2026 Mustang GT350/TA: Shelby Gets Serious About Racing Again

Shelby American used the stage at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale to debut one of the most track-focused modern Mustangs yet: the 2026 GT350/TA.

The limited-run model builds off Shelby’s current GT350, pairing a supercharged V8 making 830 horsepower with quality aerodynamic and kinematic hardware, all while remaining street legal.

Built as more than just a tribute to 60 years of Trans Am racing, it's also a nod to Trans Am SGT cars and a preview of the company's upcoming Trans Am spec race car. This comes just weeks after Ford chirped Shelby for not racing anymore to our own Editorial Director, Greg Migliore, during the launch of the 2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC during the 2026 Detroit auto Show.

For those of you keeping score at home, the TA's 830 horsepower is more than the Dark Horse SC's "well over 700 horsepower," and the GTD's 815 horsepower. The Shelby's headline number comes from the TA's supercharged 5.0-liter V8, which uses a similar 3.0-liter Whipple supercharger as the 810-horsepower GT350, but with revised calibration, pumping up the ponies by 20.

It's paired with a high-flow exhaust and an extreme cooling package for track duty. The GT350/TA sends it all through a six-speed manual with a short-throw shifter. No other choice, sorry.

Visually, the GT350/TA leans super hard into its Trans Am Super GT impression. SGT is a wild class based on rules aligned with SCCA's Club GT2-ST class, with modified SCCA T1 and FIA GT4 homologated vehicles mixed in—this was done on purpose to create crossover opportunities for weekend warriors across the country.

Shelby fits a carbon-fiber extractor hood, painted ghost graphics, and a full aero package that includes a front splitter, dive planes, side skirts, and an adjustable rear wing. There’s also a ducktail spoiler and a unique rear diffuser.

"We spent an incredible amount of attention on enhancing the aerodynamics on this car," said Vince LaViolette, Vice President of Operations and Senior Designer at Shelby American. "From revised front splitters to the new hood and upgraded rear diffuser, this car is even better at slicing through the wind. We have more aggressive suspension pieces, Trans Am spec wheels and tires, and upgraded cooling systems to ensure peak performance, lap after lap."

Chassis-wise, Shelby adds some very impressive kit, starting with the Tig-welded 4130 Chrome Moly 4-point cage. The front and rear struts are both fully adjustable, Trans Am spec coil overs, and are joined by adjustable Trans Am spec sway bars front and back. Shelby also stiffened the Mustang's rear subframe, added billet aluminum vertical links, and added additional tie-down points and jacking rails.

Extreme-duty performance half shafts spin the power out from a Truetrac limited-slip differential with a remote pump and heat exchanger. The whole rig rides on Forgeline VX1S race wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero rubber, backed by Pro Systems Alcon Endurance brakes, also Trans Am spec.

The cabin gets its own functional upgrades. Leather sport seats with Shelby embroidery, carbon-fiber trim sprinkled throughout, and a serialized plaque.

70 cars are expected in 2026, all built by Turn Key Automotive/Motorsports in Michigan, and each car will be documented in the official Shelby Registry. Turn Key is also working with Shelby on a track-only version of the car, which is expected to race in the upcoming 2026 Trans Am season.

Our Take:

Shelby says the TA was built for the serious weekend track warrior. By serious, they mean seriously rich—pricing starts at $219,995, including the price of the donor 401A Mustang, putting it into rare air among the 911 GT3s and Corvette ZR1s of the world. Shelby is selling something different and exceedingly hard to find these days: a supercharged V8 paired with a manual gearbox and an actual track-first edge. Love to see Shelby back racing again, and in Trans Am, no less. The whole project just drips with grassroots authenticity. Men who own construction companies will absolutely adore these.

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