The S550-generation Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 bowed out of the lineup following the 2022 model year, shortly before that pony car gave way to the all-new 2024, S650 generation model. Since then, most have assumed that the GT500 will make a comeback at some point, as it has represented the range-topping variant in the Mustang lineup for multiple generations to date. Last week, a document leaked that appears to confirm the fact that the 2026 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is set to bring back that particular nameplate, and a new report seemingly confirms the authenticity of that letter, too.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the leaked document – which was a communication from the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 600 union to its members – was confirmed to be real by a source familiar with the program itself. Previously, it was unclear if this document was in fact legitimate, though this seems to lend some credibility to the notion that the GT500 could be set to make a comeback rather soon.
That document refers specifically to the Dearborn Engine plant, which currently builds the 2.0L Ford powerplant and the supercharged 5.2L V8 present in the Ford F-150 Raptor R and the Mustang GTD. It states that the union anticipates “an afternoon shift being added towards the end of 2025 on the Niche assembly line. This volume increase is for the 2026 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. I can’t wait until we start building engines for such an iconic vehicle with an engine that will be named Legend.”
Thus, it is certainly possible that the 2026 Shelby GT500 will become a reality, though that possibility still remains a bit murky at the moment. After all, as Ford Authority exclusively reported last May, the automaker has been mulling the idea of whether or not it will continue to use the Shelby GT500 nameplate for some time now, or perhaps go with a different name developed in-house for its next range-topping pony car – much like the current Dark Horse is already doing.
Comments
It looks absolutely no different than my 2020 Shelby GT 500.
That pic was not the new one. It doesn’t exist yet so they used the 2020 version in story.
LOL. Would you prefer a fake AI pic since none exist?
Tell me you didn’t read the article without saying you didn’t read the article. That’s because it isn’t any different. The pics in this article are ALL S550 GT500. The S650 GT500 has not had any pics released yet, or even an official confirmation from Ford. Just a leaked document last week, and now a confirmation that the leaked document is real.
Anybody wanting a Ford Mustang GTD should probably buy this car instead since it will be priced way below the new base price of the Mustang GTD, which is now around $406,250 unless Ford Motor Company plans to absorb most if not the entire cost of the tariffs.