Rights to the first 2024 Ford Mustang sold at auction

Ford unveiled a new generation Mustang last September. This will be the seventh generation for the Mustang and will hit showrooms this summer as a 2024 model.

However, the first model with a VIN ending in 001 will go on sale much sooner. Ford confirmed on Monday that the rights to the car, which has not yet actually been built, will be offered at a Barrett-Jackson auction scheduled for January 28 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

All proceeds will go to JDRF, a charity that supports the fight against diabetes. The automaker also sold the rights to its latest Shelby GT500, Mach 1, and Brit first models. At such sales, it is not uncommon for bids to enter the seven-figure realm.

The first example of a seventh-generation Mustang is sure to be the Mustang GT. This means that the lucky buyer will have a machine powered by a 5.0-liter V-8 engine tuned to deliver 480 horsepower in standard form and 486 horsepower when equipped with the optional active exhaust. This exhaust is part of the Performance Pack, which also adds Recaro front seats. There will also be a choice of a 6-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission.

Other Mustangs that will be available when they hit the market this summer are the 315-hp Mustang EcoBoost and the new Mustang Dark Horse. The Dark Horse will share the Mustang GT's 5.0-liter V-8, but will be tuned to 500 hp.

The Dark Horse is not actually a single model, but a new performance series. In addition to the regular Dark Horse, which is specialized for circuit driving but can still be driven on public roads, there will also be a circuit-specific Dark Horse S and a race-specific Dark Horse R.