GT500/GT350: What does it mean?

jt14894

Member

Apr 6, 2005

66

3

9

Florida

Mar 8, 2006

#1

• Mar 8, 2006

• #1

Hey all,

This may sound like a stupid question, sorry, but what does the 500 mean in GT500?
Same goes for 350 in the Shelby GT350 of the 1960s.
Although I'm not an expert, I think I know a lot of about the history of the Mustang, but I can never find any info on what the GT500 or GT350 designation meant. Does it really mean anything (i.e. engine size, HP)?
Can anybody enlighten me on this?
Thanks!

 

D

D.Hearne

New Member

Sep 29, 2000

11,730

6

0

south louisiana

Mar 8, 2006

#2

• Mar 8, 2006

• #2

the 350 and 500 meant nothing, other than a way to differentiate the small block cars from the big blocks.

 

T

tjredgt2000

Founding Member

Jan 29, 2001

94

0

0

Mar 9, 2006

#3

• Mar 9, 2006

• #3

Legend has it, the 350 was the number of steps between Shelby's office and his shop or something to that effect. The Mustang 350's were all small blocks whereas the 500's had the big block motors but the numbers didn't designated horsepower.

 

Pirateinastang

New Member

Mar 30, 2005

30

0

0

Carlisle, PA.

Mar 13, 2006

#4

• Mar 13, 2006

• #4

The reason they used 500 in the name is also because it was a higher number than any other car of the era had in it's name. Shelby wanted to put the name at the top of the list with the higher number.