Next-gen Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 wanted in Oz

If the just-launched seventh-generation Ford Mustang is indeed the Blue Oval brand’s last ever V8-powered pony car, the rumoured Shelby GT500 could become one of the most sought-after derivatives and most collectible American muscle cars in recent memory.

Ford is still tight-lipped about the future expansion of the new S650-series Mustang range following the launch of the HP, GT and Dark Horse models in the US last week, but it’s almost certain to offer several mind-melting monsters including a supercharged GT500 Super Snake by 2025.

Like its forebears, the previous sixth-generation (S550) Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 was only built in left-hand drive and therefore never officially sold by Ford in Australia.

Quizzed over what form the next-gen GT500 would take and whether it would be offered in right-hand drive for markets like Australia, the new Mustang’s chief vehicle integration engineer, Tim Smith, hedged his bets.

“Yeah, we’ll see,” he told carsales.

“I'm focussed on the launch of this Mustang Dark Horse right now and I’m not sure where the product planning guys are [with upcoming models],” he insisted.

“All my engineering friends, my GSR and supervisory level, we always talk about, ‘Oh, what would we do [with the GT500]?’ But that’s just us being car guys,” he said before his PR handler moved the conversation along.

The last GT500 was powered by a hand-built 5.2-litre supercharged V8 that belted out an epic 566kW/847kW during its short production run between 2020 and 2022.

It remains the world’s fastest and most powerful factory-backed road-going Mustang, so you can expect the Shelby GT500’s successor to pump out around 800hp or almost 600kW.

Last year, Ford’s global vehicle director for Ford Performance – which includes the Mustang – told carsales the new-generation S650 Mustang is easier and more affordable to convert to right-hand drive, suggesting that GT500 models are more likely for Australia.

“We know how to do [Mustang] architecture that is very modular now and can flip a left-hand drive to a right-hand drive,” said Ali Jammoul.

“If you build it [Mustang] in a modular way initially… you can flip to right-hand drive, whether it’s electrical harnesses or the steering column, or the dash panel, or the instrument panel.”

Given that Australia is now the Mustang’s biggest export market, Ford Australia has more sway than ever to convince Shelby to produce vehicles like the GT500 in right-hand drive.

Failing that, the new S650 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 could make its way into Aussie Ford showrooms in limited quantities via the brand’s new local RHD remanufacturing partner, RMA Automotive, which is now busy converting the Ford F-150 for official release Down Under next month.

Smith previously explained that Ford will do everything it can to ensure the Mustang V8 continues for as long as there is customer demand.

He hinted that Ford still has a number of tricks up its sleeve when it comes to Mustang powertrains, but wouldn’t be drawn on whether they could include turbochargers or electric assistance to boost power and reduce CO2 emissions in future.

“The V8 is so iconic. We’re always testing everything – different things,” he said. Watch this space.

Join the conversation at 

our Facebook page

Or email us at 

editor@carsales.com.au