Shelby gives Mustang GT the 1000 horsepower treatment

Highly-modified performance cars and tricked-out customs continue to make their presence felt at the 2017 SEMA Show. Also in abundance at the annual auto show are the muscle cars that come with high-output V8s and striking exterior designs.

One of the specially-modified Mustangs that made its official debut at 2017 SEMA is the Shelby 1000 track-car. It's a souped-up Mustang GT with a modified V8 under the hood, along with a custom suspension system and bespoke exterior design.

“The Shelby 1000 program was designed and engineered by our team in Las Vegas, making it our most ambitious program in the past decade. The new Shelby 1000 demonstrates our commitment to leading American performance from the highways to the track and trails. Second place is first loser, and we intend to stay out front,” said Gary Patterson, president of Shelby American.

Available for the 2015 model year Mustang and beyond, the Shelby 1000 does away with the 5.0-liter Coyote V8. Instead, it gets the more powerful 5.2-liter V8. Also, Shelby added the following under the hood: a 4.5-liter Whipple supercharger, high-flow fuel system, intercooler and a custom ECU. The result is a mind-boggling 1,013 PS.

Aside from the highly-tuned V8, Shelby also tinkered with the suspension system and drivetrain. For starters, Shelby installed fully adjustable coilovers and upper / lower control arms, heavy-duty halfshafts and CV joints, upgraded Brembo braking system, hardened wheel studs, and wider wheels and tires.

“The 2012 through 2014 model year Shelby 1000 was based on the 5.8L Ford Shelby GT500, and while we significantly altered the suspension, it was best suited for the drag strip. The new Shelby 1000 is an entirely different car designed to be the ultimate road course warrior,” said Vince LaViolette, vice president of Operations and head of development at Shelby American.

The exterior, on the other hand, has been fitted with a unique bodykit. It comes with an all-new front fascia, hood, front fenders, rocker panels, rear diffuser and exhaust. Wider front and rear tracks were also added to complement the bigger wheels and tires.

Only 50 examples will be built each year at the company's facility in Las Vegas, with production set to begin in Q1 of 2018. Each car will be registered and documented in the official Shelby registry.