Next Level Performance
September 8, 2026 • 11 min read
Our Verdict
The Anderson Composites GT5 Double-Sided Carbon Fiber Hood is the single best carbon upgrade for a 2015-2020 Shelby GT350 or GT350R.
It pulls real weight off the nose, adds functional heat extraction over the 5.2L Voodoo V8, and looks show-quality from both sides. Pair it with the rear diffuser, rocker splitters, and GT350R-style wing to build a complete carbon aero package that reflects how the car drives.
Shop Our Top Pick →The best Shelby GT350 carbon fiber body parts do more than look aggressive — they trim weight from a car that already lives at the sharp end of the S550 Mustang lineup. The 2015-2020 GT350 and GT350R are built around the 5.2L flat-plane "Voodoo" V8, a 526-horsepower, 8,250-rpm screamer that makes this the most track-focused naturally aspirated Mustang Ford has ever sold. Swapping factory steel and aluminum panels for genuine carbon fiber sharpens the response, feeds cooler air to that engine, and dials in real downforce. In this roundup, the team at NLP Performance in Tampa, FL breaks down five Anderson Composites carbon parts that fit the GT350 and GT350R, ranked by impact, with prices from $989 to $2,609.
Why Carbon Fiber Belongs on a Shelby GT350
Carbon fiber earns its place on a GT350 because it is roughly five times lighter than steel and around 30% lighter than aluminum for the same stiffness. On a car engineered to lap a road course, every pound removed from the extremities — the hood, the corners, the tail — lowers the polar moment of inertia and helps the chassis change direction faster. The GT350 already weighs about 3,760 lb, and the stripped GT350R comes in near 3,650 lb, more than 130 lb lighter than a GT350 Track Pack car. Carbon body parts continue that same philosophy of taking mass out where it matters most.
Weight is only half the story. The GT350R generates roughly 300 lb of downforce thanks to its revised front splitter and carbon fiber rear wing, and its bodywork is a functional aero device, not just trim. A vented carbon hood extracts heat from the Voodoo's cylinder heads and exhaust, a rear diffuser manages airflow leaving the underbody, and a proper wing balances the front-end grip. Quality carbon lets you extend that factory aero thinking to a base GT350 or replace damaged R-spec panels without the OEM price tag.
A double-sided carbon hood is finished on the underside too — no exposed fiberglass under the vents.
GT350 vs GT350R: Which Carbon Parts Matter Most
Both cars share the 5.2L Voodoo V8 — 526 hp at 7,500 rpm, 429 lb-ft of torque, and an 8,250-rpm redline — but they chase weight and aero differently, which shapes the carbon parts that make sense for each. The GT350R is the extreme version: it deletes the rear seat, adds standard carbon fiber wheels (the first on a mass-produced car), and runs a more aggressive front splitter plus that signature carbon rear wing to make roughly 300 lb of downforce. That is why the R already tips the scales near 3,650 lb versus about 3,760 lb for a GT350.
For a base GT350, the GT350R-style rear spoiler and rear diffuser are the highest-value additions because they add the aero hardware the R got from the factory. For a GT350R owner, the carbon hood and rocker splitters extend the weight-saving philosophy the car was built on, and they double as direct-fit replacements if a track incident damages the originals. Either way, matching every panel to the same 2015-2020 Shelby fitment keeps the finishes and gaps consistent.
How We Picked These GT350 Carbon Parts
Every part in this guide is genuine, GT350-specific Anderson Composites carbon fiber that is in stock and confirmed to fit the 2015-2020 Shelby GT350 and GT350R. Anderson Composites molds these panels from 3K, 2x2 twill-weave carbon using a vacuum-infusion process, backed by a bonded fiberglass skeleton for structural rigidity and a UV-stable clear coat over a high-gloss finish. Each product carries a factory fitment guarantee plus a 6-month appearance and clear-coat guarantee. We prioritized parts that deliver a real functional benefit — heat extraction, downforce, or meaningful weight loss — over pure cosmetics, then ranked them by how much they change the car.
1. Anderson Composites GT5 Double-Sided Carbon Fiber Hood (Top Pick)
The GT5 double-sided hood is the highest-impact carbon upgrade you can bolt to a GT350. It replaces the factory aluminum hood with a vented, heat-extraction design finished in show-quality carbon on both the top and the underside — so there is no exposed fiberglass peeking out from under the louvers. The functional vents pull hot air off the Voodoo's exhaust manifolds and cylinder heads at speed, which helps intake temperatures on track, while the carbon construction takes weight off the very front of the car.
Key Specifications
What We Like
- + Lightest way to take mass off the nose
- + Functional vents help under-hood heat on track
- + Double-sided finish looks factory-plus, open or closed
Things to Consider
- – Highest-priced part in this guide
- – Ships freight (LTL); plan for professional fitment
The gap and fit matched my factory hood better than I expected for aftermarket carbon, and the weave under the vents is clean. Night-and-day difference lifting it after the aluminum unit.
— Verified GT350 Owner | Verified Buyer | ★★★★★
2. Anderson Composites GT350 Rear Diffuser
The rear diffuser is the best value in functional rear aero for the GT350. It bolts to the underside of the rear bumper and cleans up airflow exiting the underbody, helping to reduce drag and add a measure of rear stability at speed — the same job the factory aero does on the GT350R. Molded in 3K 2x2 twill carbon, it gives the tail an OEM+ motorsport look without the weight of a fabricated metal unit.
The diffuser fins mirror the GT350R's functional underbody airflow strategy.
