√First 2024 Ford Mustang GT raises more than half-a-million dollars for charity

The first new-generation Ford Mustang GT in the US has been sold for $US490,000 ($AU691,200) at auction, helping to raise more than $US565,000 ($AU796,850) for charity.

The first example of the 2024 Ford Mustang GT has raised $US565,000 – almost $800,000 in Australian currency – for juvenile diabetes research after selling at a Barrett-Jackson auction in the US.

Ford revealed the seventh-generation Mustang in September 2022, and recently indicated the latest iteration of its iconic muscle car is due in Australian showrooms in the second half of 2023.

To commemorate the new-generation model, Ford offered the first 2024 Mustang GT Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) at a Barrett-Jackson auction in Arizona last week, allowing the buyer to configure their muscle car to their own tastes when production begins later this year.

The winning bid of $US490,000 ($AU691,200) was almost 13-times more than the outgoing Ford Mustang GT’s $US38,345 ($AU54,100) list price, – although an additional $US75,000 ($AU105,800) from two parties pushed the eventual donation up to $US565,000 ($AU796,850), all of which will go towards funding juvenile type 1 diabetes research through JDRF.

It’s the second time in less than two years where the first VIN for a new or special-edition Ford Mustang has been sold for charity at a Barrett-Jackson auction.

In March 2021, VIN 001 for the Ford Mustang Mach 1 was sold for $US500,000 ($AU705,200), with the proceeds again donated to JDRF.

Ford is not the only car-maker to sell the first VIN of a significant car for charity through an auction in the US.

The first example of the second-generation Honda NSX – sold in North America as an Acura NSX – was auctioned by Barrett-Jackson in 2016, raising $US1.2 million ($AU1.69 million today) for US charities Paediatric Brain Tumour Foundation and Camp Southern Ground.

It was followed in August 2021 by the first of 350 Acura NSX ‘Type S’ examples, which sold at a Mecum Auction for $US1.1 million ($AU1.55 million), with the money going towards the Center of Science and Industry.

Both first-VIN NSXs were purchased by NASCAR team owner and car dealer, Rick Hendrick, who also holds the title of buying two of the most expensive new cars to cross the block at a Barrett-Jackson auction.

In 2020, Mr Hendrick bought the first Chevrolet Corvette ‘C8’ Stingray for $US3 million ($AU4.23 million today), donating the money to the Detroit Children’s Fund.

This figure was eclipsed in 2022 when he purchased the VIN for the first 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 for $US3.7 million ($AU5.22 million), which was donated to Operation Homefront.

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