Since 2000, Ford has built some of the quickest, most track-capable, and most iconic Mustangs ever to roll out of Dearborn. From limited-run SVT monsters to today’s supercar-level Ford Performance machines, the Mustang story over the last 25 years is basically a highlight reel of horsepower wars, lap-time bragging rights, and straight-line domination.
At Chuck Anderson Ford in Excelsior Springs, MO, we love telling that story because every modern Mustang — EcoBoost, GT, Dark Horse, or Shelby — carries DNA from these top-tier speed legends. Here’s a look at the fastest Ford Mustangs produced since 2000, focusing on the models that set the pace in their eras.
Chuck Anderson Ford
1910 W Jesse James Road, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
816-648-6419 | www.chuckandersonford.com
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2000 SVT Cobra R: The Track-Only Statement
Ford kicked off the millennium with a purpose-built weapon: the 2000 SVT Cobra R. This was a no-radio, no-back-seat, race-ready Mustang meant to dominate road courses. With a 5.4L V8 and a focus on cooling, braking, and aero, it set the tone for the high-performance Mustangs that followed.
Why it matters in the “fastest since 2000” conversation: it was the first modern Mustang that truly felt like a factory race car you could (mostly) drive on the street.
2003–2004 SVT Cobra “Terminator”: The Boosted Legend
If there’s a single Mustang that reshaped the performance community in the early 2000s, it’s the 2003–2004 SVT Cobra, nicknamed the “Terminator.” With an Eaton-supercharged 4.6L DOHC V8 officially rated at 390 hp (and famously underrated), the Terminator delivered mid-4-second 0–60 runs and a top speed around 160 mph.
Why it’s on the list: it was brutally quick for its time and built so strong that simple mods pushed many cars into the 500+ horsepower zone — making it a lasting icon.
2007–2014 Shelby GT500: The V8 Power Wars Begin
The return of the Shelby GT500 in 2007 lit the fuse on America’s modern muscle war. Over the years, Ford kept adding power, but two versions stand out for outright speed:
2013–2014 Shelby GT500
With a supercharged 5.8L Trinity V8, these cars made 662 hp and delivered a factory-claimed 200-mph+ top speed, turning the GT500 into a global headline.
Why it’s on the list: for years, this was the fastest Mustang by top speed and one of the quickest American production cars available.
2015–2020 Shelby GT350 / GT350R: Speed Through Precision
The Shelby GT350 and especially the GT350R weren’t built to chase the highest top speed — they were built to be devastating everywhere else. The 5.2L Voodoo flat-plane-crank V8 revved to the moon and paired with world-class chassis tuning. MotorTrend’s performance testing places the GT350R among the fastest Mustangs of the modern era in real track and acceleration metrics.
Why it’s on the list: not the highest horsepower Mustang, but one of the fastest point-to-point Mustangs Ford has ever sold.
2020–2022 Shelby GT500: The Quickest “Regular-Road” Mustang (Until GTD)
Then Ford dropped a hammer: the 2020–2022 Shelby GT500. With a supercharged 5.2L Predator V8 making 760 hp and a lightning-fast dual-clutch transmission, it became the quickest mass-production Mustang in straight-line testing. MotorTrend’s data consistently ranks the GT500 near the top of Mustang acceleration history.
Why it’s on the list: it was the quickest widely available Mustang ever built before the GTD arrived.
2024–2026 Mustang Dark Horse: The Modern Sweet Spot
The Mustang Dark Horse (S650 generation) isn’t a limited-run halo car like a GT500, but it’s still one of the fastest Mustangs you can buy in a normal showroom pipeline. With a tuned 5.0L Coyote V8, track-ready cooling, aero, and chassis upgrades, it’s built to run hard all day — and it forms the performance backbone of the current lineup.
Why it’s on the list: it’s the fastest “mainstream-available” Mustang of the current era, bridging daily usability and track intent.
2025 Mustang GTD: The Fastest Mustang Ever Built
At the top of the modern mountain sits the Mustang GTD. Ford designed it as a street-legal GT3-inspired supercar with a targeted 815 hp supercharged 5.2L V8 and a 190+ mph top speed. Car and Driver testing puts its acceleration in supercar territory, with 0–60 times under 3 seconds.
Why it’s on the list: this is Ford’s new benchmark — the quickest, most advanced, most track-capable road-going Mustang in history.
Honorable Mentions: Still Seriously Fast
A few other Mustangs since 2000 deserve a nod for playing major roles in the speed story:
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2001 Bullitt / Mach 1 (2003–2004, 2021–2023): performance-plus street legends.
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2012–2013 Boss 302 Laguna Seca: a handling and track hero.
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Mustang Mach-E GT / Rally: not a traditional Mustang, but extremely quick in EV form.
They may not top the charts for raw speed, but they shaped the performance culture that led to today’s fastest models.
What This Legacy Means for Mustang Buyers Today
The modern Mustang lineup is as strong as it is because Ford never stopped pushing speed forward. Every generation learned from the last:
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Terminator durability inspired the supercharged Shelby era.
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GT500 power wars led to modern aero and cooling breakthroughs.
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GT350 track balance paved the way for Dark Horse.
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GTD now brings full race-car engineering to the street.
So when you test-drive a Mustang GT or Dark Horse today, you’re feeling 25 years of relentless Ford Performance evolution.
Find Your Mustang at Chuck Anderson Ford
Whether you’re a longtime Mustang enthusiast or ready to join the pony-car family for the first time, we’re here to help you find the right one — new, pre-owned, or special-order performance builds.
Visit Chuck Anderson Ford in Excelsior Springs, MO, or shop online nationwide.
Chuck Anderson Ford
1910 W Jesse James Road, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
816-648-6419 | www.chuckandersonford.com
Serving Excelsior Springs, Liberty, Lawson, Kearney, and Kansas City, MO.
Built on Integrity. Backed by Family.