Take notice anytime you're in traffic, and you're bound to see an underpowered car that looks fast next to a family sedan that will eat a so-called sports car for breakfast. Consider them poseurs and sleepers. The 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 is neither. Its presence, from the raised and vented hood to the deep rumbling exhaust, suggests some serious internal combustion angst, and sure enough, a simultaneous lift of the clutch and drop of the throttle prove the goods are there aplenty. Power for the Shelby comes from a supercharged 5.4-liter, 32-valve V8 with dual overhead cams that's good for 500 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, 480 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm, and 0-60 mph runs in the low four second range. The block is cast iron, whereas the heads borrowed from the Ford GT are aluminum. A boost gauge tells how hard the Eaton supercharger is working. The only available gearbox is a six-speed manual which serves as the conduit between the engine and the rear 285/40ZR18 Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires. The front rubber measures 255/45ZR18. Even with a curb weight ranging between 3,920 (coupe) and 4,040 lbs. (convertible), those tires face a challenge in translating power to grip, so Ford has added standard stability and traction control systems as well as a limited slip differential. When things get hairy and slower speeds are in order, an antilock braking system works with Brembo vented discs measuring 356 mm up front and 300 mm out back work to cut speed.

Ford turned to its in-house SVT tuners in developing the Shelby GT500's suspension, comprised of a MacPherson strut setup and 34-mm stabilizer bar up front coupled with a three-link, live-axle assembly and 20-mm stabilizer bar in the rear (coupe; 20-mm for the convertible). A power rack-and-pinion steering system, bolstered by a unique steering pump and a brace connecting the lower arm bushings, aims to provide a higher level of responsiveness than found on the base Mustang GT.