Last year, the Mustang community was stirred by the emergence of images showcasing a particular Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 prototype featuring a prominent hood bulge. Opinions on what lay beneath the hood varied.
Revan Evan, known for his YouTube channel, had the opportunity to spend quality time with the GT350 prototype, accompanied by a group of Ford engineers. This allowed him to take a close look beneath the distinctive hood. And what did he find? None other than Ford’s 7.3-liter naturally aspirated “Godzilla” V-8 engine.
This GT350-based prototype had previously served as a testing platform for various components. Before receiving the 7.3-liter engine, it had been sitting idle for some time. Specifically, this 7.3-liter prototype was engineered to function with a manual transmission, complementing the existing 7.3-liter and automatic transmission pairing available as a crate option.
Notably, for the manual version, Ford had developed a distinct intake manifold with the throttle body positioned level, in contrast to the upward orientation found in the Super Duty. This unique design was the reason behind the prototype’s oversized and peculiarly shaped hood.
