Leaked document indicates that the 2026 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will feature the 'Legend' V8 engine.
Ford Performance
Fans of high-output Mustangs have exciting news this week, as a leaked memo from Ford’s Dearborn Engine Plant (DEP) indicates that the Shelby GT500 will make a comeback in 2026 with a new engine. Named “Legend,” this engine is expected to be linked to Ford’s existing 5.2-liter V8 family (known as “Predator” or “Carnivore,” depending on the version), but with the new codename, some modifications can be anticipated.
This information surfaced from the Mustang7G forum, where a user shared a photo of a printed memo snippet circulated to UAW Local 600 employees. The excerpt highlights ongoing and upcoming changes in the plant’s shift schedule, including expected capacity increases for several future products—among which is the 2026 GT500.
“I also anticipate an afternoon shift being added towards the end of 2025 on the Niche assembly line,” states the memo. “This volume increase is for the 2026 Mustang Shelby GT500. I’m excited for us to start manufacturing engines for such an iconic vehicle with an engine named Legend.”
Ford’s Niche assembly line has traditionally been responsible for producing the company's most renowned performance engines, such as those in the “Terminator” SVT Cobra, the Ford GT, and the GT350. Until October 2022, the Niche line operated at Ford’s Romeo Engine Plant, which has since closed.
With attention focused on the still-new Dark Horse and GTD models, little has been said about potential Shelby-inspired options. We anticipate the GT500 will fit between these two, likely aligning more closely with the pricing of the Dark Horse than the significantly higher-priced GTD.
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Leaked document indicates that the 2026 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will feature the 'Legend' V8 engine.
A confidential memo from Ford's Dearborn Engine Plant indicates that a rise in staffing is anticipated this fall for the new engine of the upcoming GT500.