Should You Buy a Shelby GT500 or Just Build a GT or GT350?
Buying a new GT500 is undoubtedly expensive, so does it make sense to just build up a GT or GT350 instead?
Every time a brand new, top-of-the-line model debuts, we’re left with a dilemma. Should we go out and buy this hot new model, or should we just build our own, “lesser” version? This question is especially relevant when it comes to the brand new 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500. With a big price tag, huge markups, and the car’s inherent rarity at the moment, obtaining one just isn’t in the cards for many of us. And since aftermarket support for the GT and GT350 are so robust, we can easily build something just as fast or faster for less money.
There’s much more to it than that, of course. So if you’re torn on what to do, you’ll undoubtedly find this article from our brother site, Mustang Forums, to be highly informative. In it, site editor Michael S. Palmer takes an extremely deep dive into the topic, exploring all the pros and cons of buying a GT500 versus building something else. Palmer has driven all of them, so he’s already quite familiar with each. But still, his first move in this experiment was to talk to Lebanon Ford, makers of incredibly affordable, incredibly capable Mustangs.
There, you can currently buy a CARB-legal 700-hp Mustang for $43,995. Or a 1,000 hp no-warranty version for $54,995 (both of them 10R80 cars). Either of which are obviously capable of running with or ahead of a new GT500 in stock form. But Palmer also explores the idea of building your own car, which is even cheaper. To build a proper GT500 clone, you must start with a 401A-equipped car, which starts out at just a shade under $50k. Still, no matter how you slice it, you’re going to save some dough by going this route.
There are some obvious downsides to not buying a GT500, of course. For starters, you won’t have that excellent dual-clutch transmission. In most cases, you’re forgoing your warranty. Depreciation might be the biggest factor, however, as the GT500 will obviously hold its value much better than a GT. Or, you could have the best of both worlds by buying a GT350 and giving it some boost. No matter which direction you go, all present their own unique pros and cons. So be sure and check out this incredibly detailed rundown of all of them by heading over here!
Photos: Ford Motor Company, The Mustang Source
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