It’s popular these days for manufacturers to donate cars for good causes. When it comes to Ford, it donated the first Shelby GT350R to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). This is nothing new to Ford, the company has supported JDRF since 1983. All proceeds of the sale will go to JDRF, the nation’s leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. The auction will take place tomorrow (Saturday the 17th), and will air on the Velocity Channel.

The ’15 GT350R harkens back to the original ’65 GT350R, a race-bred version of the Shelby GT350. The ’15 GT350R carries on the heritage of the original thanks to aerodynamic and suspension tuning to make it the most race-ready, road-legal Mustang ever.

“The Shelby GT350R is a world-class car, the best performing Mustang that we have ever built,” said Raj Nair, Ford Group Vice President, Global Product Development.  “We are thrilled to donate the first retail production Shelby GT350R to JDRF for auction.  When this car crosses the auction block it should raise a tremendous amount of money for a great charity.”

The winning bidder will be able to outfit his/her GT350R, slated to arrive late in 2015, in the color and package of their choosing. Team members responsible for the GT350R will also sign the car in appreciation of the donations to the JDRF.

“JDRF is privileged to work with Ford, and we are extremely grateful for the generous support from Ford and its employees through the years,” said John Brady, JDRF chairman, international board of directors. “We are honored to be part of the company’s 50-year celebration of the Shelby GT350 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. This very exciting and worthwhile event means a great deal to not only JDRF and the type 1 community, but to me personally as well. We are dedicated to continue our work and to share our vision of creating a world without type 1 diabetes.”