Shelby doesn't do things half-heartedly when it tunes Ford's Mustang and the latest 800bhp GT500 proves the point.

Using an unsuspecting Mustang coupé or convertible as the starting point, Shelby adds a supercharger to the 5.0-litre V8 engine. For the standard Super Snake, this and other engine modifications boost power to 750bhp. The 800bhp option is achieved by re-gearing the supercharger.

Set up by Carroll Shelby, the man who helped create the AC Cobra, the company also tunes the chassis to cope with more than double the power of a standard Mustang. Lowered, firmer suspension, new anti-roll bars and a front strut brace keep the handling up to snuff, while further suspension upgrades are available as an option. There are also 20-inch alloy wheels and improved brakes, a new exhaust and a deeper front spoiler.

The first of these latest Shelby GT500 Super Snakes will reach their owners in the USA in May. The entry price is less than $100,000 for the complete car, though the 800bhp version will up the cost. Fans will have the chance to see the new GT500 at the New York Motor Show that opens on 20 April.

Alisdair Suttie - 8 Apr 2011