Published: Aug 19, 2012

850 Horsepower GT500 Cobra, a Proper Tribute to Carroll

There is perhaps no better way to pay tribute to the late, great Carroll Shelby.

This weekend's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Monterey, California, has played host to a vast array of powerful and expensive performance and luxury models of all shapes and sizes. We've seen brand-new McLarens, a Bugatti Vitesse Roadster and even an open-top variant of the BMW Zagato, however it just wouldn't be an American auto show without a serious muscle car on display. Cue Ford and the one-off Shelby GT500 Cobra.

850 Horsepower GT500 Cobra, a Proper Tribute to Carroll

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Built by a group of industry leaders and such companies like Ford, Ford Racing and Shelby American under the guise of "Friends of Carroll Shelby," the one-off custom build is meant to pay tribute to the legend's impact on the automotive world. The tribute car is based on the 662-horsepower strong 2013 Shelby GT500 and features a Ford Racing 4.0-liter Whipple supercharger. Thanks to the addition, this model now boasts a staggering 850hp from its V8 engine. The 2013 Shelby GT500 Cobra also features a new rear wide-body kit, 20-inch wheels that measure 13-inches wide at the back and wrapped in high-performance tires and a bespoke hood.

"Even at 89 years of age, Carroll was an inspiration to us all," says Jim Farley, Ford's VP of sales and marketing. "This year marks the 50th anniversary of the original Shelby Cobra. The one-off car we have created represents the very idea he had about making the 2013 Shelby GT500 into a true Cobra." The one-off Carroll Shelby GT500 Cobra tribute features a 60s-era blue and white paint scheme. It was unveiled by Farley, board member Edsel Ford II and Shelby American president John Luft. It is currently on show at Ford's display during the Pebble Beach festivities.