Ford Mustang GT500: Spotted

Turned off by the four-cylinder Mustang's return? Have some supercharged V8!

The arrival of a new Mustang, in America at least, gives an excellent excuse to dig an older one out of the classifieds. This very lightly used GT500 carries the sort of price tag you could reasonably expect to get you into a brand new Ecoboost Mustang when it goes on sale here next year. But it can probably claim to be the most immaculate example on this side of the Atlantic.

No Ecoboost required here

Despite never being officially sold here, the last generation Mustang enjoyed considerable popularity in the UK. When it was introduced back in 2005 the economy was booming and the pound-to-dollar exchange rate was riding high. It didn't take long for entrepreneurial types to work out it was possible to buy one 'Stateside, ship it over here, pay import taxes and have a head-turning muscle car for less than the price of a mid-spec Focus.

But the bargain price tags of most of these early imports meant they were V6s or basic V8s. And it didn't take most of their new owners to realise that, by European standards, boggo Mustangs were crude, thirsty and not particularly fast. Plenty of mouth but not much in the trousers.

Which isn't an accusation you could level at this one. There have been Shelby-tuned Mustangs since practically the beginning and many of them have been comically overpowered. Ford produced the fifth-gen GT500 in house, but stuck with the established recipe of a moderately uprated chassis and a massively boosted engine, in this case a supercharged 5.4-litre V8. Being an early car, this one officially produces the 500hp suggested by its badge. Power increased over the years and the last-of-line 2013 model was quoted at producing 662hp. Still, a nice round five hundred horses should be plenty to be getting on with.

Start "LHD is useless in the UK"... now!

According to the advert this one was stored from new until 2012 and since then it's only covered 2,000 miles - just enough to get it run in. Obviously its originality is underwriting a fair chunk of its value, but there are plenty of ways to get more power and sharpen up the suspension if the next owner is so minded. With the white-and-blue stripe combo it certainly looks the part, and even if it can't match the new Mustang on technical sophistication it will be able to obliterate it in a drag race.

FORD MUSTANG GT500
Engine: 5,400cc supercharged V8
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive, limited-slip differential
Power: 500hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 480lb ft at 4,500rpm
MPG: 12-15
CO2: Ha!
First registered: 2007
Recorded mileage: 2,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £31,950