Even though the GT500 is the top factory Mustang, MotorTube’s latest video shows that an aftermarket setup for the Mustang GT has some potential.
The latest generation Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 has quickly become something of an icon in the muscle car world. Along with the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, the GT500 is the yardstick against which all ultra-quick pony and muscle cars get measured.
Meanwhile, lower down in the Ford pecking order sits the Mustang GT 5.0 – a car that for years has been the entry point for many looking to have some V8 muscle car fun. In his latest video, Ron from MotorTube tries to see if a supercharged base Mustang GT can really keep up with Ford’s halo product.
Stock Shelby GT500 Vs Supercharged Ford Mustang GT
While the Ford Mustang GT might be the entry for most muscle car enthusiasts, there is no shortage of tuning options to turn your basic pony car into a fire-breathing monster.
These can come in the form of fully built aftermarket manufacturer builds from the likes of Saleen, Roush, or Hennessey, while there are more than enough part options to make your own DIY Mustang build.
This is exactly the route Ron’s friend has gone down with his manual 5.0 Coyote Mustang GT build. Virtually all the engine internals are standard, with the main upgrade being the 3.0 Whipple twin-screw supercharger kit along with upgraded headers and a cold air intake – all tuned on 93-octane.
The car also sits on Mickey Thompson 305 drag tires at the rear wrapped around VMS 17” wheels so that the extra 300 hp can get to the road effectively. After Ron finished taking us around the supercharged Mustang GT, he then takes a quick look at his friends’ bone stock Mustang Shelby GT500.
Can Bolt-On Mods Really Defeat Ford’s Fastest Mustang?
Ron then gets into the passenger seat of the GT500 and then heads onto the highway to see how the two cars stack up against one another. A quick side note – in the interest of fairness, both cars have someone in the passenger seat for every run to balance out the extra weight.
The two Mustangs line up on the highway and do several roll-on pulls, starting at 40 mph. Surprisingly, despite making about 25 less hp, the supercharged 5.0 GT takes the first round.
The guys then do a couple of 50 mph roll-ons and this time it’s the GT500 that takes the win both times. Lastly, both cars do a couple of 60 mph roll-ons and it’s a win a piece for both cars. Ron says that the sticky drag tires and the extra torque on the GT meant that it had the grip advantage at lower speeds.
As the speeds increased, however, the 7-speed DCT transmission in the Shelby GT500 came into its own with the manual in the GT struggling to keep up.
