Rae Castillon on August 20, 2024 No Comments
Few cars can be named icons since the birth of the first motor car in 1886. Even fewer have held onto their legacy of being icons, winning the hearts of millions, and even making it to the big screen. One of them is the Shelby GT500. Given its extensive history, one might wonder: when was the last Shelby GT500 made?
In an ever-changing industry and with the rise of EVs, has the Shelby name stood the test of time? How far has it come since the first introduction in 1967? Below, we’ll answer this and touch on more burning questions, so keep reading to find out.
A Walkthrough of Its History: When Was the Last Shelby GT500 Made?
The last Shelby GT500 was made in 2022. However, the classic Mustang Shelby underwent many changes and adaptations until the final special edition release in 2022. So, you can read about its history below.
How it all started
The first-ever GT500 was made in 1967, originally known as the Ford Mustang. It debuted in 1964 as a Pony car, later modified with a 428-cubic inch 7.0L V8 generating 355 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque and a rear-wheel drive drivetrain. It was made possible by the man himself, Carroll Shelby.
Shelby was a race car driver and a legend in the racing industry. He had a high-performance driving school in Los Angeles called Shelby-American, where he sold modified Ford chassis.
The original model was produced from 1967 until 1970. Around 7,000 models were made in the first four years of production, with most (around 2,800) being made in the first year. In 2005, the Shelby name was reintroduced as a high-performance model of the fifth-generation Mustang (S197) and S197 II Facelift.
Last generation
With the blessing of Shelby himself, the last generation of Shelby Mustangs was made available to the public. From 2007 to 2014, a total of 47,996 GT500s were sold with minor refreshes to the body kit and a massive 5.8L V8 engine producing 662 horsepower driving the rear wheels. Unfortunately, Shelby never got to see the last of his creations roll off the production line as he passed away in May 2012.
A new chapter
In November 2019, Ford introduced the first-ever EV Mustang, known as the Mach-E. Production kicked off in 2020, and the model went on sale in 2021. And that’s how the Mustang became a midsize SUV for the first time.
The car community was surprised but not impressed by this decision as they witnessed the classic V8 being replaced in favor of an electric motor. Luckily, Ford didn’t stop selling the classic Mustang and went as far as to improve it, launching the 6th generation Mustang alongside the Shelby GT500 high-performance model.
What is the newest Shelby GT500? The newest Shelby GT500 was introduced in 2020 as the 6th generation Mustang or the S550.
In a GT500 fashion, it sported a 5.2L V8 engine with a 7-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive drivetrain producing 760 horsepower, a 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 190MPH. With a sticker price of around $100,000, it might be the most expensive model year ever.
The end of an era
When was the last Shelby GT500 made? After this release came a special edition in 2022 called the Mustang GT500 Heritage Edition, inspired by the original GT500 and limited to 255 units. It also included the limited GT500KR (King of the Road) with over 900 horsepower. This marked the end of the Shelby GT500.
What were the specifications of the last Shelby GT500? The last GT500 boasted a 5.2L Intercooled Supercharger Premium Unleaded V8 engine with 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque. It had a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission for twisting rear wheels without the option for manual transmission.
The colors for the last Shelby GT500 were breathtaking, ranging from vibrant blue, green, orange, red, black, silver, and white. The white stripes characteristic of the GT500 cost over $2,000 when applied as vinyl stickers – still much more affordable than the $10,000 paint job.
Ford Mustang: A Movie Star
The most popular movie car ever is, in fact, the Ford Mustang – more specifically, the GT500. Over the course of 50 years, the various models of the car have starred in over 500 movies.
You’ll spot it in the movie Bullitt starring Steve McQueen, one of Hollywood’s most famous “bad boys.” Another one is the movie Gone in 60 Seconds, starring Nicolas Cage and the GT500, which went by the name Eleanor – probably the most famous Shelby GT500 ever.
Other noteworthy movies include Escape from L.A., James Bond’s Diamonds Are Forever and Goldfinger, Transformers, Need for Speed, and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
Fun fact: The Mustang had a controversial appearance in Tokyo Drift, where it drifted on a canyon with a Nissan engine, which made the car community quite mad. The Fast and Furious franchise made up for it in the 6th movie, where it sported a V8 engine only to be crushed by a tank.
Altogether, it’s undoubtedly the darling car of Hollywood movies, and it has stayed that way for 55 years.
Conclusion
Let’s recap: when was the last Shelby GT500 made? It was made in 2022 as part of the special edition collection that aimed to pack the most powerful engine ever seen in a Shelby. Only 255 units were made, so only the luckiest car enthusiasts managed to get their hands on it.
The first-ever GT500—originally known as the Ford Mustang—was made in 1967 and was produced for four years. The car has appeared in iconic movies like Bullitt and as part of the 007 and Fast and Furious franchises.
Due to the limited number of models produced in automotive history and its widespread appeal, the GT500 is considered a classic car. Being the most powerful road car Ford has designed and boasting a beautiful, sleek appearance, it’s no wonder it’s stood the test of time and become a beloved car model. Today, there are licensed reproduction manufacturers like Revology Cars that restore the original Shelby GTs featuring modern technologies.
