Front Page Articles

News: 2015 Shelby GT

Photo of author

By EditorTurner

News: 2015 Shelby GT

Next Level

Shelby American reveals its first version of the S550 Mustang—the Shelby GT

By Steve Turner
Photos courtesy of Shelby American

Today, Shelby American took the cover off its latest post-title conversion vehicle, the 2015 Shelby GT. Not to be confused with the Ford-built Shelby GT350, this is a post-title conversion for owners of 2015 Mustang GTs. You simply deliver a new coupe or convertible to the company’s Las Vegas headquarters (or one of the company’s authorized Mod Shops) and have it upgraded with a well-rounded package of performance and appearance modifications. In the end, it will become a serialized part of the Shelby family.

The 2015 Shelby GT is an eye-catcher in Triple Yellow. The obvious changes are the bulging, ducted hood, billet grilles, valances, wheels, and striping. The hood, front splitter, and brake ducts are all built from light, durable carbon fiber. The mirror covers are carbon fiber as well.
The 2015 Shelby GT is an eye-catcher in Triple Yellow. The obvious changes are the bulging, ducted hood, billet grilles, valances, wheels, and striping. The hood, front splitter, and brake ducts are all built from light, durable carbon fiber. The mirror covers are carbon fiber as well.

“We took a new approach with the 2015 Shelby GT,” Shelby American Vice President of Operations Akos J. Feher, said. “We had a lot of fun designing these cars and ended up building the most powerful Shelby GT ever offered without sacrificing reliability. All exterior parts were designed and developed in-house, with every component exclusive to Shelby. We only used lightweight carbon fiber for all the aerodynamic components, including the brand new hood. The components were designed to allow a high level of customization for our customers, like the new billet aluminum front grilles.”

Along with the signature bodywork and stripes, the Shelby GT wears a Powered by Ford fender badge and a small Shelby emblem behind the quarter window. The factory IRS is upgraded with Ford Racing’s rugged halfshafts, and a performance differential is an option.
Along with the signature bodywork and stripes, the Shelby GT wears a Powered by Ford fender badge and a small Shelby emblem behind the quarter window. The factory IRS is upgraded with Ford Racing’s rugged halfshafts, and a performance differential is an option.

While the Shelby GT’s appearance mods are all new, many of the performance modifications are from a familiar source—Ford Racing. In fact, we are told that this reliance on factory hot rod parts has resulted in a car with vastly increased performance and factory levels of noise, vibration, and harshness. The obvious upgrade is the Ford Racing supercharger and calibration, but the car also utilizes Ford Racing’s Handling Pack, which includes dampers, springs, and sway bars.

“The 2015 Shelby GT is a nicely balanced muscle car that does everything well, whether on the track or on the drag strip” Gary Patterson, Shelby American Vice President of Strategic Sales and Media Relations, said. “This post-title program takes performance to extreme levels. At the same time, the styling is sleek, yet uniquely American with touches from Shelby history. Based on the fantastic new Ford Mustang platform, the Shelby GT can easily double as formidable daily driver and then run rings around the competition at track events.”

If you want to see the car in action, you can see the various Shelby GTs running on track right here:

As many upgrades as the car receives, the interior remains relatively true to the great styling that Ford provides. Shelby American recovers the factory seats with Katzkin leather covers, and the standard seats receive Shelby-logo’d headrests. The dash is upfit with a carbon-fiber dash pod and three gauges. Naturally, the dash plaque wears the car’s CSM number. The cabin also gets Shelby GT doorsill plates and floor mats.

Unlike the Shelby GTs of the past, the supercharger will not be optional. It is standard. Shelby American is employing the tried and true Ford Racing/Roush 2.3-liter supercharger and its accompanying calibration to boost the 5.0-liter engine to 627 horsepower and still retain emissions compliance. You can, however, opt for a 700-horsepower calibration, and we can’t imagine who wouldn’t opt for that!
Unlike the Shelby GTs of the past, the supercharger will not be optional. It is standard. Shelby American is employing the tried and true Ford Racing/Roush 2.3-liter supercharger and its accompanying calibration to boost the 5.0-liter engine to 627 horsepower and still retain emissions compliance. You can, however, opt for a 700-horsepower calibration, and we can’t imagine who wouldn’t opt for that!

It remains unsaid at the moment, but we would imagine that many of the parts would also be available via Shelby Performance Parts. However, only full conversions will garner the caché of being in the Shelby American Worldwide Registry via the aforementioned CSM number.

“The demand for Shelby vehicles, parts and products around the globe continues to skyrocket,” Neil Cummings co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International and CEO of Carroll Shelby Licensing, said. “In addition to a superb facility in Las Vegas, Shelby is establishing mod shops worldwide. This will allow enthusiasts worldwide who have access to a Ford Mustang to transform it into a Shelby GT locally.”

