The Most Radical Shelby Ford Trucks Ever Crafted

Shelby American Inc. is, arguably, one of the most renowned American tuning companies, widely recognized for its collaborations with Ford pickup trucks and Mustang performance vehicles. With a history spanning over six decades, the company came into existence after racing enthusiast Carroll Shelby ingeniously integrated a Ford-derived V8 powerplant into an AC Ace sports car, birthing the inaugural AC Cobra.

Alongside an array of Mustangs, Shelby currently delves into enhancing Ford pickup trucks, fusing the highest-selling truck in the US with insane performance enhancements to produce something truly exceptional. Although the initial truck the company toyed with was a Dodge Dakota, that endeavor pales in comparison to what Shelby achieves presently. Given Ford’s prowess in crafting exceptional trucks, if the Raptor R feels like it’s under threat, you can be sure that the Shelby iteration must be remarkably superior. Here’s our compilation of the most remarkable trucks bearing the Cobra emblem produced so far.

This compilation showcases ten of Shelby’s most remarkable truck transformations and does not signify the most potent or priciest trucks from the brand. Herein, we explore ten of the most distinctive trucks, ranging from older to newer models.

2004 Shelby Expedition

Commencing our roster of thrilling Shelby Ford trucks is the 2004 Shelby Expedition. While never intended for commercial distribution, it garners acknowledgment for being the first Ford truck chassis to receive the Shelby touch. It boasted significant power output for its era. The enhancements to the Shelby Expedition included a supercharged engine, drilled and slotted brakes, 22-inch Boyd Coddington wheels, and a plethora of interior indulgences like LCD TV screens, a DVD player, and a 12-disc CD changer. The focal point for Shelby was the engine – a 5.4-liter V8 of the same size as the standard Ford Expedition at the time. Despite sharing displacement with the regular Expedition V8, the Shelby Expedition sourced its 5.4-liter V8 directly from the Ford GT, enabling it to yield 550 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque.

2006 Shelby GT-150

The narrative surrounding the subsequent Shelby truck in our collection unfolds uniquely. Dubbed the Shelby GT-150, it cleverly echoes the F-150’s nomenclature. Unique Performance, in collaboration with Shelby, was tasked with manufacturing the GT-150. Initial prospects seemed promising, with Shelby drawing insights from the Shelby Expedition to embark on mass-producing a truck targeted at the public. However, before the GT-150 transitioned into full-scale production, Unique Performance faced insolvency due to fraudulent practices. Only its concept model was crafted before the project’s demise. Carrying a muscular 445-hp engine, the GT-150 would have been a formidable pickup truck if not for its premature halt.

2007 Shelby F-150 Super Snake

The 2007 Shelby F-150 Super Snake made its debut at the 2009 SEMA exhibition. Here, Shelby opted to provide the Super Snake retrofit package to current F-150 owners rather than fabricating the trucks themselves. Enthusiasts could dispatch their F-150s to Shelby’s conversion studios in Las Vegas, Nevada for a full makeover.achieved in that manner. Due to this strategy, along with some imprecise record-keeping by Shelby, the precise count of Super Snake F-150s actually produced remains uncertain. The Super Snake package comprised a considerable assortment of enhanced performance components, including a Whipple supercharger, a Borla exhaust system, and a suspension setup courtesy of DJM.

Conversion of Shelby F-150 Raptor Baja 700 in 2011

Drawing from the previously sold conversion kits, Shelby provided a comparable enhancement package to Ford F-150 Raptor owners. The upgrade kit, known as the Raptor Baja 700 conversion kit, enhanced the performance of the existing truck to 700 horsepower, as indicated by its name. At its launch, the Baja 700 carried a $45,000 conversion fee – implying an additional $45k on top of the base purchase price of a standard Raptor. The approach involved taking the standard 6.2-liter V8 and affixing a 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger, introducing an upgraded intercooler, incorporating improved shocks, installing customized control arms, and various body enhancements… resulting in a truck capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds. The Baja 700 also featured a cat-back Borla exhaust setup.

