A Ford Mustang Dark Horse can do a lot. But outmuscling a Shelby Mustang from last decade? Not so much.
The Ford Mustang is in its seventh generation of production. Behind the Chevrolet Corvette, the Mustang is one of the longest-running performance nameplates in the country. During that tenure, the Mustang has evolved from a so-called “secretary’s car” to a tire-eviscerating muscle car of the people, culminating with the S650 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. However, even the 500-horsepower, all-motor Dark Horse can’t contend with this Obama-era performance bargain Shelby.
A 2013 and 2014 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will outperform a Dark Horse for less money– unless you’re considering fuel costs
Shelby. The mere mention of the name summons visions of tire smoke and thunderous V8 soundtracks. However, the name also brings to mind a quote by the company’s late founder. Namely, “My name is Carroll Shelby and performance is my business.” Few factory vehicles confirm Shelby’s statement more than the 2013 and 2014 Shelby GT500.
When the late S197 model Shelby debuted, it marked a serious escalation of the “horsepower wars.” Ford and Shelby unveiled the car with a volcanic 662 horsepower and 631 lb-ft of torque. Simply unheard of before the Shelby-badged Mustang. As a result, the GT500 and its TREMEC six-speed manual transmission hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds on its way to a sub-12-second quarter mile.
Moreover, the S197 GT500 could hit a magical number: 200 mph. Ford asserted the supercharged 5.8L V8 in the GT500 could propel it to supercar speeds, despite its angular body. On the other hand, the 2025 Ford Mustang Dark Horse tops out at around 166 mph. Also, unlike the 10-year-old GT500, the Dark Horse offers either a six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission.
However, regardless of the transmission option, the Dark Horse won’t keep pace with the aging Shelby. For instance, the snappy, shift-happy automatic will hit 60 mph in around 3.7 seconds, about 0.2 seconds behind the GT500.
Better yet, you can get one for less than a Dark Horse. The Dark Horse Coupe starts at around $64,975. Conversely, a used 2013 Shelby GT500 has a typical listing price of around $33,977 with average mileage, per KBB.
| Model | Horsepower | 0-60 mph | ¼ mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-2014 Shelby GT500 | 662 HP | 3.5 seconds | 11.8 seconds |
| 2025 Dark Horse (Auto) | 500 HP | 3.7 seconds | 12.0 seconds |
| 2025 Dark Horse (Manual) | 500 HP | 4.1 seconds | 12.6 seconds |
