New 2023 Ford Mustang package pays tribute to auto legend Carroll Shelby

Cobra manufacturer Shelby American is commemorating its founder with a custom 2023 Ford Mustang GT package.

The 2023 Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition Mustang is a supercharged version of the flagship vehicle, featuring 750 horsepower, better engine cooling and various under the hood improvements. The package does not come with the vehicle itself, and certain trims are barred from qualifying for the outfit, but for a product usually restricted for high-income connoisseurs the upgrades come surprisingly cheap, starting at $49,995.

The vehicle’s namesake, Carroll Shelby, was a legendary race car driver, vehicle designer and business leader. Although quite evolved from its progenitor, the current Ford Mustang GT owes much of its brand recognition to his involvement with the car’s development. Shelby created the Shelby American brand to build and sell performance focused cars, some of which he used for his own racing career. He passed on in 2012, however the new vehicle honors his 100th birthday, which arrived on January 11th.

The automotive industry is full of legends, both in sport and entrepreneurship. However, from a market perspective, the number of auto enthusiasts who admire Carroll Shelby enough to purchase a vehicle made in his honor and are interested in spending their money on a 2023 Ford Mustang GT are few and far between. Such fans are more likely to appreciate classic, well-cared for vehicles than freshly minted muscle cars. The Cobra maker seems aware of this, as they have only arranged for 100 outfits, which they expect to arrive in the latter half of the year. Regardless, the intersection of old and new can definitely go worse, and the souped-up vehicle is sure to make its owners, whoever they are, exceedingly happy.

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