First production Shelby GT350 Mustang to be auctioned by Barrett-Jackson

Most powerful naturally aspirated production Ford engine powers new Shelby

    The very first Shelby GT 350 Mustang will be up for grabs at Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale sale with proceeds from the sale to benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), which is leading global organization funding Type 1 diabetes research.

    Lot #3008 will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Shelby GT350 Mustang, and the winning bidder will have the opportunity to pick colors and packages for the first retail production version of the legendary pony car.

    It feels like a serious understatement to call the Shelby GT350 a pony car at this point -- the Shelby version will produce over 500 hp and more than 400 lb-ft of torque from its specially tuned 5.2-liter V8, which makes it the most powerful naturally aspirated production Ford engine in the company's history. Helping send all that power to the rear wheels is a six-speed manual transmission along with a Torsen limited-slip differential, and ensuring that the wheels don't spin for minutes at a time while trying to gain traction are 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels wearing state-of-the-art Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires with GT350-specific sidewall construction and tread tuned for maximum grip. A Mustang as bonkers as this of course needs massive brakes, and that means that at the front the Shelby GT350 gets 394-millimeter rotors with Brembo six-piston calipers, while at the back the GT350 has 380-millimeter rotors that use four-piston calipers.

    "We took the best Ford Mustang yet and massaged every aspect of the car that affects the performance driving experience," said Jamal Hameedi, chief engineer at Ford Global Performance Vehicles. “We tested endlessly on the most challenging roads and tracks in the world, and we believe serious drivers will love the Shelby GT350 Mustang."

  This Shelby GT350 Mustang will be offered at no reserve at the auction's flagship sale in Scottsdale, Arizona, which will be broadcast live on Velocity on Saturday, January 17. You can check out this and all the other Arizona auction action on our Scottsdale Auctions page.