New Shelby Super Snake Slithers into 2015 Mustang GT's Skin

Photo Credit Shelby American Inc.

The Super Snake’s legend was spawned in 1967 when two Shelby Cobras were heavily converted into world-beating high-performance machines. The key modification for the Cobra Super Snake was the addition of two turbochargers to the 427 cubic-inch Ford V-8 engine producing would was estimated to be around 800 horsepower. Projected to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 3.2 seconds and capable of traveling at speeds up to 190 miles per hour, the roadster proved too hot to hold and was never commercially available. In 2007, the Super Snake nameplate has been given a second life as an enhanced version of the GT500 and GT500KR. With the arrival of the Ford Mustang’s sixth generation model, Shelby has made the ultra powerful reptilian an even greater predator.

Shelby’s all-new 2015 Super Snake slithers to new heights in street-legal Ford Mustang performance. Based off the Mustang GT, the 2015 Shelby Super Snake is cosmetically treated inside and out with racier components. Carbon fiber is used in abundance on the Super Snake. Sculpting a special hood, carbon Fiber construction has also given shape to the front splitter, mirror cap covers, rear spoiler and rear fascia diffuser. The billet aluminum grille of the Super Snake is offered in a choice of aluminum or black colouring. Weld Racing 20-inch one-piece forged wheels are also presented with a shiny or darker appearance option matched with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. Unique Super Snake badging is found around the modified Mustang with grille and side emblems being the most transparent. The traditional Shelby striping is also included on the 2015 Super Snake.

Inside the 2015 Shelby Super Snake, carbon fiber treatment migrates into the gauge pod cluster. Back lit doorsill plates, floor mats and headrest covers are stylistic advertisements to the high-performance Shelby package. Owners seated in the 2015 Super Snake will also find a CSM numbered dash plaque as a proud certification to their purchase. Optional interior trim equipment includes a Katzkin interior package, race seats and even a roll cage with 5-point racing-style harness.

Steadier on its feet than the average 2015 Mustang, the Super Snake is fitted with a standard six-piston front brakes supplied by Wilwood with four-piston rear brakes available. Added Ford Performance accessories consisting of a handling pack, half shafts as well as an exhaust system complement the meaner mergence of a horse and snake.

Having already invigorated January with the 2016 GT350 Mustang and GT350R backed by engines producing in excess of 500 horsepower, the historic performance tuner Shelby has taken the Ford pony car’s aggression to a level that would cause some to question the sanity of motorists. Buyers can opt for two levels of the 2015 Shelby Super Snake. Belting a Ford Performance supercharger to the 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 engine generating over 650 horsepower, the 2015 Shelby Super Snake 650+ HP is a thundering modified Mustang almost equalling the power of the 2014 Shelby GT500. If the power from a Ford Performance supercharger does not satisfy you, maybe a Whippie and Kenne Bell supercharger providing the Super Snake with over 750 horsepower will prove more exciting. The peak-performance 750+ HP Super Snake is equipped with a full array of cooling technology. An upgraded cooling package is joined by a cooler for the differential and transmission. The four-piston Wilwood rear brakes are included standard on the 750+ HP 2015 Shelby Super Snake as is a brake duct kit.

Along with a six-speed manual gearbox, this new version of the Ford Mustang-based Shelby Super Snake will be the first to be available with an automatic transmission. Ironically, the first two Super Snakes built on the AC Cobra were equipped with automatic transmissions out of fear a twin-turbocharged engine would burn out the clutch of a manual gearbox with 1960s technology.

Pricing for the Super Snake packages from Shelby does not include the 2015 Ford Mustang GT required for the build. In American dollars, the 650+ HP model of the 2015 Shelby Super Snake upgrade costs $49,999. The 750+ HP version of the radical Shelby requires just $5,000 extra. With a starting price just within supercar territory (between $85,000 and $90,000), the 2015 Super Snake’s exclusivity will be aided by Shelby. Starting with 2015, production of the Super Snake is limited to 300 vehicles per year.

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