It’s impossible to talk about iconic American cars without bringing up Carroll Shelby. In his own words, 1960s America lacked “an all-purpose, all-American sports or grand touring car that you could drive to market and also race during the weekend.” This philosophy saw the creation of quite a few famous speedsters, including the iconic GT500.

Original GT500 models were custom Shelby-American produced vehicles inspired by the 1967 Mustang Fastback, but the subsequent years would see Shelby partner with Ford to create more official Mustang model collaborations. This specific line has seen quite a few changes over time, but a fan favorite model is the 2010-12 GT500 (and for good reason).

Most obviously, these models saw the launch of a new body for the GT500. It featured a redesigned front bumper and grill with dramatic, angular headlights, as well as sleeker hood scoops compared to its 2009 counterpart. But great optics are a given for a Shelby; where this model really shone was under the hood. Its reworked 5.4L Supercharged V8 produced 510 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, which was already a significant leap up from its predecessor. Even more dramatically, it featured a brand new aluminum engine block that reduced overall weight by 102 lbs and helped the 2011-12 reach an impressive 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds.

This Shelby also represented the introduction of many new advances in performance machinery. It was the first GT500s to take advantage of Ford’s PTWA (Plasma Transferred Wire Arc) technology, which increased average MPG to 15 and avoided the infamous Gas Guzzler tax.

Ford also implemented its Electric Power Assist Steering System, greatly improving the overall handling of the vehicle. Taken together with its highly rated user interface, interior designed to subtly invoke the original Shelbys, and popular convertible option, there was certainly a lot to love about this model.

It should come as no surprise that this Shelby received rave reviews from leading motor vehicle institutions and gearheads alike. Edmunds called the 2010-2012 an “impressive combination of tire-shredding performance, fairly agile handling and a compliant ride” and “a winner that also offers classic-era styling and daily-driver livability.” MotorTrend echoed this sentiment, saying that this new wave was “so much more consistent and sophisticated feeling than before.”

Looking back, the 2010-2012 GT500 was a crucial link in this chain of iconic cars. It was by no means the follow-up to a slouch—the 2009 GT500 was a great success in its own right— but it proved that there was a place for post-Y2K Shelbys and that they could continue to improve year after year. That’s probably why this model endears itself to gearheads worldwide to this day. Anyone looking for proof needs simply ask an owner about their Shelby; the smile on their face will tell all.

References:

Carroll Shelby - Wikipedia

Shelby GT500 Specs | History & Year Specific Specs - LMR

A Brief History of the 2nd Generation SVT Shelby Mustang GT500 (synergymotorsports.com)

Re-Test: 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 (motortrend.com)