2010-2014 Shelby GT500 Carbon Hoods: SS vs GT vs Ram Air

A carbon fiber hood is the single best-looking — and most functional — exterior upgrade you can bolt onto a 2010-2014 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. The factory steel hood on these cars is heavy and traps heat over a supercharged V8 that makes anywhere from 540 horsepower (2010) to a monster 662 horsepower in the 2013-2014 5.8L Trinity cars. Swapping in an Anderson Composites carbon fiber hood strips roughly 15-20 lb off the nose, adds real heat extraction, and gives the front end the aggressive, race-bred stance GT500 owners actually want. In this comparison we put Anderson's three most popular S197 GT500 hoods head to head — the Type-SS, the Type-GT, and the Ram Air Type-CR — so you can pick the right one the first time.

Why Put a Carbon Fiber Hood on a 2010-2014 Shelby GT500?

A carbon fiber hood is a molded composite panel that replaces the heavy factory hood to cut weight over the front axle and vent engine heat. On the Shelby GT500 that matters more than on almost any other S197 Mustang. The 2010 car ran a 5.4L Eaton M122-blown V8 rated at 540 hp; 2011-2012 bumped that to 550 hp and 510 lb-ft; and the 2013-2014 GT500 stepped up to the 5.8L "Trinity" V8 with a TVS 2.3L supercharger, an aluminum block, and a factory rating of 662 hp and 631 lb-ft — making it the most powerful production V8 in the world at the time, with a Ford-verified 202 mph top speed.

All of that boost makes heat. The stock hood does nothing to release it. An Anderson Composites carbon hood weighs in around 20-23 lb versus roughly 40+ lb for the factory panel — and every one of the hoods in this guide adds vents (or a functional ram-air scoop) to pull hot, power-robbing air out of the engine bay. Less weight over the nose sharpens turn-in, and lower under-hood temps keep the supercharger and intercooler charge cooler, which is exactly what a boosted 5.4L or 5.8L wants on a hot Tampa afternoon.

There is a curb-appeal argument too. The GT500 is a collector-grade Mustang — only about 5,000 of the 662 hp 2013-2014 cars were built each year — and a genuine carbon hood reads as a purposeful, race-inspired upgrade rather than a cheap bolt-on. Because the panel sheds weight ahead of the front wheels, it also nudges the car's weight distribution rearward, which helps a nose-heavy, front-engine V8 rotate more willingly. For daily-driven and track-day GT500s alike in the Tampa heat, that combination of cooling, weight, and appearance is why carbon hoods are the first exterior mod most owners reach for.

How Much Weight Does a Carbon Hood Save, and Does It Add Horsepower?

A carbon fiber hood typically saves 15-20 lb over the factory hood and does not add horsepower by itself — its real gains are lighter weight, better underhood cooling, and more consistent power. Anderson Composites quotes its Type-OE Mustang hood at roughly 22 lb against a factory hood near 43 lb, so cutting the panel's mass in about half is a realistic expectation for these S197 hoods. That weight comes off the very front of the car, which is the best place to lose it for steering response and braking balance.

Where a vented or ram-air carbon hood helps power is heat management. A supercharged GT500 makes big intake-air temperatures, and heat soak costs power — especially on repeat drag passes or track laps in Florida. By venting trapped engine-bay heat and, on the Type-CR, feeding cooler ambient air toward the intake, a functional carbon hood helps the blown 5.4L or 5.8L hold its tune instead of pulling timing as temps climb. Think of it as protecting the power you already paid for with a tune, pulley, or upgraded intercooler rather than adding peak numbers on a single cold pull.

Type-SS vs Type-GT vs Ram Air Type-CR: Quick Comparison

All three hoods share the same construction, fitment, and price — the decision comes down to styling and whether you want a functional ram-air scoop. Here is how Anderson Composites' three carbon GT500 hoods stack up side by side.

Anderson Composites Ram Air Type-CR Hood (Top Pick)

The Ram Air Type-CR is the most functional carbon hood for a supercharged GT500, pairing a raised ram-air scoop with heat-extractor venting. The scoop force-feeds cooler outside air toward the intake while the vents let underhood heat escape — a genuine benefit when your 5.8L is spinning a 2.3L blower. It is built from hand-laid 3K 2x2 weave carbon fiber over a vacuum-infused, marine-grade resin with UV inhibitors, then clear-coated so the weave stays sharp under Florida sun.

Anderson Composites Type-SS Hood (Best Aggressive Look)

The Type-SS is the meanest-looking hood of the three, drawing on the Shelby Super Snake aesthetic with a raised center and dual heat-extractor vents. It is hand-crafted from premium wet carbon fiber using high-quality 3K 2x2 weave cloth and vacuum-infused marine-grade resin with UV inhibitors. If you want your GT500 to look like it belongs on a road course before you even start it, this is the hood — and it also fits the 2013 Boss 302, 2013-2014 GT, and V6 cars. Around $1,800, it is priced identically to the other two.

Anderson Composites Type-GT Hood (Best OE-Plus Sleeper)

The Type-GT is the subtle pick, mirroring the factory GT500 hood profile with integrated heat extractors so it reads as a clean, OE-plus upgrade rather than a bolt-on statement. It is built with the same vacuum-infused 3K 2x2 twill carbon fiber process as its siblings, so you get the weight savings and venting without changing the car's silhouette. Owners who want carbon fiber and lower underhood temps — but not a giant scoop — gravitate to this hood. Like the others, it lists around $1,800 and fits 2010-2014 GT500 plus 2013-2014 GT and V6 Mustangs.

Complete the Carbon Look: Decklid, Splitter & Diffuser

A carbon hood looks even better when the rest of the car catches up. Anderson Composites builds a matching set of dry-carbon and OE-style pieces for the S197 GT500, letting you extend the theme front to back. Below are the three most popular add-ons our Tampa customers pair with a new hood — a rear decklid, a front chin splitter for downforce and curb appeal, and a rear diffuser that finishes the 2013-2014 car's underbody.

Fitment, Install & What to Know Before You Buy

All three hoods are direct-fit for the 2010-2014 Shelby GT500 and use the factory hood hinges and OEM latch location, so no cutting of the core support is required. Because carbon panels are lighter than steel, the stock hood struts may hold the hood up weakly — most installers add a pair of hood pins or quick-latches, which we strongly recommend at GT500 speeds. Expect to color-sand and buff the clear coat and to make minor gap adjustments; these are hand-laid parts, so a professional bodyshop fitment gives the best panel gaps.

Anderson Composites hoods ship freight-only in a protective crate. Inspect the crate for damage and note any issues on the delivery receipt before signing — carbon body panels can be damaged in transit, and a signed clean receipt can limit a freight claim. At NLP Performance in Tampa, FL, we help GT500 owners match the right hood to their build and confirm fitment before it ever leaves the warehouse. Pair any of these hoods with the matching decklid, splitter, and diffuser above to build a cohesive carbon package.