Shelby cars with highest power to weight ratio

Top 40 Shelby cars with most powerful engines relative to vehicle weight. Updated August 2025.

Most accurate predictor of acceleration is power to weight ratio. The more power engine can produce and the less mass it has to accelerate, the quicker the acceleration.

For low speed acceleration and acceleration from standstill, traction also plays important role. Aerodynamic drag takes over as dominating factor at high speed.

Everything in between is where power to weight ratio matters the most. Mid-range acceleration is also important for track performance.

# make & model Hp/tonne▼ Image
1. 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake 773 Photo of 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake
2. 2023 Shelby Series 2 Coupe EV 688 Photo of 2023 Shelby Series 2 Coupe EV
3. 2018 Shelby 1000 630 Photo of 2018 Shelby 1000
4. 2011 Shelby 1000 534 Photo of 2011 Shelby 1000
5. 2012 Shelby GT500 Cobra 486 Photo of 2012 Shelby GT500 Cobra
6. 2013 Shelby GT500 Super Snake 486 Photo of 2013 Shelby GT500 Super Snake
7. 2020 Shelby Mustang GT500KR 478 Photo of 2020 Shelby Mustang GT500KR
8. 2026 Shelby Super Snake-R 468 Photo of 2026 Shelby Super Snake-R
9. 2012 Shelby GT500 Super Snake 461 Photo of 2012 Shelby GT500 Super Snake
10. 2023 Shelby Mustang Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition 455 Photo of 2023 Shelby Mustang Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition
11. 2026 Shelby GT350 447 Photo of 2026 Shelby GT350
12. 2016 Shelby Terlingua 440 Photo of 2016 Shelby Terlingua
13. 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Super 439 Photo of 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Super
14. 2026 Shelby GT350R 433 Photo of 2026 Shelby GT350R
15. Shelby Cobra 427 S/C 426 Photo of Shelby Cobra 427 S/C
16. 2020 Shelby Mustang Super Snake Coupe 401 Photo of 2020 Shelby Mustang Super Snake Coupe
17. 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C 383 Photo of 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C
18. 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 S/C 380 Photo of 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 S/C
19. 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe 373 Photo of 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe
20. 2023 Shelby Series 2 Coupe 7.0 368 Photo of 2023 Shelby Series 2 Coupe 7.0
21. 2017 Shelby F150 Super Snake 359 Photo of 2017 Shelby F150 Super Snake
22. 2010 Shelby GT500 Super Snake 355 Photo of 2010 Shelby GT500 Super Snake
23. 2003 Shelby Series 1 S/C 355 Photo of 2003 Shelby Series 1 S/C
24. 2008 Shelby Mustang Cobra GT500 SuperSnake 340 Photo of 2008 Shelby Mustang Cobra GT500 SuperSnake
25. 1967 Shelby Cobra 428 S/C 332 Photo of 1967 Shelby Cobra 428 S/C
26. 2023 Shelby F150 Super Snake Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition 321 Photo of 2023 Shelby F150 Super Snake Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition
27. 2011 Shelby GT500 SVT 317 Photo of 2011 Shelby GT500 SVT
28. 2008 Shelby Turbo 310 Photo of 2008 Shelby Turbo
29. 2011 Shelby GT350 306 Photo of 2011 Shelby GT350
30. 2010 Shelby GT500 305 Photo of 2010 Shelby GT500
31. 2023 Shelby F150 Super Snake 304 Photo of 2023 Shelby F150 Super Snake
32. 1965 Shelby GT350R 300 Photo of 1965 Shelby GT350R
33. 2008 Shelby Mustang Cobra GT500KR 300 Photo of 2008 Shelby Mustang Cobra GT500KR
34. 2018 Shelby GT 294 Photo of 2018 Shelby GT
35. 2023 Shelby F150 Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition 294 Photo of 2023 Shelby F150 Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition
36. 1967 Shelby GT500 Supercharged 293 Photo of 1967 Shelby GT500 Supercharged
37. 2023 Shelby F150 285 Photo of 2023 Shelby F150
38. 1968 Shelby GT500 KR Green Hornet 282 Photo of 1968 Shelby GT500 KR Green Hornet
39. 2023 Shelby Series 2 Coupe 7.3 277 Photo of 2023 Shelby Series 2 Coupe 7.3
40. 2006 Shelby GT500 281 Photo of 2006 Shelby GT500

Sources

All data sourced from manufacturer's official figures.

List authored by Christian Zelcs. Last updated on 08/14/2025, last addition - Shelby Super Snake-R.