2008 Mustang GT Is a Decent GT500 Tribute – Marketplace Finds

If you’ve always wanted a serpent Stang, this S197 Mustang GT has a great looking Shelby-style appearance package.

The Shelby GT500 was the most aggressively-designed package of the early S197 era, but those high-powered models were, and still are, quite a bit more expensive than the rest of the lineup. They are also relatively rare, so finding an early example of the modern GT500 in good shape, in your price range can be tough. Plus, if you like the look of the GT500, but don’t see the need for all of the power, it is kind of pointless to pay the Shelby premium just for the look.

Fortunately, iceking32 posted a 2008 Ford Mustang GT Deluxe Coupe in the forum marketplace and while being a mechanically-stock GT, it has the look of the GT500. Best of all, it is still priced like a GT, making it far more affordable than a clean Shelby Mustang.

The Introduction

When the OP first posted this 2008 Ford Mustang GT for sale in the marketplace, he provided the following information along with an array of interior and exterior pictures.

“2008 Mustang GT Deluxe in Candy Apple Red, 4.6L V8 with 5-speed manual; 75,700 miles; GT 500 front and rear fascia upgrade; GT 500 headlights and fog lights; factory rear spoiler delete option; Red Cobra badging; Shelby Razor 20” gunmetal wheels with Nitto NT555 G2 255/35 ZR 20 tires all around; Raxiom Mustang Gen5 LED Taillights; Black leather interior with polished aluminum trim; My Color interior lighting; Tinted windows; Pioneer AVIC-F90BT stereo with navigation, hands-free calling, Bluetooth, XM Satellite and HD radio integration. Original owner; No accidents; Got to be seen to believe! Asking $13,500; Open to offers.”

In short, this Ford Mustang GT has the front and rear look of the Shelby GT500, along with a handful of other exterior upgrades to allow it to stand out from the crowd. It doesn’t have the GT500 hood or wing, so it doesn’t look exactly like the Shelby model, making it a sort-of tribute.

High-Powered Look

If you like the look of the S197 Shelby GT500, but you don’t want to deal with the cost of the high performance model, the added fuel costs or the higher insurance rates, this 2008 Mustang GT is a great option. This pony car offers the general appearance of the GT500, but it will cost less to buy, less to insure and less to feed at the pump.

Mind you, this is a V8 model with a five-speed manual transmission, so it offers plenty of fun-to-drive factor, but if you are more interested in the Shelby look than the Shelby performance, this could be the perfect car for you.

Solid Price

This 2008 Ford Mustang GT with GT500 bits is listed in the marketplace for $13,500. According to Kelley Blue Book, that is at the upper end of the price scale for a 2008 Mustang GT coupe, but the used car pricing guides don’t take any of the upgrades into consideration. Buying a clean, stock 2008 Mustang GT would likely cost you between $10,000 and $13,000 and the upgrades would cost you thousands more, so if you like this look, this car is being sold for a very reasonable price.

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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