New Mustang Model Aims to Achieve ‘Collectible’ Status, Ford Determined to Pursue

Ford has a long list of special names in the Mustang’s back catalogue, and it’s aiming to add one more to the list.

The new Dark Horse – described as a limited edition, but with no clear production end date or cap – has been developed with collectible status in mind, according to Mustang brand manager Jim Owens.

“We really wanted to make a future collectible. I pine away for a 1971 Mach 1, I love that sloping roof at the back, the blue, I like the silver stripes not the white … that’s the car that I harkened to when I was a kid,” Mr Owens told Australian media.

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“Now what we want this to be is that poster – a digital age poster, I’m dating myself – to be the one that they remember.”

Rather than reviving legendary names such as Bullitt, Mach 1, or California Special for buyers looking to relive their glory days, the Mr Owens said the Dark Horse is part of a broader push during development of the seventh-generation Mustang to look to the future.

With that said, there’s still a distinctly old-school feel about the Dark Horse.

A naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine lives under the bonnet, and power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission.

Ford has uprated the suspension for track work, and has improved the transmission, engine, and differential cooling.

It sits above the GT in the range, but below the car fitted with a ‘Handling Pack’ offered in the USA.

It features 305mm-wide front and 315mm-wide rear Pirelli semi-slick tyres, stiffer suspension, and unique geometry to accommodate that stickier, fatter rubber.

The Dark Horse will touch down with the broader Ford Mustang range early in 2024 for Australia.

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