3870 Actual Mile Shelby GT500 Convertible 5.4L 6 Speed

Carroll Shelby has spent most of his life creating a well-deserved reputation for track proven cars with serious performance, major horsepower, and record setting speed. Since the early 60s when he retired from driving race cars and founded Shelby-American, ol' Shel has built some of the most impressive Ford based performance cars to ever hit the streets. Recently, after many years apart Ford and Shelby renewed their partnership by debuting the 500 horsepower Mustang GT500. One of only 245 Vapor Gray convertibles produced for the 2008 model, this flawless GT500 is an immaculately maintained one owner car that has been seen only 3,870 miles of sunny day road time.

With exceptionally low mileage, this three year old car is essentially factory fresh in every way. The Ford code ZY Vapor Gray paint is clear, shines like new and makes this 500 horsepower pony car a bit more subtle than its stripe-wearing red brothers. Under the paint, the cars body panels fit precisely and display a great build quality that is head and shoulders above anything to come out of a factory even three years ago. At the front of the car, the sculpted bumper hangs a gloss black air splitter below clear fog lights and clear marker lights, and displays none of the chips that typically characterize cars with even moderate road use. Above the bumper, a GT500 exclusive grille sits between clear Ford branded halogen headlights and displays a familiar chrome Shelby snake. Behind the grille, the Mustangs attractive buttoned down hood has been contoured for extra clearance and houses functional GT500 exclusive air extractors. Behind the hood, pristine original glass is topped by a power operated black top that is covered in like-new cloth and includes a glass rear window. At the sides of the car, clean black rocker trim complements sculpted black mirrors and black GT500 door stripes that run from the front wheels to the rear wheels. Above the GT500 stripes, two more chrome Cobra emblems sit just behind the front tires in the center of the front fenders. At the back of the car, an aggressive rear decklid spoiler sits above clear segmented Mustang tail lights and a silver and black “Shelby” emblem that's mounted on the driver's side of the trunk. Centered on the rear valence is a fourth chrome and black Shelby emblem that features the Shelby snake centered between the words “Shelby” and “GT500”. Below the rear valence, a tapered rear bumper hangs a black air splitter above stainless exhaust tips. This 2008 GT500 is nice enough to sit in a new car showroom today and there are no signs that this car has done anything other than look pretty for the past three years.

The reborn GT500 celebrated one of the most successful partnerships in performance car history and because of that nothing was held back. The 500 horsepower supercharged V8 was influenced heavily by Fords own GT super car and delivers a muscle car that is both fast and an instant collectible. Utilizing an iron block with a forged steel crank, forged steel connecting rods, forged aluminum pistons, aluminum heads and dual overhead camshafts, the supercharged 5.4 liter modular V8 makes great muscle car sounds while providing surprising efficiency and a docile nature. Twist the key and the 5.4-liter V8 rumbles to life, sending its bass notes down a 2.5-inch exhaust that features an X-pipe and dual tips. Goose the throttle and an Eaton M122 supercharger pumps 10 to 12 PSI into the combustion chambers, and the engine zings towards redline thanks to a lightweight dual disc clutch. The engine bay looks very clean, not featuring any of the flash you'd expect for such a pedigreed car and appearing, dare I say, a bit like a sleeper. But to anyone who knows anything about cars in general, the satin black blower at the top of the block, the small silver SVT badge and the silver “Powered by SVT” cam covers are a dead giveaway that they're looking at something special. The engine bay in the car is assembly line clean and I'd venture to say that the mighty 5.4L has never had a wrench on it given the cars low mileage.

Although the Shelby GT500 convertible is a little softer than the coupe, the cars chassis received the same extensive upgrades over the base Mustang GT. Up front; a Macpherson strut independent suspension houses speed assisted power steering and giant 14 inch front discs that are clamped by 4 piston Brembo calipers. Out back; a three link solid axle rear end houses sporty but efficient 3.31 gears and 2 piston calipers that clamp 12.4 inch rear discs. The suspension is aided by standard antilock brakes and traction control that are both very welcome if you use this car anywhere near its potential. Sending the engines power to the ground is a slick shifting Borg Warner T56 6-speed transmission that is a delight to row through the gears. At the corners of the car, awesome looking 18 inch Shelby exclusive aluminum wheels feature a smooth machined finish, locking lug nuts and black SVT center caps. Wrapped around those wheels are meaty 255/45 front and massive 285/40 rear Goodyear Eagle F1 performance tires.

Inside the car, highly bolstered sport seats with a retro stitch pattern and Cobra logos fit like a glove. A leather-clad and red stitched steering wheel with convenient thumb grips sports a snake on its hub and includes buttons for the cars cruise control. Behind the steering wheel, the silver trimmed instrument panel is stock Mustang, and features Fords infinitely changeable dash lighting. The graphite faces with white lettering have a small SVT logo that serves as a programmable shift light which along with aluminum accented pedals and an aluminum accented and red stitched shifter tips you off to the car's pedigree. The dash around those instruments is some of Fords best modern work featuring a heritage inspired dual cowl design with gray trim with silver accents. At the center of the dash, Fords Shaker sound system features an AM/FM radio, a six disc CD changer, Sirius satellite radio and MP3 compatibility above knobs for the cars climate control. And the door panels feature large speakers below satin finished door handles and controls for the cars power windows, power door locks and power mirrors. There are no visible signs of wear in this interior and everything works as it should, from the ice cold air conditioning to the powerful entertainment system.

When the GT500 was introduced at the New York Auto Show in 2007, everyone knew it would be an instant collectable and a serious threat on the streets. This 2008 GT500 convertible, with its subtle good looks and awesome speed, will have even Viper drivers checking their rear-view mirrors. Authenticity, pedigree, and race bred performance are what make vintage Shelby's blue chip collectables today; and in the future those same virtues will make cars like this GT500 just as unique. Call now!