Carbon-Fiber Bodied Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R Wows Jay Leno

If the Shelby GT350R isn’t light enough for you, SpeedKore will replace its entire body with a new one that’s made solely out of carbon fiber.

The Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R is the most hardcore pony car currently on sale. The sportier, more track-focused R is 130 pounds lighter than the GT350 thanks to a lack of rear seats, air conditioning, and a set of carbon-fiber wheels. But that won’t be enough for some. Track junkies will want to cut out even more weight, which is when they’ll need to reach out to SpeedKore.

In the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, Leno takes a look at one of these insane Shelbys: The GT350R SpeedKore Carbon Spec. As the name implies, this GT350R traded in its body for one completely made out of carbon fiber. And as you might expect, the weight savings are extraordinary. Leno takes one of the carbon-fiber fenders and holds it with nothing but his index finger. The thing weighs just 1.8 pounds!

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While the body kit makes the GT350R much lighter (the company estimates it to be a 400 to 600 pound difference) it’s also incredibly expensive. There are three packages owners can choose from: Light, Lighter, and Lightest. The entry-level kit, “Light,” starts at $6,934 and adds small things like a rear spoiler, rear diffuser, mirrors, and a front splitter. The “Lighter” package is far more expensive at $63,937, but adds a complete exterior carbon-fiber body. And the most expensive “Lightest” kit is $105,829. SpeedKore replaces the stock Shelby body and adds a whole bunch of performance goodies. Of course, the price doesn’t include a donor GT350R.

After getting the lowdown on how the company makes the body (which is a must-watch), Leno takes the featherweight for a drive. Needless to say, he’s impressed with the machine and its diet. “It does feel lighter on its feet,” says Leno. “You really feel the difference on the highway. I couldn’t tell so much in bumper-to-bumper traffic, obviously. Once you get on the road, especially in third gear, it just seems to gather speed quicker.”

Yes, it’s incredibly expensive, but it makes the GT350R even more badass, which is something we thought was impossible and, presumably, even better on a back road and the track. But Leno thinks it’s worth it, and he’s got a GT350R. So take that for what it’s worth.