2013 Shelby F-150 Raptor

In addition to the earlier mentioned Baja Conversion, Shelby initiated the production of a more subtle version of their enhancement. In contrast to the Baja 700, this Shelby Raptor was fabricated and made available at Ford retailers. Although the subdued Raptor possessed reduced horsepower, it flaunted bold graphics along its sides, ensuring easy recognition when spotted. However, performance was not compromised as it still delivered 575 hp through the same 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger and a cat-back Borla exhaust system. The Shelby Raptor was limited in quantity, with an approximate annual sale of 100 units, and at a significantly lower price point compared to the Baja Raptor that generated over 700 hp.

2017 Shelby F-150 Super Snake

The previously mentioned Raptor trucks primarily cater to off-road terrains, functioning as high-performance sand crawlers. However, with the F-Series trucks for the road continually experiencing high sales figures, Shelby opted to apply their expertise once again to the conventional F-150 models. Subsequently, they introduced the F-150 Super Snake in diverse trim options, with the top-tier variant priced just under $100k at that time. The 2017 F-150 with a 5.0-liter V8 initially produced 385 hp and 387 lb-ft of torque but underwent the Shelby treatment, nearly doubling the horsepower output. Consumers could choose between two- and four-wheel drive models and among six grades available. Merely 150 units were manufactured, exclusively sold at select Ford dealerships in the United States.

2018 Shelby F-150 Raptor

The groundbreaking 2018 Shelby Raptor marks the entry of a Shelby truck without a V8 engine. Embarking on a unique path, Shelby opted to retain the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 but substantially enhanced its power output by 75 hp and torque by 100 lb-ft. This truck featured a ten-speed automatic transmission, improved suspension with dual-stage adaptable shocks on all corners, and larger wheels and tires. The luxurious finishing touch included light bars and a custom interior, all for a hefty price tag of $117,460, with an additional investment of nearly $50k required for upgrading an existing truck.

2020 Shelby F-150 Super Snake Sport

Shelby’s 2020 Ford truck endeavor coincided with the upcoming overhaul of the F-150 set to debut in 2021. Similar to the previous Super Snake model from 2017, the 2020 version maintained the stock 5.0-liter V8 while adding a supercharger and an enhanced cooling system to manage the increased heat from the supercharger. Although the exact torque output of this Super Snake sport is unidentified, enthusiasts estimate it to be around 850 lb-ft. The truck is known for its 770 hp engine and an impressive 3.4-second 0-60 mph acceleration time. Due to the success of the previous Super Snake F-150, Shelby decided to produce an additional 100 units, bringing the total for the 2020 model year to 250 vehicles.

2021 Shelby F-250 Super Baja

The subsequent participant marked a new milestone for Shelby. Instead of enhancing an F-150 as usual, Shelby chose to focus on an F-250 Super Duty this time. It was also a first for Shelby to include a diesel motor in one of their lineups. Nonetheless, Shelby made no modifications to the 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine, maintaining identical power specifications to the standard Super Duty trucks fitted with the 6.7-liter Power Stroke. Shelby’s efforts were directed towards enhancing the truck’s exterior, interior, and off-road capabilities with upgrades like a fully enhanced FOX off-road suspension, a BDS lift, and 37-inch tires. Additionally, it was fitted with numerous off-road LED lights, creating an impressive vehicle. Only 250 units were offered through select dealers.

The 2023 Shelby F-150 Raptor

Our final contender, the 2023 Shelby F-150 Raptor, benefits from the updated appearance of the current F-150 Raptor, making this version of the Shelby Raptor look more intimidating. Power figures remain consistent with the 2018 model, maintaining the same horsepower and torque ratings. The 2023 Raptor, however, is capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in four seconds. To achieve its horsepower and torque figures, Shelby equipped it with a large air intake, a customized Shelby exhaust, and a Performance Aluminum Intercooler. Although it comes at a higher price than other trucks on the list, you’ll receive what Shelby describes as the “most refined off-road truck ever”.

Sources: Shelby.com, Barrett-Jackson.com, Ford150.net,