Shock Therapy: Shelby Turned the Ford F-250 Into a Monster

The starting point was a standard Ford F-250 Super Duty in the basic Lariat trim. Although calling it a donor is only technically accurate. Little remains of the original truck beyond the cab, and even that was thoroughly reworked. Shelby's engineers completely rebuilt the suspension, sending the stock shocks into retirement. In their place are monstrous 2.5-inch King Race Series shocks. These are fitted to vehicles that don't just venture into the countryside but actually attack sand dunes. They work with reinforced King sway bars and new Shelby control arms, providing greater wheel articulation so the pickup can literally conform to uneven terrain. All of it rides on 37-inch BFGoodrich tires. The future owner gets a choice: KM3 mud tires or the all-terrain KO3. Most importantly, the bed now carries two full-size spare tires, because puncturing one of these tires in serious off-road conditions is easy.

The body has also been transformed beyond recognition. ADD (Addictive Desert Designs) bumpers were installed front and rear, improving approach and departure angles while also providing a platform for an LED light overload. There's a 40-inch light bar up front and two 10-inch units at the rear. Everything meets DOT standards, although it's probably best to switch them on far from civilization so you don't trigger the northern lights in the neighbor's backyard. The truck also gets protective fender flares and protective film on the body panels. Le Mans stripes and Shelby logos throughout, from the seats to the plaques in the cabin, add to the atmosphere.

Under the hood, however, there are no surprises. The standard 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbo-diesel V8 remains in place. Its factory-rated 500 horsepower and 1,200 Nm of torque were left untouched by the engineers. On one hand, that's disappointing. With Shelby, you expect 800 horsepower, if not outright forced induction. On the other hand, have you ever tried to overwhelm a torquey diesel with numbers like these?

All this magnificence costs as much as a good supercar. The base price in the U.S. starts at $160,000. Production is planned to be limited to just 250 of these monsters per year. The warranty is split: Ford's factory warranty covers the powertrain, while Shelby provides three years of coverage for everything else. The manufacturer says the truck can tow a trailer weighing up to 10 tons, which is practically a house. However, we wouldn't recommend doing that.

In the end, the Shelby Super Baja is aimed at those who have grown bored with the standard off-road arsenal. Yes, the engine remains stock, but the suspension and equipment are at such a high level that the factory Raptor will look like a city crossover. The only question is whether this monster will ever see a desert or spend its life in the garage of a collector who always wanted the coolest pickup in town.