Shelby American’s Ford F-150 Centennial Edition marks 100 years of Carroll Shelby, and it already has the Ram 1500 TRX sweating out of fear.
Carroll Shelby is one of the most celebrated names in the car industry. From winning the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans to manning the Ford GT40 project and saving Dodge, this man’s contribution is thoroughly inspiring.
Carroll Shelby would have celebrated his 100th birthday on January 11. To commemorate his achievements and valuable contributions to Ford, Shelby American has introduced a new F-150 Centennial Edition to mark his 100th birthday. The Centennial Edition is based on an F-150 Lariat 4×4 Super Crew. But unlike the stock, Shelby has outfitted the pickup truck with a supercharged V8, exterior body kits and Shelby liveries, a carbon fiber interior with new leather seats, and, of course, new Fox dampers for extra off-road fun.
How Much Is the Shelby Ford F-150 Centennial Edition?
Shelby American will offer the F-150 Centennial Edition pickup truck in two variants. The one with the naturally-aspirated V8 starts at $129,450 with the 800-hp supercharged V8 model costing $138,495.
Production of the Centennial Edition will be limited to only 100 units for the 2023 model year. Every example will include a Carroll Shelby Centennial Book and a Black Stetson Hat.
The Ford F-150 Centennial Edition Is An 800-HP Off-Road Monster
The Shelby American Ford-F150 Centennial Edition is based on the F-150 Lariat 4×4 pickup truck. But as you might expect from a Shelby-badged truck, this F-150 is all about performance and off-road prowess.
The F-150 Centennial Edition brings two powertrain choices. As standard, Shelby American will offer the pickup truck with a 5.0-liter naturally-aspirated V8 engine mated to a ten-speed automatic gearbox. This engine produces 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque, the same as the Lariat.
If the naturally-aspirated V8 is too slow for you, Shelby offers the Centennial Edition with a supercharged V8 that offers a hefty 800 hp. The optional supercharger packages also add a performance air intake with a high flow filter, black powder-coated supercharger, intake manifold, large carbon fiber intake tube, performance aluminum heat exchange, and billet throttle body with performance fuel injectors.
Adding to these are performance front and rear brake pads, Borla Shelby performance exhausts, and rear traction bars. Shelby also replaced the standard independent suspension with Fox 2.5 Factory Race Series suspensions to provide higher ground clearance and add more capabilities off-road.
In terms of performance, the F-150 Centennial Edition is stronger than the RAM 1500 TRX by 98 horsepower. Considering the Ram 1500 TRX takes 4.5 seconds to accelerate from 0-60mph, the F-150 Centennial Edition should be faster.
The Ford F-150 Centennial Edition Features Shelby’s Iconic Liveries
Shelby is highly famous for their sporty touches in Ford’s vehicles, besides taking performance to insane levels. Similar to their previous Ford F-150 build, the new Centennial Edition showcases its contrasting exterior liveries and luxurious interior touches.
The Centennial Edition is unlike any other F-150 you’ve seen before. It comes installed with dual Ram Air hood scoops to increase the airflow and optimize overall performance. Apart from these, new fender flares with signature performance vents, a front bumper with air vents, and a meatier SHELBY-badged painted front grille not only add a muscular look but also improves the overall aerodynamics. To ensure the higher power reaches the ground efficiently, Shelby has fitted the F-150 with 22-inch Shelby alloy wheels with BFG all-terrain KO2 35/12.50R22 tires. Buyers get to choose between two colors: black and white with black racing stripes.
As mentioned earlier, the F-150 Centennial Edition is based on the Lariat 4×4 Super Crew trim, so it offers excellent performance and looks and treats occupants with a luxurious cabin.
Shelby significantly improved the cabin with Centennial Edition-badged premium seats with carbon fiber interior trim, CSM numbered dash plaque and engine plate, Shelby badges, billet racing pedals, red ambient lighting, deep tinted windows, and Centennial floor mats.
The Shelby F-150 Centennial Is A Perfect Birthday Present To Carroll Shelby
As the name suggests, Shelby American’s F-150 Centennial Edition eulogizes Carroll Shelby’s contributions in the world of performance and as a veteran Army Air Corp. While most know Carroll Shelby as the founder of Shelby American, his contribution list is inspiring. He served as the Second Lieutenant in the US Army Air Corps and had an impeccable experience with aircraft.
Carroll got into racing in 1952 and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Aston Martin in 1959. Later in the early 1960s, he proposed the idea of the Cobra to compete with the famed Chevy Corvette and names like Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Maserati. His contribution extends to the inception of the 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350 and the iconic Ford GT40, which later, won the Le Mans in 1966.
Such achievements were never supposed to go unnoticed. The F-150 is the oldest Ford nameplate and the best-selling vehicle in America. And, there’s no better vehicle to celebrate the legend’s 100th birthday. Shelby American has recently introduced the F-150 Centennial Edition, marking Carroll Shelby’s Centenary and celebrating his game-changing benefactions.
Gary Patterson, Shelby American president said, “Many considered Carroll Shelby the original ‘most interesting man in the world’ while he was alive, and we’re highlighting the many intriguing facets of the legend during our 2023 centennial celebration,”. He added, “Carroll loved motoring both on and off the road, especially in rugged terrain. He would trek across the desert in both two- and four-wheel vehicles. His Terlingua, Texas, ranch even owned the first production of Ford Bronco. We’re honoring that Shelby heritage with a special off-road truck that recalls his adventures.”
