Oxford White 2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Credit: mustangfanclub.com

2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Overview

For decades, the GT500 has regularly served as the most stellar performer in the Mustang lineup. This is a tradition that has carried on into the 2021 model year. The 2021 Mustang GT500 turns out mind-numbing performance statistics, without even breaking a sweat while standing head and shoulders above the rest of the 2021 lineup in terms of total output.

Beneath the 2021 GT500’s hood, is a 5.2-liter supercharged. Cross Plane Crank V8, capable of churning out 760 horsepower and 625 lb.-ft. of torque. All of this equates to a production pony car with top speeds in excess of 180 MPH.

However, the 2021 GT500’s worth extends far beyond the occasional trip to the drag strip. Ford engineered the most recent iteration of the GT500 to be just as agile, as it is brutish. This super-stang has been praised far and wide for its stellar handling and superb cornering capabilities, which can be further amplified through the purchase of Ford’s Carbon Handling Package.

Model 2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Generation 6th Generation Mustang
Type 2 Door
Body Styles Coupe
Engines 5.2L Supercharged Cross Plane Crank V8
Original Price $72,900
Units Produced TBD

Background & Details

Since its 1967 debut, the Mustang GT500 has served as Ford’s answer for those with an insatiable need for speed. Though its history has been filled with production pauses, and often lengthy hiatuses, the GT500’s latest incarnation has become nothing short of an instant classic. The GT350 may have been retired at the end of 2020, but the GT500’s Mach 1 stablemate is also an exciting addition to the roster worth checking out.

Though the GT500 has never let any grass grow beneath it, the legendary Mustang reached a new pinnacle in performance during the 2020 model year. With 760 horsepower on-tap, the 2020 GT500 became Ford’s most powerful production vehicle to date. This is a distinction that is now shared with the 2021 GT500, which boasts virtually identical performance numbers.

For the 2021 model year, Ford has begun offering a new Carbon Handling Package, which can be applied to the GT500 at the time of purchase. GT500s optioned in this manner will come equipped with a number of upgraded components such as 20-inch carbon fiber wheels and adjustable strut top mounts.

Alternatively, consumers can opt for the GT500 Carbon Fiber Track Package, which includes additional upgrades, not offered in the standard Handling Package. Some of the most notable of these revisions include the addition of a custom instrument panel, specialty track wiring, and high-performance Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2 tires.

The 2021 Mustang GT500 is a brutally fast tribute to the muscle machines of the foregone era, for which it is named. However, much of the 2021 GT500’s appeal lies in its range of versatility. Ford’s latest high-output offering is just as capable of barrelling through hairpin curves, as it is pounding the pavement during a ¼ mile pull. Simply put, this year’s GT500 is quite possibly the most refined high-output Mustang to have ever reached production.

Models & Packages

2021 GT500 with carbon fiber package
Credit: themustangsource.com

2021 Mustang Shelby GT500 Coupe

The 2021 Mustang GT500 is largely representative of Carrol Shelby’s vision. A true luminary of automotive design, Shelby spent much of his life pushing the envelope, in a bid to enhance the Mustang’s image to that of legendary status. This is a realization that most would feel has come to fruition. The 2021 GT500, with more than 700 horsepower on-tap, provides consumers with more bang for their buck than perhaps any other high-output vehicle of the era.

Underneath the GT500’s hood resides a supercharged 5.2-liter V8, capable of producing 760 horsepower and 625 lb.-ft. of torque. Quite ironically, the GT500 is not available with a manual transmission during the 2021 model year. Instead, the GT500’s robust powerplant comes paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which has been widely praised for its stellar level of responsiveness.

Most early reports also praise the 2021 GT500 for its superb handling capabilities and overall versatility. This is in stark contrast to earlier renditions of the GT500, which were largely known as extraordinary straight-line performers. These attributes, combined with a strikingly aggressive external facade, elevate the 2021 GT500’s appeal to an unprecedented level.

Carbon Fiber Track Pack

The Carbon Fiber Track Pack is offered in a bid to satisfy the needs of those consumers who wish to squeeze every possible ounce of performance out of their GT500. This package contains a myriad of upgraded accessories, many of which are aimed at enhancing the GT500’s on-track efficiency.

This package includes the following:

  • 20” Exposed Carbon Fiber Wheel
  • Adjustable Strut Top Mounts
  • Catch Can
  • Exposed Carbon Fiber Instrument panel
  • Exposed Carbon Fiber GT4 Track Wing
  • Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2 Tires

-Front 305/30R20

-Back 315/30R20

  • Rear Seat Removal
  • RECARO Leather-Trimmed Seats w/ Miko Suede
  • Splitter Wickers
  • Wheel Locking Kit

Carbon Fiber Handling Package

The Carbon Fiber Handling Package combines the upgraded steering/suspension components included in the base-handling package, with Ford’s new line of Carbon accessories specifically designed for the GT500.

This package includes the following:

  • 20” Black-painted Carbon Fiber Wheels
  • Adjustable Strut Top Mounts
  • Catch Can
  • Gurney Flap
  • Splitter Wickers
  • Wheel Locking Kit

Technology Package

The Technology Package aims to provide consumers with an interactive driving experience, like none other. This package is equally rich in audio, safety, and comfort features, which most GT500 owners should find significant value in.

