Lucas Bell 
There is no way that the automotive world was prepared for the arrival of the Ford Mustang in 1964. The pony car would go on to play a major role in the muscle car wars of that era, and has remained a segment mainstay ever since. And while Ford has built quite a few high-power muscle cars in their day, nothing quite compares to their latest effort. The 760 horsepower Shelby GT500 is undeniably one of Ford’s greatest hits, and it’s changing slightly for the 2021 model year. Thanks to the order guide, we now know exactly what’s different. Here’s what you need to know, starting with the 2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Carbon Fiber Handling Package.
The S550 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 remains largely unchanged for its second sales year, though the order sheet isn’t entirely the same. The largest adjustment comes to the options list, where Ford has added an entirely new performance package. The 2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Carbon Fiber Handling Package (67Q) is a combination of the Carbon Fiber Track Pack and Handling Pack, which were mutually exclusive for 2020. Realizing that this was a bit silly, this new package from Ford combines some highlights from each existing package.
The new S550 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Carbon Fiber Handling Package is slated to contain 20-inch carbon fiber wheels, new adjustable strut top mounts, an oil catch can, a Gurney flap, and splitter wickers. It doesn’t contain everything from both packages, but hopefully it’ll offer a more affordable entry price than the $18,500 Carbon Fiber Track Pack, which also gets the new adjustable strut top mounts for 2021. It is also worth noting that both the Carbon Fiber Track Pack and the Handling Pack are no longer eligible for military sales in 2021.
According to the official dealer order guide, 2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 customers will also get some new color options to choose from. More specifically, Antimatter Blue Metallic, Carbonized Gray Metallic, and Grabber Yellow will be joining the paint palette for the top-tier Ford Mustang. While new colors are always welcome, four colors have also been removed from the GT500: Grabber Lime, Kona Blue, Magnetic, and Wimbledon White.
The S550 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 may not be much different than its 2020 counterpart, but that’s fine. Considering the GT500 is easily the greatest performance example of the Ford Mustang yet, the Blue Oval likely didn’t feel the need to mess with it. As the old adage goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
I just got a price for the Carbon Fiber Handling package for the 2021 GT500 and it is $10,000 per Ford Motor Co.