The Ford F-150 Raptor is mean, intimidating, imposing, and capable, but it doesn’t exactly scream, “LOOK AT ME!” Its styling statement is more “If you look at me, I will crumple you into submission, then jump over a Focus RS just because I can.” The new 2017 Shelby American F-150 Super Snake, however, might as well be a diamond-encrusted strobe light mounted on top of a megaphone playing a looped clip of Stewie from Family Guy trying to get his mom’s attention. The stripes, the mesh grilles, the intakes, the scoops, and the badges are all there to advertise that it’s a 750-horsepower truck that costs nearly $100,000, of which Shelby American will build only 150.
Shelby American announced and unveiled the F-150 Super Snake alongside a wide-body Mustang Super Snake concept (different from the Mustang Super Snake we wrote about earlier this year) at the Carroll Shelby International headquarters in Southern California.
“Carroll Shelby was an early pioneer in high-performance street trucks, beginning with his first production version almost 30 years ago,” said Joe Conway, co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International and CEO of Shelby American. “With the tremendous demand for our off-road-focused Shelby F-150, fans of the classic Ford Lightning and our 2009 Shelby F-150 Super Snake have clamored for a new-generation muscle truck from Shelby. Working closely with Ford Motor Company, Tuscany, and other partners, we’re going to offer a limited run of super trucks designed specifically for street duty.”
Shelby points out that the philosophy for Super Snake vehicles is adding more power, sound, styling, and handling. Ford’s 5.0-liter V-8 is tuned up to a claimed 750 horsepower with the help of a supercharger, and the engine further benefits from an open-air performance intake, a carbon-fiber intake tube, a heat exchanger, a billet throttle body, and new fuel injectors. The suspension was tuned for what is claimed to be a more balanced ride and better handling, and a dual Borla exhaust with polished SST tips bellows out what is surely a hearty battle cry.
The exterior, as we mentioned, is quite busy. The F-150 SS is available in six factory Ford colors, but the launch example uses a bright blue with dual racing stripes as well as a side stripe that extends across the bottom of the doors. Shelby and Super Snake badging is displayed on the grille, the hood, the doors, the bedside panels, and the tailgate. A dual-intake hood feeds the five-point-oh, ground effects and fender flares add to its loud presence, and 22-inch Shelby retro chrome wheels with performance tires provide more grip. The Shelby badging continues inside, along with special embroidery and plaques. We imagine the owners will all be required to wear the Super Snake logo as a left-bicep tattoo.
And then there’s the price. Shelby lists the 2017 F-150 Super Snake at $96,680, which is roughly double the base price of the Raptor. That makes it something to shout out loud about.
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