Pony Power: The Iconic History of the Ford Mustang
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- The first 2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC sold for $1.25 million at a charity auction.
- Proceeds from sales will be donated to Breakthrough T1D, a nonprofit organization that funds type 1 diabetes research.
- This auction price makes this vehicle one of the top five most expensive Mustangs ever sold.
Ford Motor Co.’s “Most Thrilling Mustang” has become one of the most expensive, at least at auction.
On January 24, Ford auctioned off the rights to the first Mustang Dark Horse SC retail order, known as VIN 001, at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. The car sold for a respectable $1.25 million, but it wasn’t the highest price ever sold for a Mustang at auction.
But this latest bid puts the first dark horse SC (SC stands for supercharger) into the top five most expensive Mustangs ever sold at auction, and is a win for Breakthrough T1D, a nonprofit organization that funds research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.
Ford spokesman Brandon Tarkas said the winning bidder, who requested anonymity, is a longtime Ford customer and supports Ford’s work on the breakthrough T1D. Over the years, Ford has helped raise more than $85 million for the breakthrough T1D. Edsel B. Ford II, son of Henry Ford II and cousin of Executive Chairman Bill Ford, championed the cause in honor of his son Albert, who lived with Type 1 diabetes for more than 25 years.
“Mission is the foundation of Ford’s culture,” Turkus said in a media release. “Through a global effort by our employees in 11 countries and iconic vehicle auctions like Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, Ford is committed to our long-term commitment to funding research that will ultimately lead to cures.”
Mustang Dark Horse SC
The Shadow Black Mustang Dark Horse SC Track Pack Special Edition represented VIN 001 on the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction Stage. However, winning bidders will be able to configure the Mustang Darkhorse SC to their liking, including choosing between the base Darkhorse SC, Darkhorse SC Truck Package, or Darkhorse SC Truck Package Special Edition, as well as choosing from available colors and options.
Ford Racing, the company’s racing division, unveiled the new 2026 Mustang Dark Horse SC at the Detroit Auto Show on January 15th, calling it “the most thrilling Dark Horse Mustang ever.”
Ford says the car is designed, engineered and built in-house using expertise learned at racetracks around the world. Ford says the Mustang Dark Horse SC is the most advanced, powerful and track-capable Mustang Dark Horse ever.
The Dark Horse SC is powered by a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Ford has not yet disclosed many details about its results. The Mustang Dark Horse SC will be available to order in spring 2026, with delivery scheduled for summer. All Mustang Dark Horse SCs are built with the flat lock assembly that Ford builds the Mustang lineup with.
Ford said it would release more details about the vehicle, including pricing, at a later date. But Motor Trend points out that the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 cost about $78,000 when it went out of production four years ago, and the magazine says, “Even with this car’s six-figure starting price, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Track Pack rivals the $122,795 base price of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06.”
Most expensive Mustang ever sold
In July 2025, classic car insurance company Hagerty reviewed the top five most expensive Mustangs to hit the auction block.
This Mustang Dark Horse SC VIN 001 makes it to number 5 on our list. No. 5 went to a 1966 Shelby GT350 convertible that sold for $1.1 million at Mecum Indianapolis in 2020, Hagerty said.
The Mustang Dark Horse SC sale nearly ousted No. 4 on the list, a 1965 Shelby GT350R that sold for $1,265,000 at Mecum Monterey in 2021.
In third place was a 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake, which sold for $2.2 million at Mecum Kissimmee 2019.
Unsurprisingly, second place went to the 1968 Ford Mustang GT Bullitt, which sold for $3.4 million at the 2020 Mecum Kissimmee Auction. The Highland Green Bullitt Mustang was featured in the movie Bullitt starring Steve McQueen and featured in one of the greatest car chases in movie history.
However, the record lies with the 1965 Shelby GT350R prototype, which sold for a record-breaking $3.85 million at the 2020 Mecum Indianapolis. He added that the car was the first of 36 genuine GT350Rs, and famous racer Ken Miles drove it for many hours during testing and development, as did Bob Bondurant, Chuck Cantwell, Pete Brock and others. Jerry Titus.
In 2022, the car sold at Mecum Kissimmee for a slightly lower price of $3.75 million, but Hagerty said the car’s two sales prices are still “the first and second highest prices ever paid (publicly) for a Mustang.”
Jamie L. Lareau is senior auto writer for USA Today and covers Ford Motor Company for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jalalean. To sign up for our automotive newsletter. become a subscriber.
