2026 Mustang Dark Horse SC (S650) - Official Specs, Photos, Videos

[WItoTX]

I don't hate how they look, the snowflake has always been Ford's thing, and structurally it's a more robust structure. I just don't enjoy cleaning the snowflake style. It's double the spokes lol

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[NickStangBlue]

Vin # 1 just sold at Barrett Jackson for $1,250,000

If I recall right, the first GT500 sold at the same auction for about $1.1M, so within the same ballpark, it seems.

 

[Joe Gonsalves]

I just saw it on my big screen TV at Barrett Jackson tonight. ok, so it looks better than it does in photos. I guess the DHSC is not very photogenic. Still say Ford could have done better. But my nausea is subsiding.

 

[Strokerswild]

No. Not with the dash and front end. I think people would still revolt.

Don't forget the rear, possibly my least favorite ugly.

 

[Stage_3]

https://shelby.com/Vehicles/2026-Shelby-GT350TA

That car is going to be a track beast. Bigly.

 

[kellyreno]

My GT350 was $59K when I bought it new. Pretty expensive. The DH weighs more, makes less HP and costs a lot more.

Your point? Hang on to the oldies? We all wish everything was like TVs, lighter faster, better and less expensive. Not the American way. I had to go this way.

 

[Hack]

Your point? Hang on to the oldies? We all wish everything was like TVs, lighter faster, better and less expensive. Not the American way. I had to go this way.

My point is that my main buying criteria is performance value. Otherwise I'd be buying BMW, Porsche or something. The S650 as far as I can tell is less performance for more money compared to S550.

I applaud Ford for recycling previous designs and components. It saves them money. GM seems to constantly redesign their engines and that has to cost a lot. It IS a great selling point if a company is willing to do it though. The Voodoo is why I bought the GT350.

I think the exterior appearance of the S650 is ok - good enough it wouldn't stop me from buying. I could look past the interior, even though I by far prefer physical controls. It doesn't repel me. If I thought the S650 was a better value than keeping what I have, I'd buy one.

 

[Rev Happy]

A friend saw the DHSC at Daytona today. Said in person it's gorgeous. He has really good taste. Or at least a taste similar to mine. I'm looking forward to seeing one in person.

I think it's probably going to be a great car. Haters are gonna hate, fanboys gonna fanboy. One thing for sure. Those carbon wheels are wrong. And going to be a giant pita to clean compared to the 7 spokes. But if someone buys me one, I'll suffer through the cleaning.

Carbon Ceramics....you won't have much cleaning to do.

 

[WItoTX]

Carbon Ceramics....you won't have much cleaning to do.

I'd track it. So it would be getting steel rotors. That's a good point for street driving though. Makes more sense now haha

 

[Epiphany]

A lot of that pushback seems to come from existing GT500 owners who are understandably sensitive about what follows their car.

Mmm, not from this GT500 owner. I love the fact that it keeps the parts pipeline going. I laud the engineers, whoever they may be, for improving on the hardware they were given to work with. I just think its disingenuous to purposely ignore the prior GT500 program and to lay credit elsewhere. Beyond that, I love the SC. It has a far meaner look to it and should absolutely be a better performer.

 

[IconicTNSnake]

A lot of that pushback seems to come from existing GT500 owners who are understandably sensitive about what follows their car.

Not from this 500 owner. I️ am glad Ford is moving forward. Also means parts they will keep manufacturing. I️ have said this before in my posts. Ford did not do enough for me to buy one.

When I️ bought my 500, I️ looked at all options. Shelby America, Saleen, Rousch, and TRT. All the companies had one thing in common… they took a base 5.0 and modified it. The GT 500 was built by Ford Racing and used the Shelby name. It had a different motor and transmission with a supercharger. Made it unique.

So with that said if I️ did not own a 500 I️ would definitely look hard at the DHSC. I️ would still ultimately buy a used 500 if I️ was In the market based on the price of the DHSC. I️ would do what I️ did and switch my supercharger, add injectors and upgrade the suspension all very safe HP. My guess is I️ am still cheaper than the DHSC and out perform it. For me it depends solely on what price point the DHSC is and what the aftermarket world comes up with. It is like the 500 and special. It has the same engine and transmission. It is not like the companies that I️ mentioned above. It is not a standard coyote. Also, I️ do care what it is called with the power train. It is not a modded coyote. It is not a 12:1 compression engine but a 9:1. It is made for boost.

I️ took time and did research when buying a 500. Because it is not a modded mustang with a badge and a serial number while keeping the VIN the same. It is actually a different car all together same as the DHSC. I️ appreciate that Ford is continuing what it is doing with the Mustang. Just did not push the envelope far enough at the price point I️ am sure the DHSC will be.

If the internet was around I️ bet we would be bashing Ford for the Mustang 2 generation. Can you imagine what was said when they went from the fox body to the SN95? I️ bet The pitch forks were out. The roll out from the new edge to the S197 could have made a few waves.

Ultimately I️ am A Ford guy. I️ am Glad the Mustang is still around and improving. Ford has just forgotten what made the Mustang so popular, the working man’s muscle car. If they made a corvette killer then I️ could understand the cost. But they have not and here we are. An expensive car that is simply not that much better than a 500.

 

[Epiphany]

Can you imagine what was said when they went from the fox body to the SN95? I️ bet The pitch forks were out.

I guess I'm old because I recall all of it. Ford came up with a reason to lower power ratings at the end of the Fox run (even though the engine was unchanged from previous years) such that the 302 in the '94-'95 SN95's didn't look as weak as it was in the context of an expected power bump that Ford made no serious attempt at. The Fox had a great run. I still have my '90 coupe and have zero intention of letting it go. Keeping the 500 too as it tours and tracks so well as much as Ford seems to have forgotten that...

 

[btown93]

I agree, I’m not sensitive about it either. It’s almost a compliment that this powertrain combo is that good that it can continue. The added benefit of many of the same parts being used is huge. Guys with S197 GT500s have a hard time sourcing parts when these powertrains historically are 2/3 year runs. As @Epiphany said, it’s interesting that ford has chosen to basically omit any reference to GT500. Even the normal DH ford referenced it having GT500 connecting rods. Pricing is the elephant in the room. Ford is risking “Dark Horse” as being a nameplate associated with being 80-90 percent of the old car (first with Mach 1 and now GT500) for 40% more money. I do think it is a missed opportunity to not use SVT and or Cobra on this one however. Guys like me who grew up owning cobras would be a perfect target for the nostalgia that comes with the name. It seems ford isn’t interested in that customer, they are after European customers. It’s an interesting strategy, given those customers standards and expectations are much higher. I look forward to the upcoming complaints on panel gaps, ADMs, allocations, quality control, build quality, and ford dealers that many of us know all too well.

 

[broncoboy22]

Agreed with you guys this is a win win for GT500 owners. Plus it keeps their resale value high due to the name change imo

Also it is funny that Ford wants the DH SC to be painted as a GTD “Lite” instead of a GT500 “2.0”

 

[Epiphany]

Pricing is the elephant in the room.

Oh boy, you think people are complaining now, just wait!

Also it is funny that Ford wants the DH SC to be painted as a GTD “Lite” instead of a GT500 “2.0”

You put that very well.

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