Lethal Injection

Lethal Performance runs 10s with a Shelby GT500 and a bevy of bolt-on parts.

The level of vehicle that Ford offers through dealers is outstanding. A case in point in is the Shelby GT500. Sure, it was overpriced for nearly a year as dealers gouged the customers on pricing. Now the asking price has come back down to reality—most dealers are at sticker or only slightly above. Thanks to the cost reduction, we are started to see more hardcore enthusiasts pick up these cars. That means the modifications are coming fast and hard. You don’t have to look any further than what shops like Evolution Performance have been doing, along with many other speed shops and mail-order companies.

I am taking up bandwidth to talk about the Shelby because I saw an impressive one run at the NMRA season opener in Bradenton, FL. I was hanging out with Jared Rosen of Lethal Performance and he showed me the company’s badass Shelby GT500. Since he is in the business of selling parts, Rosen outfitted his ride with the latest and greatest bolt-ons. The highlight of the parts is the Whipple blower and tuning courtesy of VMP Tuning. Output was an amazing 726 rwhp and 689 rwtq—from a stock engine!

They entered the Shelby in True Street where driver Derek Perez banged the gears. This mostly stock Shelby ran a best of 10.65 at 132 mph while rolling on a pair of Mickey Thompson 265/40-18 drag radials! Perez eased out of the gate on the first run and still recorded an 11.25 pass at a sick 137 mph. He adjusted his driving style and clicked off a 10.77 at 136 mph during round two. He got out of the gate decently enough on the third run and stopped the clocks at 10.65 at a speed of 132 mph. This was in full street trim and accomplished during the True Street portion of the NMRA event.

Rosen told us that they added a slew of parts from the Lethal catalog including a JLT cold air intake, BMR k-member and a-arms, Steeda rear suspension, Kooks headers, Magnaflow exhaust, and a one-piece driveshaft from The Driveshaft Shop. Rosen also credited the new Whipple throttle body as picking up around 2 psi of boost over the stock Shelby piece. The team will be adding more mods to Ford’s latest Super Stang. Keep your eyes glued to the Muscle Mustang website for more updates on the Lethal Shelby GT500.

We were spoiled with the ’03-’04 Cobra engine package and it looks like the Shelby GT500 will continue where those cars left off.