Ok, so it’s not quite an off-the-shelf Ford, but tuner Shelby American has unveiled a Mustang with 1,100bhp. Yep, that’s a Ford with more power than a standard Bugatti Veyron. (But not a later one.) The engine is a 5.4-litre V8, supercharged to either 950bhp or 1,100bhp. Sadly, only the former is road legal, but it’s still the most muscular Shelby (and probably Ford) there ever was.

We say probably because there are bound to be Escorts knocking about with more than that, and you’re bound to tell us.

Just 50 of these Mustangs, called the Shelby 1000, will be made. Each is hand built and, aside from the ludicrous engine, has a completely upgraded drivetrain.

The engine is thoroughly deconstructed then rebuilt using stronger bits, then a 4.0-litre Whipple supercharger is added, and the exhaust opened up.

The driveshaft is replaced for an aluminium one, and the suspension ditched in favour of a stronger Eibach setup. The brakes are upgraded front and rear, and the car sits on lightweight forged aluminium wheels, 20 inches big.

The car costs, though: $150,000 in its home market – and that’s not including the price of buying a Ford Shelby GT500>, then handing it back to the company. (As it happens, this car is based on the slightly older GT500, not the 2013 one linked there, which has a newer 5.8-litre engine.)

It’s due to make its debut at the end of this week, at the 2012 New York Auto Show – the 50th anniversary of the seminal Shelby Cobra’s first appearance there.