Ford Shelby Cobra GT500 Dallas TX

BY TONY SWAN

They say those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it, but Ford's Special Vehicle Team has very carefully studied the Mustang's history—specifically, the chapter on the 1967-70 Mustang Shelby GT500—and is gleefully set to repeat it, in spades, with no less an authority than Carroll Shelby himself adding his blessing and the use of his name. And when it comes to Mustangs, who in today's car biz has more historical cachet? It was Shelby who raised the image of the original Mustang from an engaging all-American sporty car to a turnkey factory racer with the 1965 GT350 fastback. Then he followed up with the GT500, propelled by a big-block (7.0 liter) Ford 428 V-8 generating enough torque (420 pound-feet at 3200 rpm) to pull the skin of the earth measurably tighter when the driver tramped on the gas.

Fast forward to now, and at a glance Ford is reviving that same formula: a stronger engine in a Mustang fastback, delivering more power, more torque, better handling, and more visual intimidation. A little bit of history repeating, right? Well, yes. But that's at a glance. Technology hasn't exactly stood still since the last GT500 rolled out of a showroom in 1970 (see sidebar), and even though this revival preserves a good old live-axle rear suspension—a mechanical tradition that has all but disappeared in current passenger cars—its mechanical credentials are fully contemporary. Not to mention seriously potent.

We brought you a preview of this new super-'Stang in May, a quick thumbnail of the red prototype that was one of the stars of this year's New York auto show. And having sat in and lusted after that show car, we immediately began pestering the Special Vehicle Team development crew, led by Hau Thai-Tang and chief vehicle engineer Jay O'Connell, for an early drive in one of the development cars.

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