Ford still lacks a Shelby version of the latest generation Mustang, so the older ones may seem more appealing to specific buyers. We suspect you may have a soft spot for the previous Shelby GT350, and if we're right, you may want to take a closer look at this example.
A 2018 model, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 in question doesn't have a salvage title like some copies we recently wrote about. It features a Ruby Red metallic paint finish, a few black accents, privacy windows, black racing stripes, and matching alloys wrapped in sticky Michelin rubber.
Opening the door reveals the black interior. It's mostly a tale of Alcantara, and it has a pair of bucket seats for the driver and person riding shotgun, with the GT350 branding on the integrated headrests and Recaro emblems on the sides. The cramped rear seats are still there, and from what we can tell, it's a bone-stock muscle car, which makes it even more appealing to the right crowd.
Under the hood lies the usual naturally aspirated 5.2L engine. The V8 yanks out 526 hp (534 ps/392 kW) and produces 429 pound-foot (582 Nm) of torque, hooked up to a stick shift with six forward gears, just like the more track-focused GT350R.
Photo: Garage Kept Motors
If you must know, the output is superior to that of the modern-day Ford Mustang Dark Horse, whose 5.0L Coyote V8 develops 500 hp (507 ps/373 kW) with the optional performance exhaust system. The balance tilts in favor of the GT350, too, in terms of thrust, as the Dark Horse enjoys 418 lb-ft (567 Nm).
Thus, in theory, the older Shelby should teach the newer Dark Horse an important lesson in terms of straight-line performance. But that's a different story, one that has been answered several times, including in a video dating back to last fall that you can watch here. Don't click that link yet; we still have to tell you more juicy details about this GT350, including the mileage.
You see, it is an almost brand-new example, despite being six years old, as the odometer reads 2,420 miles (3,895 km). Its next owner will also get the usual documentation, including the manuals and window sticker, and will hopefully drive it more, as this is a ride that deserves to hit the road almost daily.
Want to talk about the finances? It will cost you a cool $69,900 to buy this Shelby. By comparison, the 2024 Mustang Dark Horse Premium kicks off at $62,180, and a nicely specified copy should be about as much as this GT350 after factoring in the dealer fees and destination charge. So, if you had to choose between the two, would you buy a 2024 Dark Horse or this 2018 Shelby GT350?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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