Ford Mustang aficionados should be circling Jan. 18 on their calendars as that’s when the first 2015 Mustang GT will be sold – by the Barrett Jackson auction house with the proceeds going to JDRF, formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
The car, which will be Lot 3010, being auctioned at the Scottsdale, Ariz. Event, will feature a 5.0-liter V8 producing 420 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. The winning bidder will get to outfit the latest pony car with a variety of options, including a choice between a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual, and any interior or exterior color combo.
“Ford Mustangs have always been among the most popular collector cars at Barrett-Jackson Collector Car events,” said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “While every collector wishes they had snapped up the first Mustang sold in 1964, this is an opportunity to realize that dream in a different way.”
Barrett Jackson seems to be the favorite spot for automakers to generate buzz about their new products while raising big money for charities. General Motors auctioned off the first 2014 C7 Corvette for $1.05 million. Detroit’s College for Creative Studies was the beneficiary. Some of the top automotive designers are alumni of the college and more than 170 alumni work in GM’s Design Studios.
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NASCAR team owner and Chevrolet dealer Rick Hendrick, who also owns the Hendrick Heritage Collection automotive museum in Charlotte, N.C., won the auction. He added the ’Vette to the collection.
That result was more than $700,000 higher than the $300,000 bid for the first SRT Viper that was auctioned in June 2012.
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Ford has a long history with JDRF, supporting the organization since the early 1980s. In fact, it has raised more than $3 million for JDRF though Barrett-Jackson auctions.
It’s a nice means to make a charitable contribution for those with deep pockets. These first models are often are re-auctioned a couple years later for an even higher price going to another charity so it’s all good in the end.