It’s true. Shelby American resurrected the GT350 and GT350R nameplates from their graves. And with a supercharger in the mix, the new models will outmuscle the now-discontinued Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. However, the S650 Mustang-based Shelby performance cars won’t have one of the previous model’s best qualities.
The 2025 Shelby GT350 will summon over 800 horsepower, but it’s still missing some of the previous model’s magic
In 2020, Ford closed the books on the Shelby GT350. I can hear you already. “So, what? It’s another Mustang.” Well, the GT350 had a bit of a bragging right. Most notably, the now-discontinued Shelby Mustang had the 5.2L Voodoo V8 engine under its long bonnet.
Specifically, the 5.2L mill was Ford’s first (and only) production flat-plane crank engine ever to live in a production Mustang model. That might not mean much to you, but hang on. Part of the magic behind a flat-plane application, beyond its squat package, is how the thing revs.
Let me put it to you this way. The 5.0L Coyote V8 in the 2025 Ford Mustang Dark Horse revs to around 7,250 rpm. The Voodoo V8, on the other hand, will sing all the way up to 8,250. Better yet, the iconic Shelby nameplate is making a comeback for 2025.
“The Shelby GT350 and the Shelby GT350R are back for 2025,” said the President of Shelby American, Gary Patterson. “Just as Carroll Shelby envisioned in 1965, this sports car is designed to be exhilarating and competitive on both the street and track.
However, the new GT350 isn’t all that similar to the old one. For starters, the 2025 Shelby GT350 isn’t a factory Ford car anymore. Consequently, the new performance car doesn’t return with the Voodoo.
Instead, the GT350 and GT350R pack the 5.0L Coyote V8. With the addition of a supercharger, the GT350 will produce around 810 horsepower. However, the GT350R will produce closer to 830 horsepower.
Granted, the S650-generation Shelby Mustang outmuscles the previous model by a wide margin with the supercharger. Still, fans might miss the high revs and, of course, the soundtrack of the flat-plane engine. Also, with a starting price of around $109,999, a supercharged S650 Shelby GT350 will set you back over twice as much as a used iteration.
