We certainly didn't waste any time adding Shelby GT 500s to the mix of Mustangs we talk about in 5.0 Mustang and Super Fords. It has been amazing to see how relatively easy it is to make Shelbys (which are already plenty good when they roll into a dealership's showroom) a ton better, just by adding a few bolt-on parts. If Shelby's are your thing, I suggest you look through your library of mags or in the Tech archive on this Web site, and check out the Shelby-upgrade tech stories we've already written.

Having recently completed a cool Shelby project (that you'll read about in an upcoming issue of the magazine), I have to admit I was on the prowl for finding GT 500s that are upgraded, when I attended Super Car Sunday--a last-Sunday-of-each-month auto experience held in Calabasas, California. The event is a cruise-and-park deal that draws all sorts of exotic, muscle, experimental and other types vehicles, and Shelbys are usually in the mix.

"Stock Steve" is a Shelby owner who is always at the Super Car Sundays. I nicknamed him Stock Steve because I don't know his last name, but his Shelby is still stock as a rock, and I don't understand why. I know. I know. Mods aren't everyone's up of tea. But, the thing about Stock Steve that gets me is the fact that his buddies...fellow GT 500 owners from his neighborhood--literally--all have done the basic upgrades that we've presented (CAI, exhaust, pulley and tune) in the magazine, and a few have even stepped up to swapping the stock blower for Ford Racing's TVS unit. The peer pressure is incredible. One of Stock Steve's friends just came out and said, "Warranty, schmorranty! They're (Shelby GT 500s) a lot more fun when they really have the 500 horspower!"

Until this Sunday, every time I've seen Stock Steve he has said he didn't think he'll make any changes until his car's 3-year, 36,000-mile warranty has expired. On Sunday though, Steve actually said he was "on the edge" about possibly making a performance change. What will the upgrade be? Well, right after telling Steve about the performance we saw after intalling a JLT cold-air system, Steeda 2.7" pulley, Fluidyne heat exchanger, Bassani aft-cat exhaust and a DiabloSport Predator on Carlos Cortez's GT 500 (and Stock Steve knows Carlos), Carlos actually drove up in the very car I was talking about! Stock Steve (and his son, Rob) took a good, long look at the parts that were added and heard Carlos' testimonial about the difference they made on his ride. I really hope Stock Steve takes the information to heart and makes some changes soon. Shelby GT 500s are bad-ass Mustangs, and they really do get a lot better when their true potential is uncovered by just a small assortment of parts.