Compare the2022 Ford Shelby GT500VS 2022 Chevrolet Corvette

The Ford Shelby GT500 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Corvette doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the Shelby GT500 and the Corvette have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Ford Shelby GT500 weighs 444 to 648 pounds more than the Chevrolet Corvette. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Shelby GT500’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Corvette’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Shelby GT500 has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engines in the Corvette.

The Shelby GT500’s 5.2 supercharged V8 produces 270 more horsepower (760 vs. 490) and 160 lbs.-ft. more torque (625 vs. 465) than the Corvette’s standard 6.2 V8. The Shelby GT500’s 5.2 supercharged V8 produces 265 more horsepower (760 vs. 495) and 155 lbs.-ft. more torque (625 vs. 470) than the Corvette Z51’s standard 6.2 V8.

In a Motor Trend race course test, the Ford Shelby GT500 was clocked 3.99 seconds faster than the Chevrolet Corvette Coupe (93.84 sec. vs. 97.83 sec.).

For better stopping power the Shelby GT500’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Corvette:

The Shelby GT500’s brakes have 52% more swept area (the area covered by the brake pads) than the Corvette (973.8 vs. 640 square inches), so the Shelby GT500 has more braking power available.

The Shelby GT500 stops much shorter than the Corvette:

For better traction, the Shelby GT500 has larger tires than the Corvette (F:305/30R20 & R:315/30R20 vs. F:245/35R19 & R:305/30R20).

The Shelby GT500’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Corvette’s standard 35 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Shelby GT500 has standard 20-inch wheels. Only 19-inch front wheels are available on the Corvette.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Shelby GT500 is 1.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Corvette.

The Shelby GT500’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56.6% to 43.4%) than the Corvette’s (40% to 60%). This gives the Shelby GT500 more stable handling and braking.

The Shelby GT500 handles at 1.13 G’s, while the Corvette Coupe pulls only 1.03 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Shelby GT500 has standard seating for 4 passengers; the Corvette can only carry 2.

The Shelby GT500 has 31.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corvette (82.8 vs. 51).

The Shelby GT500 has 2.3 inches more front legroom, 2.9 inches more front hip room and 1.9 inches more front shoulder room than the Corvette.

The Shelby GT500 has a larger trunk than the Corvette Coupe (13.5 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Shelby GT500 easier. The Shelby GT500’s trunk lift-over height is 30 inches, while the Corvette’s liftover is 38.7 inches.

The Shelby GT500’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Corvette’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Shelby GT500 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Shelby GT500 will retain 63.08% of its original price after five years, while the Corvette only retains 50.67% to 53.37%.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its March 2021 issue and they ranked the Ford Shelby GT500 three places higher than the Chevrolet Corvette Coupe.