4 of the Best S550 Mustang Models Before the Blue Oval Discontinues It
The new S650 Ford Mustang is on its way, and with it, a nascent series of noteworthy seventh-generation models. However, before the final sixth-generation pony cars roll off lots and showroom floors, we chose some of our favorite S550 Mustang models, like the Ford Mustang Mach 1, Bullitt, and Shelby GT500.
The S550 Ford Mustang lineup offered some serious performance and style options
The sixth-generation Ford Mustang, or S550, got its start in the 2015 model year. Since that evolutionary step for the pony car, the S550 has hosted some collectible, fast, and capable Mustangs.Â
- Shelby GT350
- Shelby GT500
- Ford Mustang Bullitt
- Ford Mustang Mach 1
Shelby Mustangs need no introduction; the namesake of Carroll Shelby elicits images of American performance car royalty. During the sixth-generation model’s tenure, two very different factory Shelby Mustangs hit the streets: the GT350 and GT500. Moreover, the Blue Oval created a few non-Shelby models with track-ready kit and powerful Coyote 5.0L V8 engines, like the Bullitt.Â
Is a Shelby GT350 supercharged?
The GT350 is the first factory naturally aspirated (N/A) Shelby Mustang since the Shelby GT cars of the S197 generation. However, the lack of a supercharger isn’t a bad thing; the GT350’s flat-plane crank 5.2L Voodoo V8 revs to around 8,250 rpm, the highest of any production Mustang.Â
Better yet, the GT350’s 526-horsepower V8 is one of only two N/A V8s in Mustang history with 100 horsepower per liter of displacement. Of course, super fans with a more generous budget will want the GT350R, which adds a braking setup on the cusp of lunacy, heavy-duty springs, and additional fluid coolers. Â
How much is a Shelby GT500?
The 2022 Shelby GT500, the last model before Ford temporarily discontinued the GT500 nameplate, started at around $78,215. Despite its preowned status, a used GT500 does a commendable job of clinging to its value. KBB says the 2022 Shelby GT500 has a fair purchase price of around $77,062.
Still, the Shelby GT500 is the fastest factory Mustang ever. In Car and Driver’s testing, the 760-horsepower GT500 hit 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, as fast as the razor-sharp Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE.   Â
What’s so special about the Ford Mustang Bullitt?
The 2020 Ford Mustang Bullitt was the last model in the Bullitt’s three-year run on the S550 platform. However, it’s more than a handsome Dark Highland Green pony car; the Bullitt’s 480-horsepower Coyote V8 makes it one of the most potent N/A Mustangs in the model’s history.Â
Additionally, the collectible green-and-black movie Mustangs have just one transmission option: a six-speed MT82 manual. Still, owners may have to contend with the Getrag-sourced transmission’s foibles; it’s notorious for issues more so than the comparable Tremec TR-3160 in the Shelby GT350.  Â
Is a Mach 1 faster than a GT?
The Ford Mustang Mach 1 took over as the N/A performance car benchmark for the Blue Oval’s pony car in 2021. When it first came out, the Mach 1 produced the same 480 ponies as the discontinued Bullitt, albeit with a 10-speed automatic transmission option. That automatic could propel the Mach 1 to 60 mph in around 3.8 seconds, 0.1 to 0.3 seconds quicker than a GT.Â
Moreover, with classic graphics, liveries, and a library of track elements from the Shelby models, the Mach 1 is a much more track-ready package than the pretty boy Bullitt.
