Shelby American will be introducing the most powerful production, street legal muscle car in the world at the 2013 New York Auto Show this week. The 2013 Shelby 1000 S/C, which is based on the Shelby GT 500, now features a host of improvements compared to the Shelby 1000 shown at last year’s New Your Auto Show.

“The 2012 Shelby 1000 was launched to great acclaim at the New York Auto Show last year to celebrate our 50th anniversary,” said John Luft, president of Shelby American. “We’re bringing back the Shelby 1000 to New York, but with Ford’s new 2013 Shelby GT500 as the base car. With its new engine, launch control, adjustable suspension and other new enhancements, we’ve created a car with even more capabilities. The 2013 Shelby 1000 incorporates everything we’ve learned over five decades of creating high-performance vehicles.”

2013 Shelby 1000 S/C – Features

The Shelby 1000 S/C is fitted with a reworked 5.8-litre V8 petrol engine that produces 895kW. In comparison, the stock standard Shelby GT500 produces 494kW. A finely tuned adjustable suspension with a performance cooling package is included as well as large brakes and a Shelby Ford Racing 4.0-litre supercharger.

“The 2013 Shelby 1000 is the most powerful production muscle car on the market,” said Vince LaViolette, Shelby American’s test driver. “But this car cannot be defined by just its amazing power. The steering provides wonderful feedback and the car tracks beautifully, giving it an athletic feel. It attacks corners, ripping through them with minimal body roll and tremendous grip. Yet the Shelby 1000 can be so docile that you can cruise it down the streets of Manhattan.”

Only 100 2013 Shelby 1000’s will be built and each one will be numbered and documented in the official Shelby Registry. More information will become available at the New York Auto Show which starts on 29 March 2013.