3. Anderson Composites GT350 Rocker Panel Splitters
The rocker panel splitters are the fastest way to drop the GT350's visual center of gravity and manage side airflow. These carbon side skirts extend below the factory rockers to help keep high-pressure air from spilling under the car along the flanks, tightening the stance while adding a track-bred profile. They fit flush to the 2015-2020 body and finish the transition between the front splitter and rear diffuser.
Rocker splitters manage side airflow and drop the GT350's visual center of gravity.
4. Anderson Composites GT350R Type-OE Rear Spoiler
The GT350R-style carbon rear spoiler is how a base GT350 borrows the R model's most iconic aero signature. It replicates the exposed-carbon rear wing that helps the GT350R make roughly 300 lb of downforce, giving the rear axle more bite when you lean on the Voodoo's top-end. Because it is molded in genuine carbon rather than painted plastic, it stays light and looks the part from every angle.
The Type-OE wing mirrors the factory GT350R profile in exposed carbon.
5. Anderson Composites GT350 Carbon Fiber Bumper Inserts
The carbon fiber bumper inserts are the best-value entry point into GT350 carbon at $989.10. They replace the front bumper's lower accent sections with genuine carbon, sharpening the nose and tying the front end into a full carbon theme. At under a grand, they are the easiest way to start a carbon build or complement a hood you already own, and they install without cutting into the factory fascia.
GT350 Carbon Fiber Parts Compared
Here is how the five Anderson Composites carbon parts stack up by component, function, fitment, and price. All prices reflect current NLP Performance pricing on genuine 2015-2020 Shelby GT350 / GT350R panels.
| Part | Type | Function | Fitment | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GT5 Double-Sided HoodTop Pick | Vented hood | Heat extraction + weight | 15-20 GT350/R | $2,609.10 |
| Rear Diffuser | Rear diffuser | Underbody airflow | 15-20 GT350/R | $1,619.10 |
| Rocker Panel Splitters | Side skirts | Side airflow + stance | 15-20 GT350/R | $1,439.10 |
| GT350R Type-OE Spoiler | Rear wing | Rear downforce | 15-20 GT350/R | $1,349.10 |
| Front Bumper Inserts | Bumper trim | Front accents | 15-20 GT350/R | $989.10 |
Building a Complete GT350 Carbon Aero Package
The smartest way to spend on GT350 carbon is front to back, in the order that changes the car most. Start with the GT5 hood for weight and cooling, add the GT350R-style rear spoiler and rear diffuser to balance downforce at both axles, then finish the sides with the rocker splitters so airflow is managed the whole length of the car. Buyers on a tighter budget can begin with the $989.10 bumper inserts and layer in the bigger pieces later — every part in this guide shares the same 3K 2x2 twill weave, so the finishes match across a multi-stage build.
If you want to complete the look, Anderson Composites also offers GT350 carbon front upper grille inserts and front splash guards in the same weave, both around $539, plus GT350R-specific pieces. You can browse the full range on our Anderson Composites collection or the wider exterior styling collection to match parts to your build.
Installation & Fitment Notes
Most of these carbon parts are direct bolt-on replacements for factory GT350 panels, but a few practical notes apply. The GT5 hood ships freight (LTL) and typically transfers your factory latch, hinges, and any hood pins; larger aero pieces benefit from professional installation and alignment to get panel gaps right. Anderson Composites recommends against gas-strut hood props, which can void the finish warranty. As with all clear-coated carbon, protect the finish from prolonged UV exposure and use pH-neutral wash products to keep the weave looking sharp. Every part is confirmed to fit the 2015-2020 Shelby GT350 and GT350R.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Anderson Composites GT350 carbon parts fit both the GT350 and GT350R?
Yes. Every part in this guide — the GT5 hood, rear diffuser, rocker splitters, GT350R-style spoiler, and bumper inserts — is confirmed to fit the 2015-2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 and GT350R. The GT350R-style rear spoiler even lets a base GT350 replicate the R model's factory carbon wing.
How much lighter is carbon fiber than the factory GT350 panels?
Carbon fiber is roughly five times lighter than steel and about 30% lighter than aluminum for equivalent stiffness. Because the GT350 hood is aluminum, the biggest real-world savings come from the extremities — the hood, rear wing, and lower panels — where reducing mass lowers the car's polar moment of inertia and helps it change direction.
What is a double-sided carbon fiber hood?
A double-sided carbon hood is finished in show-quality carbon on both the top and the underside, so there is no exposed fiberglass visible through the vents or when the hood is open. Anderson Composites builds these panels from 3K 2x2 twill-weave carbon using a vacuum-infusion process with a bonded fiberglass structure and a UV-stable clear coat.
Does a carbon hood or diffuser add real downforce on a GT350?
Functional aero parts do more than look fast. The factory GT350R generates roughly 300 lb of downforce from its revised splitter and rear wing, and a matching carbon spoiler and rear diffuser extend that airflow management to a base GT350. A vented hood primarily aids under-hood cooling and weight rather than downforce.
How much do Shelby GT350 carbon fiber body parts cost?
In this guide, genuine Anderson Composites GT350 carbon parts run from about $989 for the front bumper inserts up to around $2,609 for the GT5 double-sided hood, with the diffuser, rocker splitters, and GT350R spoiler landing in the $1,350-$1,620 range. Prices at NLP Performance reflect current promotions and can change.
Are these carbon parts a direct bolt-on, or do they require modification?
Most are direct bolt-on replacements that reuse factory hardware such as latches, hinges, and mounting points. Larger pieces like the hood and rocker splitters install best with professional alignment to dial in panel gaps, and the hood ships freight. None of the parts in this guide require cutting the factory fascia.
Ready to Build Your GT350 Carbon Package?
Shop genuine Anderson Composites carbon fiber for the Shelby GT350 and GT350R — and thousands more performance parts — at NLP Performance.
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