I have read articles that the 2014 Shelby GT500 requires DOT 4 High Performance brake fluid, but the owners manual and my local Ford dealer indicated that I could just use Ford DOT 3 fluid.

Any suggesions...?

 

There's no good reason to use DOT3.
DOT4 out performs it in every way and is completely compatible with DOT 3. (they can be mixed) Odds are the car had DOT4 in it from the factory.

 

You can only use official Shelby fluid. You can tell if you've got the right fluid by pouring a little onto a concrete driveway. If it's official Shelby fluid, it will automatically form the "CS" logo. I've also heard that official Shelby fluid has semi-viscous "CS" logos suspended in the fluid, and they dissipate when the fluid is exposed to open air (such as when you're pouring the fluid into the master cylinder.

 

 

I was researching this a little more, and it seems the Shelby fluid is part of their "unque parts" collection, and before they'll sell you a can, you need to supply proof that you indeed own a Shelby (not including the Dodge crap from 30 or so years ago), by supplying the VIN of your car, the cap from your Shelby's master cylinder (you don't drive your garage queen anyway, right?), and a picture of your car with you holding a calendar showing today's date.

Only then will you be permitted to spend the $783 for the 0.5 liter can of fluid. They also sell glass signed-by-Carroll "collector" cans so you can see the CS logos in the fluid. You better hurry though, because it's been rumored that they've run out of the ones he actually signed, and they have some kid from the warehouse doing the signatures.

The early collector cans go for upwards of $2500.





But seriously, go with ATE Super Blue. It's DOT 4 and has a higher boiling point than DOT 3.

 

Interestingly enough, "Motorcraft" brand DOT 4 brake fluid is hard to come by.

I ordered my online through FordPartsGiant.com for about $8 plus shipping.