The 2007 Shelby GT500 was the first fruit of the efforts of the Special Vehicle Team (SVT) after Ford entered into a new business agreement with the legendary Carroll Shelby. Originally intended to be the 2007 Mustang Cobra, Shelby lent his name and his considerable influence to the project, creating a car that was a legitimate heir to the GT500 moniker. Based on the all-new S197 platform, it was an opportunity to showcase Ford’s muscle car credentials, and the result was industry-altering. Do you really think we’d have 600 horsepower Corvettes and Camaros, and 700+ horsepower Dodges if not for Ford’s first volley into the mega-horsepower wars? This car wasn’t just an icon for Shelby fans, it changed the way performance was sold by mainstream automakers.

Some smart hobbyist bought this 2007 Shelby GT500 brand new and then tucked it away, knowing that there would be a future when it would be as highly sought as its older siblings. Is that day today? Hard to say, but what it represents is an opportunity to buy a first-year GT500 in as-new condition. It shows a little over 2000 original miles, just enough to keep it in top health without knocking any of the newness off of it. First-year cars are often the most valuable and while there are other versions, the 2007 cars seem to be special for collectors. Bathed in traditional Torch Red with white stripes, it’s the car that showed up on every magazine cover, poster, road test, and show stand in the country for 18 months. The look is pure performance, plain and simple. This car has not gone through dealer prep, so it remains in pretty much factory fresh condition. The paint is surprisingly nice for a production Ford, and that probably comes courtesy of the guys on the special assembly line dedicated to putting these cars together—they knew they were building something special. Fit and finish are excellent and there’s not even a bug carcass on the chin spoiler to suggest that it’s been driven. If you want one that looks like new (and does everything else a new car would do), this is it.

The black and red leather interior is all about performance and offers more than a few upgrades over the standard Mustangs sold alongside it. The red stitching, the Cobra embroidery on the seat backs, and another Cobra on the steering wheel remind you that this is a car with history. More red stitching on the leather-wrapped wheel and shifter boot, and the door panels are beautifully crafted to match. Just about everything was standard equipment in the GT500, including A/C, power windows, locks, seats, and mirrors, cruise control, and a rear defroster. This car also includes the Shaker 1000 audio system, a $1295 extra-cost option, and the GT500 Premier trim package, which added those lovely red accents we were talking about, as well as a set of aluminum pedals. Big, round dials house the speedometer and tach, with the auxiliary gauges in the center of the dash, including a boost gauge for the supercharged engine. The 6-speed manual transmission snaps effortlessly through the gates and controls are set up for serious driving, because the car was designed to be used and used hard. Factory plastic wrap is still on the carpets and the original floor mats are in the trunk, still wrapped up and waiting to be installed. Heck, even the radio antenna hasn’t been installed yet! In the trunk you’ll also find a giant speaker box with twin 10-inch subwoofers, a part of the Shaker 1000 stereo, and it’s about the only thing that can compete with the supercharged V8 for aural entertainment.

Speaking of the engine, it’s a fraternal twin to the supercharged 5.4 liter DOHC V8 found in the Ford GT supercar. With 500 horsepower and 480 pounds of torque, it was, at the time, the most powerful production Mustang ever built. Hand-assembled by two SVT technicians who sign their names on the left front cam cover, it’s an extraordinary piece of hardware. Turn the key and it fires instantly and idles smoothly, hot or cold. Trundle around town without getting wild and it’s docile and friendly, never letting on that there are 500 horsepower lurking underneath. Your mother could drive this car all day and never know how special it is, but at the same time, she could also rip off 12-second quarter mile times without much effort. How’s that for well-tuned tractability? This particular car has had its fluids changed periodically, just to keep it healthy, and with so few miles, it’s only due to time, not use. Given the previous owner’s disposition, we doubt that this engine has ever been over 4000 RPM and it’s always been in heated, protected storage. Again, if you want a new one, this car gets as close as humanly possible without a time machine.

The 6-speed manual transmission is a joy to row through the gears, and with not one, but TWO overdrive gears, it pulls down decent fuel economy on the highway. 3.31 cogs out back on a Track-Lok limited slip don’t seem very tall, but with all that supercharged torque you don’t need much gear to get it launched—more gear would probably just turn into expensive Goodyear tire smoke. The suspension was extensively reworked by the SVT engineers, endowing the GT500 with very pleasing road manners but the ability to really hustle when the road starts to twist—this is a Mustang that is more than a one-trick drag strip pony. And like any good supercar, it comes with positively gigantic brakes: 14-inch Brembos with 4-piston calipers in front and 12-inch vented discs with 2-piston calipers in back. The exhaust is mellow and dare we say, quiet, and that’s one thing we might change if this were a car we were going to drive, but as a showroom-fresh time capsule, it’s probably best to leave it alone. Looking underneath you’ll quickly see that it remains as new, with original markings and paper tags still in place on the various components and no signs of abuse or weather—this car has never even been wet! Special 18-inch forged alloy wheels were created just for this car, and it carries its original 255/45/18 front and 285/40/18 rear Goodyear Eagle F1 tires.

Documented with its original window sticker, manuals, key fobs, and other delivery paperwork, this is the finest GT500 we’ve ever seen. There’s no higher complement we can pay a car than to say it is “as new” and in this car’s case, that’s unquestionably true. Call today!