Watch out: it’s the 1,000bhp Shelby Mustang

“Second place is first loser,” the Shelby American explains, “and we intend to stay out front.” Yikes. This merciless philosophy has resulted in the resurrection of the Shelby 1000, a 1,000bhp modified Ford Mustang GT that's been unveiled at SEMA.

Yes, one thousand horsepower. Shelby, long-time Ford tuner, returns the fabled moniker to the revitalised pony car, taking it to scary levels. First up, binning the stock Ford V8, and installing a 5.2-litre supercharged V8 with “the best of the best internals”.

It’s fed by modified GT350 cylinder heads and a 4.5-litre Whipple supercharger. There’s a new radiator, heat exchanger, aluminium cooling tank, and a high capacity oil pan. There’s also a Shelby exhaust bolted onto it, axles rated to 1,500bhp, an upgraded gearbox, ECU flash and high flow fuel system.

Shelby has widened both the front and rear tracks, fitted a fully adjustable coilover suspension setup, and added monster Brembo brakes along with stronger spindles and hubs. And wider wheels and tyres. And harder wheel studs.

You will also spot that it looks quite different. Step forward, a new front fascia, new bonnet, new arches, new rear panels, and “much more”.

“The 2012 through 2014 Shelby 1000 was based on the 5.8-litre GT500,” explains Shelby American. “It was best suited for the drag strip.”

This new car, based as it is on a 2018 Mustang, “is an entirely different car designed to be the ultimate road course warrior.” We’re promised not only straight line force, but a track car able to hit an apex with the very best of them.

Only 50 will be produced a year, each one documented in the official Shelby registry… with a starting price of $169,995 for the whole pack. That doesn’t include the cost of the Mustang GT you’d need to start off with. But while the SEMA concept is based on a 2018 model, Shelby will upgrade any car built from 2015 onwards. Would you be tempted?