Ford’s top-of-the-line Dark Horse version of the current S650 Ford Mustang is back in the market here in Australia, and the newly Ford-backed Triple Eight Race Engineering is joining the party with its own tuned-up version.

Just 500 Dark Horse Muzzys will be sold in Australia as part of the new wave, and 250 of them will be fitted with what’s been called the T8-Spec Pack. It comes after the Supercars racing outfit joined Ford in a shock move for this year’s championship, having previously run Chevrolet Camaros.

The additional package is more than just some stickers and stripes. As well as bonnet and boot logos and a Grabber Blue rear wing insert, chassis improvements include a recalibration of the MagneRide suspension system to suit new stiffer springs, and there’s also revised anti-roll bars and adjustable top mounts.

The handling mods also extend to black 19-inch alloy wheels, measuring up at 10.5 inches wide in the front and 11 inches under the bum. They’re wrapped in 305/30R19 and 315/30R19 Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tyres, respectively.

Recaro seats – a $3835 option for the regular Dark Horse – will be fitted as standard to the T8-Spec Pack, and all cars also get a unique shift knob, scuff plates and a numbered build plaque.

T8-Spec Packs will be fitted to the 250 Mustangs at Ford’s old assembly plant on the outskirts of Melbourne, Victoria. It’s the same line on which the previous factory-backed, Australian-exclusive supercharged 2020 Ford Mustang R-Spec was assembled, which was made in conjunction with Herrod Performance.

“By partnering with Triple Eight Race Engineering, we’ve created a vehicle that not only celebrates our racing heritage but offers our most passionate enthusiast customers a globally unique, bespoke numbered collector’s item vehicle, upfit right here in Melbourne,” said Ambrose Henderson, Director of Marketing, Ford Australia.

Unlike the regular Dark Horse, which can be had with the Mustang’s 10-speed automatic ’box, all T8-Spec Pack Mustangs will only be sold with the six-speed manual. There is no power increase to the Dark Horse’s 350kW version of the 5.0-litre aspirated Coyote V8 for the T8-Spec Pack cars.

However, owners will get an invite to a track day at Queensland Raceway in 2027, hosted in part with members of Triple Eight Race Engineering.

“All of us at Triple Eight Race Engineering are incredibly proud to be partnering with Ford, and the Mustang Dark Horse T8-Spec is a fantastic way to celebrate our return to the track with the Blue Oval,” said Triple Eight Race Engineering managing director Jamie Whincup.

So, how much, you ask? Well, the 2026 Dark Horse will start at $104,900 before on-roads, while the T8-Spec cars jump significantly to $138,888. Notice the easter egg in the last part of that price tag?

Ford didn’t specify when the car would be arriving in Australia, but with limited numbers, the company urged any interested buyers to contact their Ford dealers immediately to secure an order. We’re keen to have a go in one, that’s for sure!