April 5th, 2021 Chris Phillip

From the outside, the Ford SVT 2013 Shelby GT500 didn’t look much different from the previous year’s model. Oh, there were minor external updates like a revised grille, new wheels, and quad exhaust tips, just enough to separate the new from the old. However, the big news was under the hood where SVT engineers finally unleashed the true potential of Ford’s four-valve modular engine. The power numbers alone were enough to get everyone’s attention—662 SAE-certified horsepower and 631 lb-ft of tire-squalling torque.

The increase came from a combination of an aluminum-block 5.8-liter (replacing the previous 5.4-liter) V-8 and a larger Twin Vortices Series 2300 supercharger with 14 psi of boost. With a redline of 6,250 rpm, the updated power plant propelled the 2013 Shelby GT500 to quarter-mile elapsed-times in the high 11s at over 120 miles per hour. On the factory Goodyear Eagle F1 street tires, no less.

Thanks to the massive torque, SVT engineers were able to equip the GT500’s rear axle with 3.31 rear gearing, allowing the 5.8-liter to loaf along at 1,600 rpm at 80 mph on the freeway. That contributed to the GT500’s 15 city, 25 highway fuel mileage, good enough to avoid the dreaded gas-guzzler tax.

With the 2013 Shelby GT500, Ford SVT showcased the technology that provided a rare combination of acceleration, top speed, handling, drivability, comfort, and even fuel mileage. The last of the GT500s was surely one of the best Mustangs ever.

About the photo: With 5.8-liters topped by a new higher capacity Twin Vortices Series 2300 supercharger, the 2013 Shelby GT500 generated 662 horsepower, making it the most powerful production V-8 in the world.

Story by Donald Farr