During the Mustang’s 60th birthday celebration last week, Ford Motor Company announced that it would produce a special anniversary model for the 2025 model year. But what about Shelby American? It too is part of the pony car story, so the company took to the Barrett-Jackson 2024 Palm Beach Auction to announce the 2024 Shelby Super Snake.
The 2024 Super Snake is Shelby American’s first car based on the new S650 Ford Mustang platform. The manufacturer claims the Super Snake has the perfect balance of form and function thanks to a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 offering 830-plus horsepower (with the supercharger being available for post-title sales only) combined with enhanced brakes and cooling, and a suspension tuned for sharper turn-ins. Thus, the highest performing Shelby Super Snake in history
“The roots of the Shelby Super Snake began with the race bred Mark IV Ford GT, which won Le Mans in 1966,” says President of Shelby American, Gary Patterson. “That car’s engine was the inspiration for the first Shelby Super Snake, a one-off experimental built for high-speed testing on the track. Over the years, the Shelby Super Snake has evolved but continued to keep its ‘competition-edged’ personality. The 2024 Shelby Super Snake is pure American performance.”
Under-hood features include the Shelby extreme cooling system (radiator and heat exchanger), Shelby by Borla exhaust system, performance half shafts, hardened extended wheel studs, Shelby suspension system, 20-inch forged magnesium wheels with Shelby performance-spec tires, and Shelby brake rotor upgrade.
Outside, the Super Snake features styling upgrades to facilitate better air management and cooling. Inside, the Super Snake features a Shelby-spec interior upgrade that also includes embroidered floor mats, Super Snake sill plates, engine cap set, Cobra puddle lamps, and serialized dash plaque. Manual-transmission cars receive a short-throw shifter with unique Shelby shifter ball. All this includes a generous 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty.
“We have an unwavering commitment to the enthusiast,” says Shelby American Vice President of Operations and Senior Designer, Vince La Violette. “With the Super Snake’s competition heritage, we knew it was critical to dial up a car that is enjoyable during daily commutes and deeply rewarding during spirited driving. While the styling inside and out is certainly handsome, functionality drove every decision. This car checks all the boxes.”
The upcoming Super Snake will be available with a manual or automatic transmission, as well as either a fastback or convertible. Pricing for the 250 Super Snakes planned to be built for the U.S. will be announced shortly, with production beginning mid-summer.
