Classic vs Future Classic: The Mustang Super Snake Shelby GT500

What Makes a Car Iconic?

Not every car earns a second glance. But a true classic? That’s a different story.

Some vehicles take decades to prove themselves, slowly becoming valuable through rarity, cultural impact, or sheer mechanical brilliance. Others roll off the line already carrying the genes of greatness. That’s where the concept of the future classic comes into play. A modern machine built with the same recipe that made legends out of the metal beasts of the past.

But what separates a ‘classic’ from a ‘future classic’? Is it just age, or is there something deeper under the steel?

Let’s break it down.

What Makes a Car a Classic?

The term “classic” gets thrown around far too often. A classic car isn’t just old. It’s not about nostalgia or sentiment alone. A classic is earned, built on four key pillars:

Performance and Engineering

A classic needs muscle. Whether that’s raw horsepower, track dominance, or just attitude on the street, power matters.

Every classic worth its badge had performance that pushed the limits in its day. Whether it was straight-line power, circuit dominance, or street-legal lunacy, it set a benchmark.

Take the Jaguar E-Type, a car that Enzo Ferrari himself once called “the most beautiful car ever made.” It wasn’t just a looker. Its 3.8L straight-six delivered sports car handling and 150mph top speeds in the early 1960s. Or the Holden HK Monaro GTS 327, Bathurst-bred and built for the track. The common denominator? They made drivers feel something the moment the engine turned over.

Rarity and Production Numbers

Limited numbers make legends. Nobody dreams about a car they see at every set of lights.

Mass production kills mystique. A car becomes more desirable when only a limited number were ever made, especially if many didn’t survive. Low production runs, special editions, or homologation specials are always a clue that you’re looking at something collectable.

The Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III is a textbook example. Around 300 were built. Today, it’s one of the most valuable cars in Australian history. Same goes for the Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49, a six-cylinder street brawler that still fetches eye-watering numbers at auction.

Design and Presence

Bold lines, iconic shapes. Something that doesn’t age out or fade into the background.

Classic cars don’t blend in. They stand out. Whether it’s the long hood and fastback lines of a ‘67 Mustang or the muscular haunches of a Holden Torana A9X, true classics make an impression. They’re photogenic from every angle, instantly recognisable, and full of character.

Cultural or Motorsport Legacy

Sometimes it’s a name. Sometimes it’s the story behind the badge. Racing history, cultural moments, or sheer myth.

Many classics weren’t just admired. They were raced, rallied, and immortalised in popular culture. They won on Sundays and sold on Mondays. They appeared in films, dominated racetracks, and became symbols of an era.

Think: Steve McQueen’s Mustang Fastback in Bullitt. The Bathurst-bashing Brock Commodores.

These aren’t just ‘cars”, They’re chapters in automotive history. That’s what makes them classics.

The Future Classic: Made Different, Destined for Glory

Now, not every new car will age into greatness. The modern landscape is packed with forgettable plastic, cookie-cutter builds, and tech-laden commuters. But every now and then, something rolls out that changes the game.

Enter: the 2014 Mustang GT500 Shelby Super Snake.

Even when it first hit the road, this was no ordinary Mustang. The GT500 was already an apex predator, packing 662hp from its supercharged 5.8L V8. But the Super Snake took that and turned it nuclear, up to 850hp with upgraded internals, suspension, heat-extracting bonnet, short-throw shifter, wide-body stance, forged wheels, uprated cooling, and a race-ready exhaust – The works

Each car was hand-assembled and built to order. Limited numbers, big power, bigger statement. Built in low numbers by Shelby American, every Mustang Super Snake was hand-finished and tuned to a spec that would leave even old-school V8 legends wide-eyed.

It wasn’t made to blend in.

The Shelby Name

The legacy of Carroll Shelby looms large. From the 1960s GT350s and 427 Cobras to Le Mans glory, the Shelby name is inked deep into performance car DNA. The 2014 Mustang Super Snake carries that legacy without compromise. It’s not a badge for show. It’s a badge backed by heritage.

Why It’s a Future Classic

The 2014 Shelby GT500 Mustang Super Snake ticks every box:

Limited production
Unreal performance numbers
Loud, unapologetic styling
A legendary name on the boot and under the bonnet
And most importantly, soul, something most modern cars lost years ago

You don’t need 30 years to realise it. This is a car people will hunt for. Garages will be built around it. Values will rise. And in time, it’ll sit beside the GTHOs and Fastbacks of the world, shoulder to shoulder.

Born To Be.. Classic

True classics weren’t built to be ordinary. They broke rules, broke records, and broke necks. And while age certainly helps solidify legacy, it’s not the only ingredient.

The 2014 Shelby Mustang Super Snake may not have grey hairs yet, but it’s already earned its place. It’s the kind of car that’ll survive long after EVs silence the streets. The kind that’s locked away, polished, and whispered about.

In a world of throwaway tech and forgettable nameplates, the Super Snake is proof that you can still build a car with grit, grunt, and greatness baked in.

Some cars become classics. Some were always going to be.

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Win A 2014 Mustang Super Snake Shelby GT500
Worth $275,000

Featuring:

• Official Shelby American build
• Right-hand drive
• 5.8L DOHC 32-valve V8 Engine
• Kenne Bell 3.6L liquid-cooled supercharger
• Tremec T56 6-speed manual transmission
• 3.73 ratio limited-slip differential
• Shelby one-piece aluminium driveshaft
• Full Shelby Widebody Package
• Sterling Grey Metallic Exterior
• Black Super Snake vinyl striping
• Black and Grey leather interior
• Shelby Recaro sports seats with Super Snake embroidery
• Full-length factory glass roof
• Super Snake dash plaque with CSM number #14SS0701
• First Australian-built 2014 Super Snake
• Matte black Shelby forged wheels with Nitto NT05 drag radial tyres
• Dual-zone climate control
• Touchscreen infotainment
• Power windows and mirrors
• Remote central locking
• Full documentation folder, Shelby certificates and original books