Although the modern-day Super Snake was introduced in 2008 for the 2007 Shelby GT500, the name goes back all the way to 1966 when Carroll Shelby built the "Cobra to end all Cobras:" a 600-horsepower roadster based in the Cobra 427. With the fifth-generation Mustang->ke428 having been retired at the end of the 2014 model year making way for the redesigned pony car, production of the GT500 Super Snake is also set to come to an end. As a result, Shelby American is sending the moniker off into the history books with a limited-edition model dubbed the Signature Edition.

The final iteration of the Super Snake comes as a post-title package that adds a few extra features on top of the regular features offered with either the 662-horsepower or 850-pony package. Read on to find out more about the extras that come with the new Super Snake Signature Edition.

Click past the jump to read more about the Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snakes Signature Edition By Shelby American.

2007 - 2014 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake Signature Edition by Shelby American

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2007 - 2014 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake Signature Edition by Shelby American
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 850
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

On the outside, the Signature Edition is essentially a GT500 Super Snake with a few additional goodies. New features include forged Weld Shelby wheels with Signature Edition center caps, "Super Snake Signature Edition" badges and an extended color palette. For the first time in history, the Super Snake is available in the entire color palette offered by Ford for the Shelby GT500, while the stripe colors can be paired with the Weld Shelby wheels, a first for pre-2013 model year GT500s. Customers can also select the wide body option as an extra cost option.

Other than that, the Signature Edition will be equipped with all the features included in the regular Super Snake package. Highlights include a Super Snake hood, a carbon-fiber front splitter, Super Snake stripe kit in Gloss White, Matte Black, Silver, Azure Blue and Red, Super Snake grille insert, and rear quarter window side scoops or block-offs. The convertible models will receive a light bar.

Interior

Three brand-new features will set the Signature Edition's interior apart from that of the regular Super Snake. The most important add-on is a commemorative Carroll Shelby signature air bag cover decal supplied by the Carroll Shelby Foundation. The muscle car also received a unique CSM numbered dash plaque on the dashboard, as well as Signature Edition floor mats.

These new bits join the Shelby billet, short-throw shifter, the A-pillar pod and gauges, the Super Snake embroidered headrest covers, and the Super Snake illuminated door-sill plates. Optionally, customers can order the Shelby/Katzkin leather interior that includes leather seating surfaces, perforated leather seat inserts, and leather wrapped shifter and handbrake lever, all with contrasting stitching.

Drivetrain

Nothing changes under the hood as far as output goes, meaning customers get to choose between the base 662-horsepower model and the optional 850-pony variant. Both versions are equipped with Shelby's supercharged, 5.8-liter, 32-valve V-8, but while the former gets the regular GT500's TVS supercharger, the latter comes with a 3.6-liter, Kenne Bell blower that injects an extra 188 ponies, taking the total output to 850 horsepower.

Mated to a six-speed manual transmission, the eight-banger enables the Super Snake to scream from naught to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds. The 850-horsepower option returns 11-second quarter miles with street tires, but drag radials will bring the benchmark to as low as 10.6 seconds, making it quicker than the Dodge Challenger Hellcat SRT.

The Signature Edition upgrade also adds a Shelby Performance cooling package with a new radiator, heat exchanger and aluminum cooling tanks, a unique engine plate and upgraded rear brakes. Other updates that come with the standard Super Snake bundle include a Shelby front brake duct kit, a Borla axle-back muffler kit, a Shelby suspension package and performance tires.

On the options list, customers will find a Shelby aluminum Watts link rear suspension, a Ford Racing suspension and sway bar kit, a 3.73 rear gear upgrade and much more.

Prices

The Super Snake Signature Edition package starts from $44,995, not including the base car. The sticker also includes a day of training at the Shelby American test track. Only 50 Signature Edition Super Snakes will be build with orders accepted through January 31st, 2015. The package can be ordered for any 2007-2014 model year Shelby GT500, in both coupe or convertible guises. The wide-body kit is available as an extra cost option.

Competiton

Dodge Challenger Hellcat SRT

While the Shelby GT500 Super Snake is finding its way into history book, the Dodge Challenger Hellcat arrives to take over as the most powerful muscle car you can find in showrooms. Although it's less powerful than the range-topping Super Snake at 707 horsepower, the Hellcat is actually the most powerful production pony as it is being built on Dodge's assembly line and not in an aftermarket facility.

Its supercharged, 6.2-liter, HEMI V-8 cranks out 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, which translates into a 0-to-60 mph sprint of around 3.5 seconds and a quarter-mile run of 11.2 seconds. Once equipped with drag radials, the Hellcat needs just 10.8 seconds from start to finish. Interestingly enough, the Hellcat is quicker than the Super Snake with street tires, but a bit slower with drag radials. At least according to independent tests, as the two have yet to be paired on a drag strip as of December 2014.

Pricing for the Challenger Hellcat begins from $60,990, including destination and gas-guzzler tax, making it a lot more affordable than the Super Snake Signature Edition, which would fetch around $100K with a base, brand-new, 2014 model year Shelby GT500 included.

Conclusion

The Shelby GT500 Super Snake is one of the most powerful Mustangs ever built -- it's surpassed only by the 1,000-horsepower Shelby 1000 -- and seeing it retire is as painful as it gets. With the redesigned Mustang featuring an independent rear axle and Shelby's involvement Ford's factory program diminished, this might be the last Super Snake ever. Unfortunately, a lot of enthusiasts are likely to be disappointed, as buying the Signature Edition requires owning a 2007-2014 Shelby GT500. With the latter no longer in production, it seems the Signature Edition is reserved to current GT500 owners. Be that as it may, a special-edition model is a nice way to bid farewell to an iconic nameplate such as the Super Snake.

It's a good thing the Hellcat is brand-new and here to stay for a few years...