• When running on E85 ethanol, the twin-turbocharged GT500 delivers 1,300 hp and 1,000 lb-ft.
  • A time of 8.59 seconds makes the Mustang substantially quicker than the Dodge Demon 170.
  • Shelby charges $209,995 for the upgrades and that excludes the cost of the donor car.

The Lucid Air Sapphire, Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, Rimac Nevera, and Pininfarina Battista are the only current production cars that can complete the standing quarter-mile in less than 9 seconds. Now, the mightiest of all Shelby products has dipped below that mark, and while it’s not considered a series production car, the American outfit is building 30 of them.

It’s been a couple of years since the Shelby GT500 Code Red was launched, but only now can we see what it’s capable of. During recent tests on the drag strip, Shelby American recorded a staggering 8.59-second quarter-mile at 161.81 mph (259 km/h) with the muscle car.

Read: 1,300 HP Shelby GT500 “Code Red” Promises Code Brown Performance

As the Lucid, Rimac, and Pininfarina are EVs, that means Shelby’s GT500 Code Red joins the Dodge in elite company in the 8-second club. So, how has Shelby been able to build a Mustang that’s this quick?

The company started with a regular Ford Shelby GT500 and then removed the supercharger from the 5.2-liter V8. Now sitting in its place are a pair of turbochargers and on pump gas, the car delivers 1,000 hp and 780 lb-ft (1,058 Nm) of torque. Those figures swell to 1,300 hp and 1,000 lb-ft (1,356 Nm) when using E85 ethanol. The engine also includes Manley pistons and rods, ARP studs and heavy-duty timing chains, new injectors, and a MoTec engine management system.

Dodge says the Demon 170 can complete the quarter-mile in 8.91 seconds at 151.17 mph but, as far as we’re aware, has never actually released footage of this run. Independent tests from owners have shown it is very difficult to dip below the 9.4-second mark with the car.

In this record-breaking run with the Mustang GT500 Code Red, the car hooks up incredibly well, considering power is sent exclusively through the rear wheels. It then rips through the gears of the 10-speed transmission, likely quicker than the eight-speed ‘box of the Demon 170 can do.

Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds
Shelby’s 1,300 HP GT500 Code Red Runs 1/4 Mile In Insane 8.59 Seconds