Is the heart-pounding Shelby Mustang Super Snake worth the staggering $40,000 premium over a Corvette Z06? Enthusiasts and gearheads have been grappling with this very question since the muscle car’s debut.
May 24, 2024 at 14:34
by Brad Anderson
- Shelby charges over $100,000 for its Super Snake upgrade package, excluding the price of the donor car.
- Shoppers can cough up an extra $5,500 for the Convertible version.
- Both a six-speed manual and an automatic transmission are available.
Starting at a jaw-dropping $159,995, the Shelby Mustang Super Snake's price tag is significantly heftier than an entry-level Chevrolet Corvette Z06, which comes in at $118,795. This premium has many asking: what makes the Super Snake worth the extra dough?
First, consider U.S. production limits: only 250 of these street beasts will hit the pavement. Each Super Snake is built upon a Ford Mustang GT base, enhanced with the 401A Performance Pack, then injected with the Super Snake Package priced at an eye-watering $100,555 for the Coupe and $5,500 more for the Convertible.
Read: Ford’s S650 Mustang Just Got Venomous With 830HP Shelby Super Snake
But what does this hefty price procure? The car’s aesthetic options include Atlas Blue, Iconic Silver, Oxford White, Race Red, Rapid Red Metallic, and Shadow Black. The Super Snake’s Graphics Package is available in Satin Black, Satin Blue, Satin Silver, and Satin White, enhancing the beast’s stance. Buyers can select either a six-speed manual or an automatic transmission, though the latter commands a $1,595 surplus.
The crux of the Super Snake’s allure is the Whipple supercharger bolted onto its 5.0-liter Coyote V8, thrusting out a colossal 830 hp. Performance upgrades go further with a new radiator, heat exchanger, Borla exhaust system, new half shafts, a one-piece drive shaft, and a short throw shifter, ensuring the Mustang can truly sprint. Shelby has also re-engineered the suspension system and incorporated new brakes to tame the beast.
Shelby’s intensive work on the Mustang’s body includes an aluminum hood, carbon-fiber fenders, new grilles, intakes, and additional carbon fiber aero elements. These modifications make it visually apparent that the Super Snake means business.
In the grand debate over whether the Mustang Super Snake justifies its premium over the Corvette Z06, it comes down to preference and pedigree. While the Super Snake is a muscle car marvel offering peak performance, the Corvette Z06 is a more refined supercar experience with a mid-engine layout. Both vehicles have their own allure, but in this titanic clash, is sheer horsepower or engineered finesse the more enticing prospect?
If it were our money, the Corvette’s poised handling and supercar status make a strong case, despite the Shelby’s jaw-dropping power.
