Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Cranked Up to 1,204 Hp by Hennessey
The Ford Mustang lineup suddenly becomes less attractive with the almighty Shelby GT500 not returning for 2023 and the next-generation 2024 model already revealed. However, there’s some exciting news for fans of the ultimate Mustang.
While not quite on par with Shelby American’s 1,300-horsepower Shelby GT500 Code Red, the new Venom 1200 Mustang GT500 announced this week by Texas-based tuner Hennessey Performance, maker of the phenomenal Venom F5, is certainly a monster.
- Also: Hennessey Aiming for 2,400-Horsepower, 6-Wheeled EV in 2026
- Also: Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Code Red is Back With 1,300 HP
Feeling that Ford leaves much of the stock model’s potential untapped despite a supercharged 5.2-litre V8 producing 760 horsepower, Hennessey engineers managed to inject more than 400 ponies for a grand total of 1,204 horsepower—an increase of 58 percent. Torque is boosted from 625 lb-ft. to 902 lb-ft. The engine needs to run E85 fuel to achieve those numbers, mind you.
The wide-ranging improvements to the factory setup include a higher-capacity 3.8-litre supercharger, a high-flow induction system, new fuel rails and injectors, and an air/oil separation system. Moreover, fittings, lines, belts and tensioners are upgraded, and the dual-clutch transmission is recalibrated to handle the massive output.
No performance figures were released, unfortunately. As a reminder, the most explosive of all production Mustangs goes from 0-100 km/h in about 3.5 seconds, completes the quarter-mile in just over 11 seconds and flies to a top speed of 290 km/h.
In addition to the cost of the donor car, customers must spend $59,950 USD to get their hands on one of the 66 copies of the Venom 1200 Mustang GT500 that Hennessey Performance will build. Each of those will wear specific badges and a numbered plaque. Optionally, at $4,950, they will have the choice of adding the historic 1966 24 Hours of Daytona Ford GT40 red, white and black livery to their build (as shown on the pictures).
“Only a handful of vehicles in the world offer this level of power, especially at this price point,” said company founder and CEO John Hennessey.
For fans of performance and modern-day muscle cars who don’t care about going electric, not even with a drag machine like the Mustang Cobra Jet 1400, this is one opportunity not to be missed.