New York 2012: Shelby 1000
While the all-new Viper may be the muscle car that many people are waiting to see at the ongoing New York International Auto Show, one equally all-American vehicle will undoubtedly trump it in the horsepower department: Shelby American's Shelby 1000.
"Carroll Shelby is a visionary who has pushed the boundaries of performance his entire life," said John Luft, president of Shelby American. "He challenged the Shelby American team to develop the Shelby 1000 and wanted to unveil this amazing new Shelby at the New York Auto Show celebrating 50 years since he unveiled the very first Shelby Cobra that changed the face of high performance. We will have that very car, Cobra #1 (CSX2000) along with the Shelby 1000 on display at our Shelby American booth in New York."
Using a Ford Shelby GT500 as a basis, Shelby American took down its 5.4-liter V8 to add new connecting rods, crankshaft and pistons. The team then upgraded its cooling and exhaust systems while replacing the supercharger with a new, more powerful one, allowing the street-legal version to put out 950hp. The track-oriented S/C edition, on the other hand, is rated at over 1,100hp.
To complement the added power, Shelby American improved the car's handling and stopping capabilities with six-piston brakes in front and four-piston stoppers at the rear. The suspension also includes new struts, sway bars and bushings, while the new solid driveshaft is connected to an equally new nine-inch rear end.
As for its exterior, Shelby American claims that the styling cues "incorporate aerodynamics while maintaining a stealthy appearance" with the hood, rear panel and splitter serving as functional pieces.
A limited production of Shelby 1000s will be built, each numbered and documented, with Shelby American accepting orders now that the Shelby 1000 has been unveiled at the New York International Auto Show.
