There’s no replacement for displacement, and although Carroll Shelby didn’t coin the phrase, he sure believes in it. He’s been spreading that gospel since back in the day when he was shoehorning Ford V8s into ACs and Sunbeams and literally making Ford’s Mustang live up to its pony car name.

Ol’ Shel is at it again, and his latest iteration of the Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang features an all alloy aluminum V8 that cranks out well in excess of 500 horsepower and promises to make short work of your favorite road.

This baby’s got 550 horsepower and 510 foot-pounds of torque. With those kinds of figures, it’s easy to see just what a monster of a car the GT500 should be at the track or on the strip.

That’s a 10 horsepower boost over the previous model. It comes from an all-new 5.4-liter supercharged aluminum engine that is 102 pounds lighter than the previous cast-iron plant and uses Ford’s patented plasma-coating technology. That cuts friction and shaves another 8.5 pounds from the block because the cylinders don’t need cast  iron liners. Sweet! Not only that, but the new mill offers better fuel economy than the outgoing GT500, returning a claimed 23 mpg highway and 15 city. Yeah, yeah… that’s nothing great. But we’re talking about a hardcore muscle car here, and it is good enough to eliminate the gas guzzler tax. The boost in fuel economy comes from, among other things, lower weight and electric power assist steering.

“Cutting weight to improve performance is a tradition among hot rodders,” Carroll Shelby said in a statement. “It might not be as sexy as adding more horsepower or bigger brakes, but shaving pounds off of a car is the single smartest move you can make.”

It all rides on a chassis that’s 12 percent stiffer than the 2010 model. Those of you with competition aspirations can order the SVT package. It includes stickier rubber, stiffer springs, lighter wheels and a higher rear axle ratio. Ford says its enough to shave 3.0 seconds off the  2010 GT500’s lap time on its 2.3-mile test track.

All of this is in line with what Shelby has been doing with Mustangs since back in the 1960s when he was turning fastbacks into GT350 race cars and getting the larger 1969 and 1979 Mustangs going with the GT500 package. Shoot, you could even rent a GT350 from Hertz Corporation back in the day. How cool was that? Ford and Shelby carry on that tradition into the present day, and the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 is a worthy successor.

“The SVT team continues to push the performance standards of the Shelby to even higher levels and better refinement, All the changes we made reflect a desire for even better handling and outstanding driving dynamics – from weight savings to improved balance,” said Jost Capito, director of global performance vehicles and motorsports business development.

Photos: Ford

Don’t just see one – drive one! In conjunction with a once-in-a-lifetime collection of classic Carroll Shelby vehicles, the Canadian International AutoShow presents your opportunity to bid on a Carroll Shelby signed and authenticated 2011 GT500. Throughout the duration of the Show, Toronto Ford Dealers Association gives you the chance to acquire a vehicle unlike any other! Hosted by starauctions.ca.

Profiling 47 Classic Mustangs from Ford

Michael Schlee

For over forty five years Ford has produced the Mustang. Keeping a model alive for 45 years alone is an impressive feat. However, the Mustang has sold very well over the decades making it the 25th all time most sold model around the world. Not an easy feat for a vehicle only sold in North America.

2009 Ford Mustang GT

Since 1964 over 9 000 000 Mustangs have found homes in Canada and the USA (and a few have been exported to other countries).

It hasn’t always been easy for the Mustang. It has had to survive years with 90HP 4 cylinder engine options, lean years where V8 output hovered well below 200HP, a solid rear axle, the Ford Probe threat and of course the Mustang II. But through it all the Mustang thrived and has always been a sales success.

Recently Ford has released archive photos celebrating the life and times of the Mustang. Below is a gallery of Mustangs representing every model year from its long storied life (so far).

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