The Super Snake lineage has always been about extremes. When Carroll Shelby built that legendary one-off GT500 Super Snake back in 1967 with its 427 racing V8, he wasn’t trying to create a comfortable daily driver but an ultra-high-performance Mustang. The Super Snake has been revived a handful of times, but now in 2025, Shelby American’s latest interpretation is possibly the most advanced yet with the Super Snake-R, a widebody Dark Horse-based monster that doesn’t just honor its predecessor’s spirit but amplifies it with modern engineering prowess.
Supercharged Fury Under the Hood
At the heart of this track-focused beast sits Ford’s proven 5.0-liter Coyote V8, but now force-fed by a 3.0-liter Whipple supercharger that bumps output north of 850hp. That’s more muscle than Ford’s own $325,000 Mustang GTD delivers, yet the Super Snake-R accomplishes this feat for nearly $100,000 less. Power gets routed exclusively to the rear wheels through either a Tremec six-speed manual (the purist’s choice) or Ford’s 10-speed automatic for those who prefer paddle-shifted convenience.
The cooling system has been overhauled to handle the additional thermal load, while performance half-shafts and a Borla cat-back exhaust ensure everything from the engine bay to the tailpipes can cope with the increased output. This isn’t just a bolt-on supercharger kit but a comprehensive powertrain upgrade designed for sustained performance.
Chassis Engineering That Matches the Power
Raw horsepower without proper chassis dynamics is just expensive noise, which is why Shelby’s engineers focused heavily on the Super Snake-R’s suspension setup. Fully adjustable coilovers replace the factory setup, while metal spherical bearings swap out rubber bushings for improved rigidity and response. A rear harness strut bar ties the shock towers together, creating a more cohesive platform that can actually utilize all that supercharged fury.
The real standout feature here is the wheel and tire package. Those staggered 20-inch magnesium wheels — 11″ wide up front, 13″ out back — shed nearly 37lbs of rotational mass compared to conventional alloys. Magnesium’s natural vibration-damping properties also smooth out road imperfections while improving thermal conductivity for better heat dissipation during extended track sessions.
Not Your Average Wide Load
Shelby’s design team went all-in on the widebody aesthetic, and the results speak for themselves. Carbon fiber dominates the visual modifications, from the front fenders and hood vents to the aggressive rear pedestal wing and lower diffuser. The metallic rear fender flares house those massive 13-inch rear wheels and their corresponding rubber, creating the contact patch necessary to put 850+ horses to the pavement effectively.
Inside, the cabin gets the full Shelby treatment with embroidered leather seat recovers, Alcantara inserts for grip during spirited driving, and a serialized dash plaque that reminds you this isn’t your average Mustang. The rear seat delete and harness bar installation reinforce the track-focused mission while reducing weight.
Spec Sheet
Model: 2026 Shelby Super Snake-R
Base Platform: Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Engine: Supercharged 5.0L Coyote V8
Power: 850+ HP
Transmission: Tremec 6-speed manual or 10-speed automatic
Weight: 4,004 lbs (+116 lbs vs. Dark Horse)
Wheels: 20″x11″ (F), 20″x13″ (R) forged magnesium
Colors: Grabber Blue Metallic, Race Red, Oxford White, Shadow Black, Carbonized Gray Metallic
Limited Edition?: Yes, unspecified
Pricing & Availability
The 2026 Shelby Super Snake-R starts at $224,995, which includes the donor Dark Horse. That positions it in rarified air, more expensive than most supercars but significantly less than Ford’s track-focused GTD. Orders are being taken through authorized Shelby distributors, with each car documented in the official Shelby Registry to maintain its exclusivity and future collectibility.
Recap
2026 Shelby Super Snake-R
Based on the Mustang Dark Horse, Shelby’s latest Super Snake revival is a widebody track car that bumps the donor vehicle up to 850hp, while dropping the price to $225k. It also features plenty of carbon fiber modifications and massive wheels.
