Shelby Automobiles, Inc. owes its existence to company founder Carroll Shelby. The company forged a partnership with Ford Motor Company. Shelby, a race car driver, had earlier done well with the Cobra and Ford figured he could revolutionize the new Mustang. The Shelby GT350 debuted in January 1965. A month later, the race car version which competed with other sports cars notched a victory.

In 1968, the original 1968 Shelby GT500-KR (King of the Road), 428 cubic-inch Cobra-Jet V8 engine makes 360 horsepower was released. The convertible version also became available, appealing to the road-cruising set. Several other Shelby innovations followed, ushering the next Mustangs, until 1970.

In 2008, a hot car – the Ford Mustang, powered by a 4.0 liter V6 engine that makes 210 horsepower, arrived in the marketplace. It evoked a classic retro look. Retro styling is likewise evident in the stunning 2009 Ford Shelby GT500. Like the muscle cars churned out decades ago, this car packs a wallop. It’s powered by an engine derived from Ford’s future-classic GT supercar. Its classic muscle-car character is well aligned with the GT500’s mission.

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