- The 2026 Shelby GT350 is now available as a convertible, with a starting price of $121,000 for the most powerful model.
- Like its coupe counterpart, the droptop GT350 offers a 5.0-liter V-8, capable of 810 horsepower with the optional supercharger.
- Shelby American is selling the GT350 in limited numbers through select Ford dealers, and each car’s powertrain is backed by a manufacturer’s warranty.
Ford’s new Dark Horse variant has a lot of great goodies, namely a supercharger that should boost the 5.2-liter V-8’s horsepower to somewhere in the neighborhood of 800. However, there’s one thing the new track-focused Mustang doesn’t offer, and that’s a convertible body style. Well, the folks at Shelby American have taken care of that with the new 2026 GT350, which – like the Dark Horse SC – can be equipped with a supercharged V-8.
Shelby American is not part of the FoMoCo, but has a long-standing relationship with the Blue Oval brand. After all, the Nevada-based company was founded by Carroll Shelby. Ever heard of him? With the new GT350, the Shelby team essentially takes a regular Mustang GT and optimizes it for track use by tweaking the aero parts, suspension and drivetrain.
Speaking of which, the standard engine is the GT’s 480-hp naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8, and it can be paired with either the 10-speed automatic or Ford’s six-speed manual (something else the DH/SC doesn’t offer). And if that’s not enough power, Shelby American installs a 3.0-liter Whipple supercharger, which gives the GT350 a seismic output of 810 horses. The powertrain is also protected by Ford’s factory warranty, which lasts three years or 56,000 kilometers, but if you want to buy a used version, note that the warranty does not transfer.
Like the Shelby GT350 coupe, the new convertible model features striking visual details that set it apart from average Mustangs. The Shelby cars feature an aluminum heat-sink hood and a blacked-out grille with larger air intakes, and roll on 20-inch forged wheels designed to save weight. In addition to the available racing stripes, Shelby offers a wide choice of paint colors, including the pumpkin-like Orange Fury pictured here.
Inside, the GT350 looks largely the same as the rest of the Ford Mustang family. Except that Shelby American covers the seats in leather that also features quilted inserts, and the convertible model is available with a roll bar behind the front seats. The interior is also decorated with a serial number badge on the dashboard, embroidered floor mats and manual models have a unique shift knob.
How much does this Shelby-spec Mustang GT cost? While it’s unclear how much money you’ll need for the base V-8 convertible, Shelby American says the supercharged version starts at $121,385. That may be more than what Ford will ask for the new Mustang Dark Horse SC. But remember: only the GT350 allows you to go topless.
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Eric Stafford’s car addiction started before he could walk, and it’s fueled his passion for writing news, reviews and more for Car and driver since 2016. His childhood ambition was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno-esque car collection. Apparently getting rich is harder than social media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree from Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of essentially burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and driver hired him. His garage currently has a 2010 Acura RDX, a ’97 manual Chevy Camaro Z/28 and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.
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