The cost of the conversion, not including the price of a 2015 GT, is $39,995. You can configure one online right here.


Both the billet grilles and the four NACA ducts in the bulging hood are modular in design, so you can tailor the look to your needs. While Shelby American is still working on the options, it will be possible to choose from open hood vents or those with vented grilles.
Both the billet grilles and the four NACA ducts in the bulging hood are modular in design, so you can tailor the look to your needs. While Shelby American is still working on the options, it will be possible to choose from open hood vents or those with vented grilles.
Remember those Shelby/Weld Venice wheels we showed you a while back? Well, they are part of the Shelby GT package, measuring 20x9.5 inches in front and by 20x10.5 inches out back. They are fitted with Michelin Super Sport tires, P275/35ZR-20 and P305/30ZR-20 respectively. Behind these wheels are the optional Shelby/Wilwood brakes. The front stoppers feature two-piece 15-inch rotors clamped by six-piston Aerolite calipers, while the rears wear 14-inch rotors with four- piston calipers.
Remember those Shelby/Weld Venice wheels we showed you a while back? Well, they are part of the Shelby GT package, measuring 20×9.5 inches in front and by 20×10.5 inches out back. They are fitted with Michelin Super Sport tires, P275/35ZR-20 and P305/30ZR-20 respectively. Behind these wheels are the optional Shelby/Wilwood brakes. The front stoppers feature two-piece 15-inch rotors clamped by six-piston Aerolite calipers, while the rears wear 14-inch rotors with four- piston calipers.
In line with the Shelby tradition, the trunk lid wears a Shelby badge and the familiar Shelby lettering. In what could be a new tradition, the generous use of carbon fiber extends to the rear spoiler and taillight panel.
In line with the Shelby tradition, the trunk lid wears a Shelby badge and the familiar Shelby lettering. In what could be a new tradition, the generous use of carbon fiber extends to the rear spoiler and taillight panel.
The only other engine performance mod on the car is a Borla/Shelby cat-back exhaust system featuring unique oval tips that match the Shelby rear diffuser. And, what a sexy diffuser it is. The generous use of carbon fiber on the new Shelby GT gets this writer’s blood pumping.
The only other engine performance mod on the car is a Borla/Shelby cat-back exhaust system featuring unique oval tips that match the Shelby rear diffuser. And, what a sexy diffuser it is. The generous use of carbon fiber on the new Shelby GT gets this writer’s blood pumping.

The Mod List

Performance
• Ford Racing 627-plus-horsepower supercharger
• Ford Racing by Borla exhaust with Shelby oval tips
• Ford Racing halfshafts
• Ford Racing handling pack with upgraded shocks, springs and sway bars
• Ford Racing short-throw shifter for the manual cars
• Wilwood performance front brake upgrade
• Shelby Venice wheels by Weld Racing, 20×9.5 (front) and 20×10.5 (rear)
• Michelin tires 275/35-20 (front) and 305/30-20 (rear)
• 3:73 rear gears

Exterior
• Carbon-fiber hood with customizable hood vents
• Carbon-fiber front splitter
• Carbon-fiber rocker panels
• Carbon-fiber two-piece rear diffuser
• Carbon-fiber rear deck lid
• Carbon-fiber trunk spoiler
• Carbon-fiber mirror covers
• Carbon-fiber hood extension
• Modular customizable billet aluminum upper and lower front grilles
• Shelby GT striping
• Shelby GT badging on front grille and on C-pillars
• Shelby faux gas cap
• Powered by Ford front fender badges
• Shelby lettering on trunk lid
• Washer relocation kit

Interior
• Shelby branded custom headrests
• CSM dash plaque and engine plate
• Carbon-fiber dash pod with three gauges
• Shelby GT door sill plates
• Shelby branded floor mats

Optional Equipment
• 700-plus-horsepower performance upgrade
• Painted carbon-fiber options
• Rear brake upgrade
• Shelby custom interior on both stock and Recaro seats
• Front brake cooling system
• Carbon fiber intakes
• Fog light relocation
• Air injection plate with channeling
• Shelby Extreme Cooling system
• Adjustable track suspension package
• Engine dress up package
• Track Delivery Experience

2015 Shelby GT Gallery

Comments

comments

Video: Air Lift S197 Suspension Install

News: 2016 Shelby GT350R Auction

3 thoughts on “News: 2015 Shelby GT”

  2. I dont see why someone will get this package if they can just wait and buy the Shelby GT350 which is not only better looking, I am sure it will also be cheaper to buy. I think it’s too much money and not very good looking, I think the billet grill and hood are the parts that makes this car a bit on the ugly side. Either way I am sure there are people who have the money and taste that matches this sort of car.

  3. Pingback: News: 2015 Shelby Super Snake | SVTPerformance

Leave a Comment