Ford create Shelby tribute Mustang

The GT500 Cobra was unveiled by FoMoCo's board member, Edsel Ford II, VP for Sales and Marketing, Jim Farley, and Shelby American President, John Luft, at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion in California, where Cobras were this year's featured marque.

Powered by an 850hp Ford Racing supercharged V8 (up from 662hp in the stock Shelby GT500), the tribute Mustang also features chunky 13-inch wide rear wheels wrapped in 345-section high performance tyres to put all that power to the ground.

Shelby American provided a specially designed hood, new rear wide-body kit, Shelby Wilwood brakes and new 20x13-inch rear and 20x10-inch front wheels for the tribute car. The car is finished in Cobra-style Guardsman Blue paint with Wimbledon White GT stripes.

"Even at 89 years of age, Carroll was an inspiration to us all," says Farley. "This year marks the 50th anniversary of the original Shelby Cobra. The one-off car we have created represents the very idea he had about making the 2013 Shelby GT500 into a true Cobra."

"Carroll Shelby changed the performance world forever," says Luft. "And while he was proud of Shelby American's achievements, Carroll was far more interested in the next car we would build. You will find the spirit and influence of Carroll Shelby in every future vehicle we build just as you'll find it in the rear wide-body kit and hood integrated into the 2013 Shelby GT500 Cobra."

Following its appearance at Monterey, the unique 2013 Shelby GT500 will appear at a number of other shows around the US. At this stage, it appears the Shelby tribute GT500 will remain strictly a one-off.

Ford is also renaming a road at its Product Development Center in Dearborn, Michigan, as an additional tribute to Shelby, who passed away in May.

Images: Ford Media