UPDATE 3/9/26, 1:15 p.m.: A Ford representative confirmed to Car and Driver that the pricing from the leaked document is accurate. The 2026 Dark Horse SC starts at $108,485, with the Track Pack requiring $144,985.
Ford unveiled its long-awaited successor to the Mustang Shelby GT500 in January, electing to drop the Shelby name in favor of calling the new model the Dark Horse SC. Packing a supercharged 5.2-liter V-8, the Mustang Dark Horse SC promises to be a formidable machine—though Ford has yet to disclose its output figures. Pricing has also been absent from the official announcement, but a leaked dealer document published by Kelly Aiken of aftermarket suspension maker Kelltrac—initially surfaced by Ford Muscle—suggests the Dark Horse SC will carry a substantial price premium.
According to the dealer memo, the Dark Horse SC will open at $108,485 all-in, factoring in destination and gas guzzler tax. Ford will also offer the car with a Track package that adds a larger, manually adjustable rear wing, recalibrated MagneRide dampers, carbon-fiber wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup R tires, and carbon-ceramic brakes sourced from the Mustang GTD. The Track Pack also swaps in Recaro bucket seats and eliminates the rear seat; altogether, these upgrades push the price to $144,985.
A Track Pack Special Edition is available at launch as well, adding a black-painted roof, red exterior accents, carbon-fiber trim, and 3-D-printed titanium interior details from the GTD. That distinctive package carries the price to $175,965, a $30,980 jump over the standard Track Pack. Ford has not yet responded to a request for comment on the leaked memo.
The numbers represent a marked increase over what the Shelby GT500 cost in its final form. In 2022, the last GT500 model year, base pricing stood at $80,795. Adjusted for inflation, that equates to roughly $93,500 today—meaning the Dark Horse SC still asks for considerably more. The Shelby's Carbon Fiber Track Pack added $18,500 at the time, or about $21,402 in current dollars, which pales against the $36,500 premium the leaked document shows for the new Track Pack.
If the document is accurate, expect a significant reaction from Mustang enthusiasts. The car's visual appeal is undeniable, but whether buyers will accept the higher entry point will depend heavily on how much power Ford is hiding. Based on the GT500's 760 hp and the GTD's 815 hp, we suspect the Dark Horse SC will slot somewhere in between, but an official number has yet to be confirmed.
