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Is a typical S550 or S650 Ford Mustang GT not interesting enough for you? No worries, because you don’t have to venture too far away from the standard V8-powered GT to scratch your performance car itch and get a bit more unique appeal in the process.
These 11 performance cars are rarer, more unique alternatives to a new Ford Mustang GT
S197 Shelby GT500
To kick things off, this 12-year-old Shelby delivers. No, you won’t find a Coyote V8 under the hood. But you will find a 662-horsepower, 200-mph muscle car with a TREMEC six-speed manual transmission in the middle.
Better yet, you can get an S197 GT500 with low mileage for less than $60,000, on par with a 2025 GT Premium. And for convertible fans, the S197 Shelby ‘Stang was available with a soft top.
S550 Shelby GT350
The S550 Shelby GT350 might be one of the most unique Ford Mustangs of all time. Instead of a Coyote V8 or supercharged mill often found under the hood of a modern Shelby, the GT350 packed a 526-horsepower naturally aspirated, flat-plane “Voodoo” 5.2L V8 that revved up to 8,250 RPM. Sound up.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE (6th-gen)
Who says you have to go for a Mustang at all? The sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE is a Nürburgring-record-setting muscle car with a supercharged V8 under the hood and enough mechanical and aerodynamic grip to cling to circuit surfaces. Better yet, a ZL1 1LE with fewer than 46,000 miles sold at auction for $47,500 last year.
S550 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Before Ford closed the book on the S550 Mustang, it unveiled the Mach 1. Like the Shelby GT350 it displaced, the Mach 1 packed some of the finer, race-ready features, such as magnetorheological dampers. Even with its rarity, the average sales price for an S550 Mach 1 is around $57,826, per Classic.com.
Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 (5th-gen)
Perhaps the wildest of the fifth-generation Camaros, the Z/28 revived a dead badge with a massive 7.0L LS7 V8. And even with one of the largest engines ever fitted to a unibody Camaro, savvy shoppers can get one for as little as $45,000.
Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Shaker
Sure, it was big, heavy, and common, but the Dodge Challenger had a few special editions worth noting. And if it’s a Mustang GT alternative you’re looking for, few modern muscle cars offer the cool factor like the R/T Scat Pack Shaker and its 485-horsepower, naturally aspirated 6.4L V8.
S197 Ford Mustang Bullitt & S550 Ford Mustang Bullitt
Two Bullitts, each with its own unique appeal. For starters, the S197 version is what folks at Ford called the “engineer’s car.” It was more powerful, more subtle, and had better rear gearing than the stock GT. Not to mention the unmistakable nod to the Steve McQueen classic.
Then you’ve got the newer version. Also in Dark Highland Green or Black, the debadged V8 Mustang is manual-only with a 480-horsepower V8 under the hood. And with depreciation, a low-mileage Bullitt can be yours for under $40,000.
Nissan Z NISMO
What? A six-cylinder alternative to a V8 pony car? Hold on to your opinions, because even if there isn’t a replacement for displacement, there sure are rivals and contenders. Enter the Nissan Z NISMO.
We reviewed the Z NISMO last year, and, aside from the lack of a traditional manual gearbox, we were consistently impressed. Unlike a standard GT, you won’t see yourself coming and going in the two-tone Z. And, like the Shelby GT350 or Mach 1, the 420-horsepower Z NISMO is happiest on the track.
Cadillac ATS-V Coupe
Continuing the string of six-cylinder Mustang alternatives, the Cadillac ATS-V is an underappreciated “V” car. Under the hood: a 464-horsepower, twin-turbo 3.6L V6. More than enough to motivate the Caddy to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds, faster than a new GT.
F82 BMW M4
Before BMW added some serious buckteeth, the F82-generation BMW M4 offered M-car performance in a Mustang-rivaling coupe. But today, you can get an F82 M4 for around $50,000 or less. That said, an F32 440i xDrive might be a better choice for daily drivers.
