In case you were hoping that Ford would launch a convertible version of the Mustang Shelby GT500, we have bad news as such a vehicle isn’t on the cards.
Ford chief product platform and operations officer Hau Thai-Tang recently spoke with Muscle Cars & Trucks about the muscle car and said that the company has already reached the potential of the car’s current S550 platform.
“When we designed the (S550 platform Mustang) we really looked at the high end and projected what we’ve historically been able to do,” he said. “The GT500 I think we projected for. It’s towards the top end of the capabilities of (S550)… one of the things we didn’t do was a convertible variant for that reason. You have to find the bandwidth of the architecture.”
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Shelby’s Limited-Run Super Snake Speedster
While Ford won’t sell you a convertible Mustang with 760 hp and a 5.2-liter supercharged V8, there are high-powered droptop Mustangs out there. For example, Shelby American offers convertible and Speedster variants of its Super Snake, outfitted with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 825 hp. These models can be optioned with either a six-speed manual transmission or an automatic with power sent to the rear wheels.
As the current-generation Mustang reaches the end of its lifecycle, Ford is starting to turn its attention to the new S650 model. It could reportedly be unveiled as early as next year and while it will be underpinned by an upgraded platform, many of the current model’s engines and transmissions are expected to carry over. It will also, in all likelihood, be the final generation Mustang offered with an internal combustion engine.
