<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/convertibles/" rel="tag">Convertible</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/driving/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-ford-shelby-gt500/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/lead1shelbygt500fd2011-1274971047.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>2011 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/shelby+gt500">2011 Ford Shelby GT500</a> is so good we don't even want to associate the word "Mustang" with it anymore. Not that there's anything wrong with the Mustang - particularly the revised 2011 model. But as a sports car, the word "Mustang" conjures images of something much less than refined. If a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/porsche/">Porsche</a> is a scalpel, a 'roided up 'Stang is the Jaws of Life: it'll get the job done, but it ain't gonna be pretty.<br />
<br />
However, if a Mustang is a mauling maw, the Shelby GT500 is a defibrillator. Perhaps not pinpoint precise, but it hides a sting, a little bit of burn and you can put it right where you want. And once you're there, you can use it to deliver a glorious shock to the system. Follow the jump to find out why.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-ford-shelby-gt500/">First Drive: 2011 Ford Shelby GT500</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-ford-shelby-gt500/#3019067"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/01shelbygt500fd2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-ford-shelby-gt500/#3019069"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/02shelbygt500fd2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-ford-shelby-gt500/#3019070"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/03shelbygt500fd2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-ford-shelby-gt500/#3019071"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/04shelbygt500fd2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-ford-shelby-gt500/#3019072"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/05shelbygt500fd2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<em><strong><small>Photos by Jonathon Ramsey / </small></strong></em><em><strong><small>Copyright (C)2010</small></strong></em><em><strong><small> Weblogs, Inc.</small></strong></em><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/27/2011-ford-shelby-gt500-first-drive/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>First Drive: 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 is a heart-starting jolt</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/27/2011-ford-shelby-gt500-first-drive/">First Drive: 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 is a heart-starting jolt</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 27 May 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/27/2011-ford-shelby-gt500-first-drive/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19493573/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/27/2011-ford-shelby-gt500-first-drive/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>2011 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/shelby+gt500">2011 Ford Shelby GT500</a> is so good we don't even want to associate the word "Mustang" with it anymore. Not that there's anything wrong with the Mustang - particularly the revised 2011 model. But as a sports car, the word "Mustang" conjures images of something much less than refined. If a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/porsche/">Porsche</a> is a scalpel, a 'roided up 'Stang is the Jaws of Life: it'll get the job done, but it ain't gonna be pretty.<br />
<br />
However, if a Mustang is a mauling maw, the Shelby GT500 is a defibrillator. Perhaps not pinpoint precise, but it hides a sting, a little bit of burn and you can put it right where you want. And once you're there, you can use it to deliver a glorious shock to the system. Follow the jump to find out why.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-ford-shelby-gt500/">First Drive: 2011 Ford Shelby GT500</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-ford-shelby-gt500/#3019067"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/01shelbygt500fd2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-ford-shelby-gt500/#3019069"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/02shelbygt500fd2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-ford-shelby-gt500/#3019070"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/03shelbygt500fd2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-ford-shelby-gt500/#3019071"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/04shelbygt500fd2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-ford-shelby-gt500/#3019072"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/05shelbygt500fd2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<em><strong><small>Photos by Jonathon Ramsey / </small></strong></em><em><strong><small>Copyright (C)2010</small></strong></em><em><strong><small> Weblogs, Inc.</small></strong></em><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/27/2011-ford-shelby-gt500-first-drive/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>First Drive: 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 is a heart-starting jolt</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/27/2011-ford-shelby-gt500-first-drive/">First Drive: 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 is a heart-starting jolt</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 27 May 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/27/2011-ford-shelby-gt500-first-drive/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19493573/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/27/2011-ford-shelby-gt500-first-drive/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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