What Is The Shelby Mustang Code Red, And Is It Even Street Legal?

The Mustang GT500 is one of the most powerful Mustangs ever made, and the Code Red dials that up to a whole new level. Generating over 1000 horsepower and 1000 lb-ft of torque is unprecedented, which begs the question: is this monstrous car even street legal? Maybe you’ve figured it out by now, but no, the Shelby Mustang GT500 Code Red is not street legal. Not in any state within the United States or another part of the world. 

Even though it sounds like a dream for any car lover to take 1300 hp for a spin, you cannot drive the Code Red on any street, interstate, or highway. “While not street legal,” Shelby American said in their announcement, “It’s very capable at moderate speeds in most any curve. But when the turbos spool up, the car is best enjoyed moving straight ahead.”

Shelby designed the vehicle with straight-line speed as the number one priority, making it off-road only. So, if you’re in a position to get behind the wheel of a GT500 Code Red, you’ll want to secure a racetrack to drive it at. Although this may upset some thrill-seeking drivers, it’s an understandable decision considering the Code Red’s performance, even compared to other special edition GT500s, like the 2022 Mustang Shelby GT500 Heritage Edition.