The Shelby GT350 and GT500 both bowed out prior to the end of the S550 generation Ford Mustang, and haven’t been seen since – at least, not examples coming directly from Ford. Rather, Shelby American debuted a new version of the GT350/GT350R for the 2025 model year recently, one that it’s putting together and selling on its own accord. Now, Shelby American is teasing the latest addition to its expanding S650 Ford Mustang lineup, which may very well wind up being the 2026 Shelby GT500 that many have been expecting to see make a comeback.
In a recent post on Instagram, Shelby American posted a single, shadowy picture of the rear of a new Mustang, which is equipped with a massive wing. That’s the only detail that’s clear from the teaser, but the company also wrote that this new model will make its debut on August 13th, 2025 at Monterey Car Week in California, too. “Carroll Shelby’s favorite car was always ‘the next one,'” the post reads. “During Monterey Car Week, on 8.13.25, we unveil the next one.”
Whether or not we’re looking at what is the 2026 Shelby GT500 or not remains to be seen, but it’s certainly possible. We do know that Ford has been working on a new, range-topping pony car variant for some time now, based on several prototype sightings in recent months. Those prototypes have been spotted wearing S550 GT500 parts as well, which only adds fuel to the fire that is the belief Ford is indeed conjuring up a new version of the GT500.
It is unclear at the moment if Ford will slap the GT500 nameplate on this new range-topping model, however. The Blue Oval has been mulling the idea of using a different nameplate for its future range-topping pony car, as Ford Authority exclusively reported back in 2024. However, a leaked United Auto Workers memo from earlier this year (which was later verified by a news source) referred to the future addition of a niche line at the Dearborn Engine plant for production of a powerplant dubbed “Legend” specifically for the new GT500.
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Lookie! Lookie! It's the Mustang variant Of The Month!
Lookie! Lookie! It's the Comment Section Crybaby!
Crying over choices.
Anything from Shelby-American themselves is a waste of time - they just throw parts on the cars and have no real development. Example: superchargers without internal mods such as pistons or even better head gaskets. Ridiculous, won't last, can't last. Try doing a season of HPDE in one of those - I've seen (as an instructor) 1 or 2 people show up in a season and they disappear after 1 event of over-heating and risk. No aftermarket warranty is going to cover this type of use.
If you look at Ford's own GT350/GT500, there has been extensive development of the entire platform, including engine internals. It's more expensive, they are not perfect, but they are developed systematically and will be far more durable.
I would be very happy if Ford ditched the Shelby name for the upcoming model - Shelby has had zero do with any Mustang since 1969 (1970 being left-overs). And his name reeks of too much posing. Zero substance, "all hat and no cattle".
Shelby had input on the early S-197 GT500s, but I suspect it was mostly for marketing. It's debatable the Shelby name attached to the FPV cars offered any real advantages but from 2007 to 2024 they found enough value in the name to pay a licensing fee. Ford even ditched the Cobra moniker for Shelby and when the S550 debuted and the rumored range toping cars were being talked about Ford decided to continue with the Shelby moniker despite the Cobros demanding the range topping S550 be called a Cobra.
Someone doesn't have a clue.
The 5.4 engine in the 07 on was a development actually done by Carrol Shelby & his team, then developed the alloy block & then the 5.8 motor not to mention the extensive development into Whipple Superchargers for up to 1050hp. Gearboxes, suspension, cooling, brakes on& on the list goes & into the S550 models.
Go & talk to the real team at Shelby Los Vegus & then post an apology if you are a real man!
How much is the 26 Shelby 500 gt?