This package includes the following:

  • 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system with subwoofer in the trunk
  • Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
  • Heated outside rearview mirrors with memory and Cobra puddle lights
  • Power 6- Driver’s seat with three-position memory (not available with the Recaro seat option)
  • Voice-Activated Touchscreen Navigation System with Pinch-to-
    Zoom Capability, SiriusXM Traffic, and Travel Link®

Handling Package

The Handling Package includes a number of upgraded components, which are intended to amplify the GT500’s cornering capabilities.

This package includes the following:

  • Adjustable Strut Top Mounts
  • Catch Can
  • Gurney Flap
  • Splitter Wickers
2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Twister Orange
Credit: Carbuzz.com

Specifications, Options & Detailed Stats

2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Production Numbers

2021 first-quarter production numbers were recently released to the public. During this period, Ford produced 17,000 Mustangs in total. However, no data was provided to detail the exact production numbers of each individual Mustang sub-model.

2021 Ford Mustang GT500 Options and Pricing

Options Description Retail Price
Base Model 2 Door GT500 Coupe $72,900.00
Handling Package $1,750.00
Technology Package $3,000.00
Carbon Fiber Handling Package $10,000.00
Carbon Fiber Track Package $18,500.00
Vinyl Stripes $1,000.00
Painted Black Roof $695.00
Painted Stripes $10,000.00
RECARO® Leather-Trimmed with Miko® Suede Seats $1,650.00

2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Exterior & Interior Colors

The 2021 Ford Mustang GT500 is available in the following 11 colors: Shadow Black, Oxford White, Velocity Blue, Iconic Silver, Race Red, Twister Orange, Antimatter Blue, Carbonized Gray, Rapid Red, Grabber Yellow, and Ford Performance Blue (which serves as a GT500 exclusive). The selection of Twister Orange and Rapid Red color codes do command an additional fee at the time of purchase.

The GT500’s interior comes in Ebony with Smoke Gray Accents.

There are 3 individual stripe kits available for the 2021 GT500.

These kits are as follows:

  • Vinyl “Over-the-Top” Racing Stripes in Ebony, Kona Blue, or Bright White.
  • Painted “Over-the-Top” Racing Stripes in Absolute Black, Oxford White, or Kona Blue.
  • Vinyl Side Stripes in Ebony, Kona Blue, or Bright White.   
2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Front View
©supercars.net

2021 Ford Mustang GT500 Engine Specifications

The 2021 GT500’s stellar performance comes complements of a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine. This powerplant is of a Cross Plane Crank design, which is naturally conducive to increased torque, enhanced responsiveness, and magnified exhaust resonance. The culmination of this technology, and the 5.2-liter V8’s substantial displacement, serves as a hotbed for performance at most any RPM range.

 

The supercharged 5.2-liter “Predator” V8 is built by hand, at Ford’s Romeo, Michigan, engine plant.

 

Engine Type 5.2L Supercharged Cross Plane Crank V8
Horsepower 760 @ 7,000rpm
Torque 625 lb ft @ 5,000rpm
Compression Ratio 9.5:1
Bore and Stroke 94 x 93 mm
Fuel Delivery Sequential Multi-port Electronic Fuel Injection
Exhaust Dual Exhaust with Electronic Valves and quad tips
Fuel Consumption 12cty/18hwy/14cmb
Transmission Type Tremec® 7-Speed Dual Clutch Transmission
Engine Block Material Aluminum
Cylinder Head Material Aluminum

 

2021 Ford Mustang GT500 Dimensions & Weight

Description Measure of GT500
Wheelbase 107 inches
Exterior Length 190.2 inches
Exterior Height 54.3 inches
Width Excluding Mirrors 76.6 inches
Trunk Capacity 13.5 cu.ft.
Curb Weight (manual/auto) 37304,182 lbs
Gas Tank Capacity 16 gal
2021 Ford Mustang GT500 Black
Credit: autoblog.com

2021 Ford Mustang GT500 Performance

Below we have 0-60 mph, top speed, quarter-mile, and other performance times for the 2021 Mustang GT500 range, where they are available.

0-60 mph 3.6 sec
0-100 mph 6.7 sec
¼ mile 11.4 sec
Top Speed 186 mph
Braking 70-0 142 feet

2021 Ford Mustang GT500 VIN Information

 2021 Ford Mustang GT500 VIN Information

This link will take you to a page that contains the VIN tag information for all years of Mustangs. Previously this information appeared on each Mustang’s year page but consolidating it has significantly reduced page loading times.

2021 Ford Mustang GT500 Grabber Yellow
Credit: motor1.com

2021 Ford Mustang GT500 Videos

We managed to find some great video reviews of the 2021 Mustang GT500, which are definitely worth a look.

2021 MUSTANG SHELBY GT500 – 700HP – Most Powerful Street-Legal Ford

Check out the 2021 Shelby GT500 –  760HP Engine, Exterior, Interior

Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Review: The Most RAUCOUS Road Car Ever |

Ford Mustang SHELBY GT500 Review: The MADDEST Muscle Car! | 4K

NEW 2021 – Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Super Sport – Exterior and Interior 4K