveshaft, and a set of 3.73:1 rear gears.
The Super Snake came equipped with an upgraded Ford Racing suspension kit, which featured updated springs, stabilizer bars, and front strut tower braces, as well as a Shelby caster/camber adjustment kit. Additionally, Eibach adjustable coil-over and Shelby Watts Link rear suspension kits were also available on an optional basis.
Stopping duties were handled by special edition Wilwood six-piston brakes in the front, and Wilwood four-piston brakes in the rear. These calipers were painted gloss black and featured gold lettering.
The King Of Commemorative Mustangs
If you are both an avid collector of rare Mustangs, and an unabashed performance junky, then the 50th Anniversary Shelby GT500 Super Snake is sure to check every box. This commemorative Mustang is as elegant as it is powerful and serves as a tribute to the accomplishments of one of the industry’s most renowned designers. Sadly, the world lost Carrol Shelby in 2012. However, his legacy lives on in the very cars which bear his name.
2012 50th Anniversary GT500 SS Specifications
| Engine | 5.4L V8 |
| Horsepower | 750/800 horsepower |
| Torque | 590 lb-ft torque + |
| 0-60 MPH | 3.3 sec |
| Quarter Mile Time | 12.4 sec |
| Weight | 3,825 lbs |
| Base Price | $59,995 on top of
base cost of car |
| Production Numbers | 100: 50 in White, 50 in Black |
Available Exterior Colors
The 2012 50th Anniversary GT500 SS was available in Performance White and Black, each with gold stripes.
Available Interior Colors
The 2012 50th Anniversary GT500 SS interior came complete with black leather, gold contrast stitching, and an embroidered 50th Anniversary logo on the seat back.
2012 50th Anniversary GT500 SS Mustang Video
We found a great video of the 2012 50th Anniversary GT500 SS Mustang.
