There is absolutely nothing ‘regular’ about the 2013-2014 Shelby GT500, the most powerful Mustang to ever leave a Ford factory. Boasting an incredible 662 horsepower and arguably reigniting the muscle car wars that are a thing of legend, this supercharged pony car stampeded over the best GM and Chrysler had to offer by nearly 100 ponies just before Carroll Shelby passed away. And if you ask us, it seemed like a fitting tribute to a man who made going fast his business.
But now that time has worn away the nostalgia of Shelby’s passing, and a new generation of Mustangs is carving out its own legend, Regular Car Reviews has deigned to pass unbiased judgement over the last generation GT500. Beware, some Mustang and Shelby enthusiasts may take offense.
First, Mr. Regular takes issue with the notion that the Shelby name has become watered-down through overuse, to which he may have a point. Ford has definitely pimped the Shelby name out in the name of profits; and while this allows enthusiasts to obtain some great cars out of the deal, it’s at a premium price. He also not-so-casually points out that the supercharged 5.8-liter engine in this Shelby is not in fact based on the highly-regarded 5.0 Coyote platform, but rather the Condor/Trinity 5.4-liter version of the modular engine family.
Mr. Regular also bemoans the fact that Ford gave the GT500 two overdrive gears for 5th and 6th, at which point our host claims that it “no longer feels like a Shelby.” That’s a bold statement from one of the most highly-acclaimed sports cars ever built, though he’s not solely-critical of the car itself. Mr. Regular sings high praises for the last hurrah of the venerable 8.8-inch rear end, and he compares the acceleration in second gear favorably to the Ariel Atom.
The tone of this video hovers between fawning adoration and critical review, taking no prisoners while readily admitting to being somewhat starstruck. Still, the question remains, does Mr. Regular make a point? Or is he just being pretentious for contention’s sake?