2008 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Description

A collector's item from the moment they were announced, 2008 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500s like this 2,775 actual mile example (no, that's not a misprint) have defied all odds and held their place in the market. For many enthusiasts, owning a Shelby anything is a badge of honor, and early GT500s are finding their way into the finest Shelby collections in the world. If you missed your opportunity when they were new, here's a second chance.

Finished in brilliant Grabber Orange with Black racing stripes, THIS is the Mustang you always wished Ford would build. You just know that as soon as they started moving forward with the retro-look, it was probably only a matter of minutes before some designer had sketched up a muscle-bound Shelby variant. With just 2,775 miles on the odometer, this Shelby GT500 is pretty much as new in every measurable way and the highest praise we can offer such a car is that it is factory fresh. There are only extremely minor signs of it ever having been on the road, which means no cracked chin spoiler, no road rash behind the wheel arches, and only one or miniscule two scuffs that take a trained eye to find at close inspection. Heck, even the tires look fresh, but you just know someone burned off a few thousandths in a parking lot somewhere, creating some expensive tire smoke. Only 210 Grabber Orange GT500 coupes were built in 2008, making it the rarest model you could get, although looking at this one, you have to wonder why it wasn't more popular, because it's drop-dead gorgeous.

Inside, the black leather interior even smells new. There's almost zero wear on the driver's seat, no scuffs on the door sills, and the carpets have been protected since day one by floor mats. Shelbys came only one way: loaded. As a result there were few extra options available, and those that were are certainly included in this car. Among them is the Shaker 1000 stereo system equipped with two big subwoofers in the trunk that has enough power to make your ears bleed, and things like A/C, power windows/locks/mirrors/seats, keyless entry, tilt wheel, and cruise control were all standard equipment. There are, of course, top-of-the-line touches throughout the interior, including Cobra emblems incorporated into the seatbacks up front, a Cobra emblem emblazoned on the steering wheel cap, plus cool red stitching on the shifter boot and steering wheel – all of which add a slick, racy touch. The trunk is standard Mustang, which means decent space and a useful shape, all finished in mouse-fur upholstery that still looks new.

A 500 horsepower street car is serious business, and the GT500 more than lived up to the hype. The engine is a variation of the 5.4 liter V8 found in the incredible Ford GT supercar, and in Mustang guise offers enough supercharged power to keep Z06 Corvette owners looking over their shoulders. Other than an upgraded K&N cold air intake and air filtration system, the engine bay is finished exactly the way it was the moment it rolled off the assembly line, with all the factory markings, tags, and other minutiae fully intact for future generations to study. Underneath, it is obvious that this car hasn't even seen a garden hose, let alone any serious road work or inclement weather, and has really only been driven to and from shows. The brakes and suspension are more than capable of matching that 500-horsepower engine, yet it rides no worse than a standard Mustang. Those gorgeous 18-inch forged alloy wheels wear fat Goodyear Eagles in staggered 255/45/18 front and 285/40/18 rear sizes and they still have lots of life left in them.

The GT500 signaled Ford's return to the top of the pony car performance ladder, and rare, dialed-in cars like this Grabber Orange example led the way. If you missed your chance at the first Shelby in 1965, don't make the same mistake twice. Call today!