Carroll Shelby's 100th birthday anniversary saluted with Centennial Edition Ford Mustang

To celebrate what would have been Carroll Shelby’s 100th birthday, Shelby American has launched a Centennial edition of its modified Mustang.

BLACK BEAUTY

Firmly etched in Ford’s history and the annals of racing, Carroll Shelby is one of the most recognised names in motoring. The company that bears his name is renowned for producing some noteworthy Mustangs over the past 60 years. This year, on 11 January, Shelby American celebrated what would have been its founder Carroll’s 100th birthday, with the Centennial Edition Mustang, a limited run of coupes to honour his legacy.

Based on the 2023 Ford Mustang 5,0 GT, the CSCE will make use of a “Black Hat” supercharger (probably because it’s been finished in satin black and sits atop the vee engine reminiscent of the Stetsons Carrol wore) and Borla exhaust system that bumps power up to 559 kW.

Sending those outputs to the tarmac is 305/30/R20 Michelin wrapped around model-specific 11-spoke 20-inch wheels. Handling is brought to book by way of the performance springs, upgraded sway bars, camber/caster plates and Brembo front callipers.

It looks the part thanks to its widened front fenders, a Shelby rear spoiler, Shelby sill plates and Shelby signature floor mats to match the Shelby silhouette in the headrests. There are also Le Mans stripes in a darker shade of black running over the middle of the Centennial Mustang, as well as a decal of Shelby on the bonnet.

As befits its name, only 100 of these special models will be made and a few are headed abroad. A special treat for prospective customers is that each model will come with a copy of the Shelby Centennial book published by Shelby American – and a black Stetson hat.