A raised hood with functional vents, some stripes, unique 18-inch alloy wheels, honeycomb grille inserts sans fog lights, a few badges, rear lower strakes meant to mimic a diffuser, and enhancements to the fascias and rocker panels – that's what visually separates the GT500 from the Mustang GT. It's not a lot, especially if you've got an example like our test convertible, which included a no-charge stripe delete package (the lower side stripes remain). In a world where it's becoming increasingly difficult to stand out, those minor design cues may not seem recognizable, especially in traffic-clogged areas like southern California. Right – that's why every Mustang GT owner, every tuner-car driver, and every male with an ounce of testosterone seemed to flock to our convertible tester each time it hit the street. Some admired, some asked to race, some just smiled, some gave the thumbs-up sign of approval -- but they all noticed. If you're like the admirers we encountered, you have eagle eyes for chrome letters on a tailgate that spell SHELBY, your pupils dial in on a raised cobra decorating a fender, and that domed hood is a dead giveaway. The GT500 was built for people like you, and hence, there's no need for garish rear wings, over-the-top body kits, or wheels so big they border on absurd. That being said, Ford did upgrade the GT500 with some functional design cues, like those hood vents that disperse engine heat, a lower front air splitter that lessens lift, and a rear spoiler which provides necessary down force at high speeds.

Hop inside the Shelby GT500 and you'll notice the cobra on the steering wheel hub, unique gauges with SVT letters that light up when the tach needle nears its peak, bucket seats with additional bolstering, and brushed aluminum trim. The speedometer and tachometer have swapped placed, putting the latter on the right side, directly in the driver's line of sight. As with the regular Mustang, the GT500's interior places oft-used buttons for the climate and audio systems within easy reach, provides ample room for front passengers (the cramped rear buckets are none too comfy), and thus makes everyday driving an inviting endeavor. Engine and exhaust noise are a bit intrusive, though we noticed that our convertible's top did a decent job of lowering the decibels. Unlike the regular Mustang, the GT500 convertible gets a standard cloth top, which comes only in black to coordinate with Torch Red, Alloy, Vista Blue, Performance White, Tungsten Grey, Ebony, or Grabber Orange paint colors. The interior is dressed in charcoal black leather with or without red inserts.

Attractive and ergonomically-correct as it may be, build and materials quality casts a shadow over the shiny Shelby GT500 badges. To be fair, we were told our tester was a pre-production unit, which may account for the interior and trunk panels that were either loose or dislodged, the rear upholstery that felt like vinyl as opposed to the thick and durable leather up front, and the numerous inconsistent gaps around the body panels.