Shelby American’s 825-hp Super Snake Speedster is one mean droptop pony
Shelby American’s latest take on the Mustang brings a wider stance, a boatload more power, and, if you so specify, exactly zero rear seats. Just 98 copies of the 2021 Shelby Super Snake Speedster will be available, and each one starts with a Mustang GT convertible that goes under the knife at Shelby’s Las Vegas HQ and emerges with new looks and 825 horsepower.
The transformation from Mustang GT to Shelby Super Snake includes a new fascia with aggressive brake cooling ducts. A Shelby ram-air hood (with functional vents) and new rocker panels carry the sporty theme from the front to the back of the car, where Shelby adds a spoiler, tail panel, and rear diffuser. An optional wide-body package pairs aluminum front fenders with custom bodywork on the quarter panels—as seen in this example—for a noticeably more athletic stance. All the visual cues create a unique look and an attitude that’s clearly meant for business, and the hardware under the body is ready to back it up.
The heart of each Super Snake Speedster begins with a 5.0-liter V-8. A Whipple supercharger rams extra air into the Coyote mill, and a Shelby by Borla exhaust makes way for the extra volume of spent gasses. The resulting 850 horsepower demands beefed-up half-shafts and an expanded cooling system that includes a Shelby radiator and supercharger heat exchanger. Brakes are also on the list, with six-piston Brembo calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear. Manual-transmission cars get a one-piece driveshaft and short-throw shifter, while automatic cars get an upgraded fluid cooler. All of them use a Ford Performance Track Pack suspension with Shelby springs and stabilizers bar selected to make the most use of the 20-inch forged wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport rubber. Shelby promises a 0–60 sprint in just 3.5 seconds!
Inside this special Shelby droptop is an upgraded interior with a new gauge cluster, sill plates, and floor mats. Unique to the speedster is the tonneau that covers the rear-seat area and, to our eyes, does much to transform the look of the car. The rear seats can stay in place, just in case you need to remove the tonneau for 2+2 touring, but a rear-seat delete and harness bar are also available.
Just 98 Speedsters are available, commemorating 98 years since the birth of Carroll Shelby. An additional 98 non-Speedster Super Snakes will also be available. The base price for the package is $79,995; since each is based on a manual-transmission 2021 Mustang GT donor, the Speedster will start at $133,785.
If you’ve got to have one of these limited-production Super Snakes, reservations are open now.
