by Wallace Wyss –
I grew up with the Ford Mustang. I remember sitting in my office in 1964 when a secretary bragged she had bought a new one, for the princely sum of $3000. At first it was being sold merely as a “secretary’s car.”
But that was before Carroll Shelby, a failed chicken farmer and sometimes racer, got involved and juiced it up with his versions. Through the decades I have watched the Mustang evolve, thinking it would never have a classy look. The 1969-1970 Shelby Mustang was close to having a design of its own. Decades later the start of the sculpturally separated three dimensional three taillights per side was encouraging, it was fun to look at those taillights.
Ford Shelby Mustang
And then finally, only recently, they got rid of regular headlights and went to the multi lamps. And finally got the hood scoops looking classier. Now I have seen some 2025 models including one called the Shelby Super Snake, an optional package, and it has something indefinable, a classier look. Almost makes me want to bring back the obsolete fashion world compliment “swank”, or should I say “swagger”. The Super Snake has a few trim items that go beyond the regular Shelby Mustang. It is named after a special duo of 427 Cobras Shelby had made for himself back in the SIxties, with an ultimate 427 with two, count ’em, two superchargers, and Shel himself told me it was a great car “when it wasn’t on fire.” He built it especially to cruise through a certain Nevada town at 190 mph and wake up a friend.
Shelby Supersnake
So as a long time car critic, I am now bestowing a “well done” commendation on Ford Design for upgrading the Mustang shape to something comparable with European sporty coupes. I don’t know if they would admit stealing the Camaro rear bulging fenders, but if they did, they are nicely integrated into the car as a whole. The only thing disappointing is, in side view, the hoodline is still high but that could be because of the height of the engine.
The heart of the 2025 Shelby Super Snake is Ford’s latest-generation 5.0-litre V8 engine, now significantly enhanced with an 619kW+ supercharger system. With the added boost from the high-performance supercharger, along with precision tuning and upgraded performance components, the Super Snake delivers an exhilarating driving experience.
Ford Mustang Design Sketch
To deliver consistent performance and reliability, the Super Snake is equipped with the Shelby Extreme Cooling System, which includes a new radiator and heat exchanger. Accompanying the powerful performance is the signature growl of the Shelby by Borla exhaust system, designed to offer unrestricted airflow and an aggressive engine note.
The design sketches from Ford show what they were aiming at but let’s face it, design sketches are always way over the top compared to the final car (they would have to have wheels that would be 24″ tall to look like those in the drawings). I am glad they made the effort. The Camaro has been axed, and the Stellantiis Charger underwent a change to electric so this Shelby might be the final American muscle car before EVs take over. And it’s a good tribute to the genre.
Ford says, “it’s the most tech-focused Mustang to date. Ford’s interior designers modeled the curved display after fighter jet cockpits and wanted an array that drivers could personalize.”
Ford Mustang Design Sketch
I would even say they Italianized the car. Why am I giving credit to Italy for styling done by Americans? Because Italian suits are generally designed to conform and complement the human body. After all, the Italians were designing tailored clothes when Americans were still wearing rawhide and fighting off Apaches. So what Ford did was refine the existing design but in a tasteful way.
Not only did Shelby’s PR msn Scott Black introduce the new Shelbys at a Shelby owners meet at Willow Springs raceway (where Shelby tested Cobras in the ’60s when Riverside wasn’t available) but they ran several laps–you don’t usually see them running cars at a preview.
I hope there will be yet another generation of Shelby Mustang but congratulations for this one, it looks like a keeper.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
THE AUTHOR Wallace Wyss has written three books on Shelbys and now does fine art portraits of exotic cars including Cobras. He can be reached regarding art at malibucarart@gmail.com
Special thanks to Willow Springs for accommodating the press. WW
Images compliments of Ford and Shelby.
When it was introduced, the Mustang could be ordered as a base “secretary’s car” with its straight-six engine, but Ford was ingenious in offering every option under the sun to upgrade the car to luxury sport coupe, a car for the track, a luxury cruiser, and every other and any interation possible. Because it could be all things to all people is why it was the best selling new model ever introduced in automotive history:
“Introduced on April 17, 1964 (16 days after the Plymouth Barracuda), over 418,000 units were sold in its first year; the one-millionth Mustang was sold within two years of its launch.”
Glenn in Brooklyn, NY
My father bought me a 66 Stang when I rolled my 55 BelAir inside the Twentieth Century Drive In. I was hoping I could repair it but it was hurt to bad.! The Stang as it was referred to , was the typical AD car. 6 cylinder , three speed and no nothing ! It served me well until I got my Austin Healey 3000. Also 6 cylinder but so much cooler. The new Stangs so look cool and sound spectacular !