2015-2017 Shelby Super Snake New Era Mustang Delivers

By Evan J. Smith

By 2015, the Shelby Super Snake was established as the most potent Mustang on the market, and enthusiasts were anxious to see what Shelby American could do with the all-new S550 chassis. Building on eight years of development, Shelby introduced its 2015 Super Snake, utilizing the all-new independent rear suspension and the potent 5.0L Coyote engine. Like past Super Snakes, Shelby presented a package with endless style, neck-snapping acceleration, track-ready cornering, braking and exclusivity.

“This was a different animal entirely,” said Shelby American vice president Gary Patterson. “We looked at the capability of the 5.0 and we put the power to it. It’s not 850 like we had in 2014, but overall the S550 is much better, so the overall car becomes better. The 2015 Super Snake became a balanced car that could go around corners, drag race and stop. The IRS suspension helped put the power to the pavement,” he added.

The 2015 – and subsequent ’16-‘17 Super Snakes – were developed to fulfill the needs of customers who were expecting something special—something beyond the standard Mustang. “What you do is start with a base car, like we did in ’07, and you drive it,” explained Patterson. “You see what it does well and what it doesn’t and where would you improve it. Then you go to the track and test. You push the limits. You look to see if the parts are working together, and you keep going through it,” he added.

The 2015 Super Snake styling blends elements of both the ’67 and the ’68. The stance is low and aggressive, with a new front splitter, open-mouth grille, and the hood features wide, twin nostrils with twin extractor scoops at the rear. The rocker panels are all Shelby and blend nicely to the sides. The Super Snake rides on 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, the rear gets a unique spoiler for added downforce and the exhaust rumbles from a pair of large oval tips.

Mash the gas and you’ll feel the punch from the 670-hp Ford Performance supercharger with Shelby-specific engine calibration and performance exhaust. Super Snake also includes a cooling package that allows extended track sessions. For those who want more “go” Shelby offers a 750-plus package that includes a Whipple (or Kenne Bell) intercooled supercharger kit, along with upgraded cooling, plus a transmission and rear end cooler.

For 2015, Shelby made the Super Snake available for the first time with an automatic transmission. The six-speed overdrive auto is a great option, offering quick upshifts with the simplicity and comfort of any modern performance sports car. Of course, a 6-speed manual is standard equipment. And with either transmission, power is transferred through a one-piece driveshaft to the beefed-up rear end.

The 2015 Super Snake is capable performer whether on the strip, street or road course. It has a balanced suspension with upgraded springs and dampers, along with race track capable stopping power thanks to Wilwood brakes with cooling ducts. The balance makes every Super Snake predictable and easy to drive at speed. Shelby also offers the ability for the Super Snake client to personalize with options such as a roll bar, race seats and harness setup, plus a host of carbon fiber components and a Katzkin interior.

In 2015 Shelby created the 50th anniversary Super Snake to celebrate and honor the original. “The 2017 Super Snake is a tremendous performance value,” said Vince LaViolette, Shelby American vice president of operations. “We fine-tuned our processes and materials to offer an agile, nimble and balanced car at a lower cost. It has more base performance and content than any other version in our history. Super Snake ties together obscene horsepower, tremendous handling and unmistakable looks. The 2017 SS also featured a Shelby tune and special exhaust note.

And the 2017 gets it done on both the street and track. “On pump gasoline and Michelin street-legal tires, a properly optioned Super Snake can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, blaze through the quarter mile in only 10.9 seconds and deliver an amazing 1.2g on the skip pad,” added Patterson.

Exterior features include twin-nostril hood and unique over-body stripes. Downforce is improved with a splitter, rocker slats and a new rear spoiler. The hood has been restyled, along with the splitter, grilles, fog lights, rear tail panel and rear diffuser assembly, all designed to enhance performance. Shelby also added 50th Anniversary stripes and badges, found in the interior with logos across the seats, dash, and floor. “The 2017 Super Snake represents American muscle in the truest sense,” exclaimed LaViolette. “It delivers full-throttle excitement at every turn, all wrapped in a chiseled, handsome body. No other car offers so much performance and styling for the price.”

The 50th Anniversary Super Snake was available in all Ford Mustang factory colors and enthusiasts were able to select between a manual or automatic transmission. And as you’d expect, Shelby offered an endless list of options, which allows for total personalization, and each Super Snake is assigned a Shelby serial number that is documented in the official Shelby Registry, plus a separate plaque signed by the build team will be affixed under the hood.

The 50th Anniversary Super Snake was unveiled at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction. Only 500 of the 2017 models were built with a new lower MSRP, beginning at $69,995, which includes the base Ford Mustang GT.