A genuine piece of Shelby history is about to cross the auction block. The very first 2026 Shelby GT350/Trans Am ever built for a private owner — and the first example to be publicly offered outside Shelby’s exclusive delivery list — is now for sale on Kruse Auctions, headed to the block as Lot #610 during the Auburn Fall 2026 sale on Saturday, September 5. Full specifications, all 51 photos, and bidder registration are available on the official Kruse Auctions listing.
The GT350 nameplate has carried serious road-racing credibility since 1965, when Carroll Shelby transformed the newly introduced Mustang into an SCCA B-Production champion. That competition DNA carried into the inaugural 1966 Trans-American Sedan Championship, where Shelby-prepared Mustangs helped Ford capture the first Trans-Am Manufacturers’ title. The GT350/TA offered through this Kruse Auctions listing was built to honor that 60th anniversary, and it wears the history well.
Developed by Shelby American in collaboration with Turn Key Motorsports, this street-legal, track-focused machine is limited to just 40 examples worldwide, each documented in the official Shelby Registry. Power comes from a supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 producing an officially stated 830-plus horsepower, routed exclusively through a short-throw six-speed manual transmission — a driver-focused choice that already sets it apart from most modern performance Mustangs. Every detail of the car for sale on Kruse Auctions reflects that same uncompromising, driver-first philosophy.
Backing up the tremendous output are fully adjustable Trans Am-spec coil-overs with remote reservoirs, Alcon endurance brakes, Forgeline racing wheels, heavy-duty half shafts, and a Truetrac limited-slip differential. An aggressive carbon-fiber aero package — adjustable rear wing, front splitter, dive planes, fender ducting, rocker extensions, rear diffuser, and ducktail spoiler — pairs with a carbon-fiber interior tub, Shelby-trimmed seats, and a TIG-welded chromoly four-point cage. Additional photos of every component are included in the Kruse Auctions gallery.
This particular example is exceptional even among its already-rare peers. Offered with just 97 test miles, it served as the model used by Shelby and Road & Track for the car’s global press review, and it is finished in Orange Fury with a one-of-one set of optional Twister Graphics that pay homage to the original Trans Am-era Shelbys. It further benefits from Turn Key Motorsports’ Off-Road Package, including a Ford Performance oil cooler kit, extreme heat track-spec radiator, control arm kit, and a carbon roof wrap — all detailed in the Kruse Auctions description.
With production strictly capped at 40 cars and every allocation already spoken for, this inaugural public sale is a rare and possibly unrepeatable opportunity for collectors. Boasting more horsepower than Ford’s own halo Mustang GTD while still offering a proper manual gearbox, the GT350/TA is destined to be one of the most coveted modern Shelbys ever built. Collectors interested in bidding can view full details, documentation, and registration information through the Kruse Auctions listing for Lot #610, crossing the block Saturday, September 5 at the Auburn Fall 2026 auction.
Kruse Auctions has been a cornerstone of the collector car world for more than 55 years, with the Auburn auctions earning a reputation for delivering exceptional results. Over the decades, thousands of world records have been set on the Kruse auction stage, making Auburn one of the most recognized and respected destinations in the collector car hobby. Each auction brings together passionate buyers, serious collectors, and industry experts, creating the competitive environment needed to achieve top results for consignors.
Shawn Henry