From Australian film set to Shelby Heritage — the story behind CSM 24SSX6765.
When 'The Mongoose' arrives in Australian cinemas on October 30, 2026, audiences will see a very serious piece of American muscle sharing the screen with Liam Neeson. But for enthusiasts, there is another story worth knowing — the story of the actual Shelby Super Snake used to bring the film’s high-speed action to life.
At the centre of the movie is a 2024 Shelby Super Snake, built on Ford’s S650-generation Mustang and carrying Shelby CSM build number 24SSX6765. This particular car is the genuine hero car from 'The Mongoose' — the vehicle used for the principal driving sequences involving Neeson and for the film’s stunt work.
The movie stars Liam Neeson as Ryan “Fang” Flanagan, with Marisa Tomei and Ving Rhames among the principal cast. IMDb describes the film as an action thriller centred around Flanagan fleeing a murder scene at high speed in a Mustang Shelby Super Snake. The production was filmed in Australia, with IMDb listing locations including Castlemaine, Melbourne, Bacchus Marsh, Altona and the Melbourne Screen Hub in Victoria. (imdb.com)
For Australian Mustang enthusiasts, the connection is particularly significant. While the story may be set in the world of Hollywood action, the Shelby seen on screen has a distinctly Australian chapter in its history.
The vehicle was initially built by the movie production crew specifically for filming, using genuine Shelby components supplied by Shelby American in Las Vegas, to create the appearance and performance character of a Super Snake required for the production.
The car was one of four stunt cars prepared for The Mongoose and was used extensively throughout filming, including the stunt sequences and the scenes in which Liam Neeson appears with the vehicle.
But its life as a movie car did not end when filming wrapped.
Following production, the vehicle was taken on by Mustang Motorsport, the Australian Shelby specialist operating under licence from Shelby American. Rather than leaving the car in its movie configuration, Mustang Motorsport undertook the extensive work required to restore and complete the vehicle to full original 2024 Shelby Super Snake specification.
That distinction is what makes CSM 24SSX6765 particularly special. Of the four stunt cars used during production, it is the only example restored and completed to full Super Snake specification, transforming what began as a purpose-built movie vehicle into a genuine, fully specified Shelby Super Snake.
And underneath the movie-car connection is an impressive piece of Shelby engineering.
The 2024 Shelby Super Snake was introduced by Shelby American as its flagship Mustang performance model for the new S650 generation. Shelby offered the car with either naturally aspirated or supercharged power, with the supercharged version producing 830+ horsepower from Ford’s 5.0-litre Coyote V8. The supercharged engine is paired with a 3.0-litre Whipple supercharger, while Shelby added its own cooling, exhaust, suspension, braking and driveline upgrades. (shelby.com)
The Super Snake’s hardware goes well beyond horsepower. Shelby fitted a dedicated suspension system, Shelby by Borla exhaust, performance half-shafts, upgraded brake rotors and lightweight 20-inch forged magnesium wheels. The bodywork incorporates an aluminium Super Snake bonnet, carbon-fibre components, wide-body front guards, aerodynamic splitters, rocker extensions, rear diffuser and, on the coupe, a carbon-fibre Super Snake rear wing. Inside, the car receives Shelby-specific trim, badging and serialised identification plaques. (shelby.com)
Shelby says the 2024 Super Snake was engineered around the balance between power, handling and weight reduction. The magnesium wheels were developed to reduce unsprung and rotating mass, while carbon fibre was used in key areas of the bodywork to improve performance and airflow. Shelby also describes the car as the most engineered and driver-focused production Super Snake of its time. (shelby.com)
Only 250 2024 Super Snakes were planned for the United States, adding another layer of rarity to an already unusual car. (shelby.com)
But 24SSX6765 has travelled considerably further than most.
Following the completion of its restoration and Super Snake specification by Mustang Motorsport, the car was returned to the United States, where it was displayed at the Shelby Heritage Center. Its journey from a movie set in Victoria to one of Shelby’s own heritage environments adds another remarkable chapter to the car’s history.
The car is now owned by Craig Dean, founder of Mustang Motorsport.
That ownership gives the car an interesting final chapter. Dean's Mustang Motorsport business has been closely associated with the Shelby brand in Australia for years, and the company's Shelby programme continues to build Australian-market Shelby vehicles under licence. (mustangmotorsport.com.au)
So, when The Mongoose opens on October 30, the Shelby Super Snake on screen is more than another Hollywood performance car. The example on display is the very car that played the hero vehicle in the film — one of four stunt cars used during production, the only one subsequently restored and completed to full 2024 Super Snake specification, and now preserved as both a Shelby and a piece of Australian movie history.
CSM 24SSX6765 isn't a replica of the movie car. It is the movie car!
