Riding on the back of Mustang’s ongoing strong local sales performance, Cape Town-based Shelby South Africa has introduced a new concept in Ford’s legendary pony car’s 52-year history – the Wide Body.
Based on the Shelby Super Snake, the Wide Body conversion is aimed at increasing grip and handling of the supercharged 5.0 V8 Mustang, and includes new suspension, brakes, tyre and wheel equipment.
Shelby American has been pushing the performance envelope since 1962 and the Wide Body concept is designed to optimise the car’s performance.
The Super Snake already offers a fully-adjustable coil-over suspension system, bigger brakes, hardened wheel studs, stronger spindles and hubs as well as a more aggressive wheel and tyre package over other Mustang models. But the Wide Body upgrade stretches the rear track by 101.6 mm and the front by 63.5 mm which, together with uprated brakes and wider wheels and tyres, allows for later braking and earlier acceleration through corners.
The wider body kit adds new front fenders with vents, new rear quarter panels, and new rocker mouldings, all of which are bonded to the body shell – no drilling of the existing shell is necessary.
The basic package consists of Shelby-spec track suspension including upgraded performance spindles and hubs and new rear lower control arms. Brakes are Shelby Brembo ventilated discs with six-piston calipers up front, and ventilated discs with four-piston calipers at the rear.
Forged aluminium wheels are 20-inch shod with 305mm tyres at the front and 345mm at the rear.
Super Snake engine options remain the same, namely the basic 500kW upgrade of the supercharged V8, or a range-topping 560 kW version.
"Since the launch of Shelby in South Africa, the brand has gained great traction and we have sold in excess of 45 complete Shelbys, of which 36 have been delivered,” said Shelby SA CEO Peter Lindenberg.
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“We see Shelby as a sought-after, niche-market supercar and the interest in the brand continues to amaze us. Now, with the release of the spectacular Wide Body derivative, Shelby SA looks forward to further enhancement of the brand with this exciting development.”
Orders are now being taken. The price of the basic 500kW Super Snake Wide Body conversion is R1 578 364 and for the 560kW kit R1 710 453. The prices quoted do not include the cost of the car.
There are a host of interior trim and body accessories available as options. All Shelby SA Mustang conversions are covered by a three-year or 60 000km warranty.