The Reason Ford Dropped The Shelby Nameplate On The Latest Mustang

You may notice that the Shelby moniker is absent from the current Ford Mustang lineup. The Mustang Shelby GT500, which ceased manufacturing shortly before the seventh-generation vehicle made its debut, was the final Ford Mustang to use the name.

Many admirers are left asking, “Where did Shelby go?” Ford introduced the Ford Mustang Dark Horse and the even more extreme Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC in place of a new GT500; the latter effectively served as a current GT500. Why, therefore, did Ford abandon the Shelby moniker for the S650 Mustang? In a nutshell, money.

The fact that Ford does not genuinely own the Shelby moniker may be something that many people are unaware of. Shelby American, a completely different company with its headquarters in Nevada, still owns the rights. This implies that Ford must pay them to utilize it.

Ford was paying an estimated $800 in royalties for each Mustang sold under the Shelby brand, according to a Ford Authority investigation. That may not seem like much at first, but it rapidly adds up given how many Shelby Mustangs are flying off dealer lots.

Between 2020 and 2022, Ford sold 14,130 GT500 vehicles and 24,211 Mustang Shelby GT350 and GT350R vehicles. This adds up to over $30 million in licensing payments at about $800 per car—a significant amount for a badge.

Any Hope For The Shelby To Return?

Whether the Shelby name will be used again is still up in the air, at least for the current S650 generation. Although there were some suspicions that it may return, Ford apparently decided to proceed with the Dark Horse branding instead.

This change, according to Ford, is consistent with their increasing emphasis on racing. The business introduced six race versions in addition to the most recent Mustang, ranging from the fully equipped GT3 racer to the more basic Dark Horse S. By 2027, there are even plans to introduce the Dark Horse SC into NASCAR competition.

For now, the Shelby name remains on the sidelines, while Dark Horse takes center stage. That could change in the future, but for now, Ford is fully committed to the Dark Horse name.

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