Ford has created a one-off special edition of the Mustang inspired by the US Navy Blue Angels demonstration team. Based on the 2012 Mustang GT, the car was auctioned on July 29 at the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) 2011 Air Venture Oshkosh aviation event.
It sold for $400,000 and the proceeds will go to the EAA Young Eagles organization that has provided free introductory lessons in flying to more than 1.2 million young people since its foundation in 1992.
Edsel B. Ford II, a member of Ford’s board of directors, commented: “The precision, discipline and excitement that define the US Navy’s Blue Angels flight team are qualities we celebrate at Ford. With this project we take great pride in continuing our support for EAA and the Young Eagles organization”.
The body of the “Blue Angels” Mustang GT was painted in the same gold and blue colors as the F-18 Hornet jets that the demonstration team flies. It also bears the team’s insignia and name both on the body and the interior that features Recaro racing seats with stripes inspired by the pilots’ flying suits.
The “Blue Angels” Mustang GT may not be as fast as the Hornet fighter, but with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 producing 624HP it is no slouch either. Ford has also added a handling pack, racetrack-grade brakes and a performance exhaust.
It’s not the first Mustang that was created in support of EAA. In 2008 Ford presented the AV8R with clues from the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, in 2009 the AV-X10 “Dearborn Doll” in honor of WW II aircraft, and in 2010 the “SR-71 Blackbird” was created by the first-ever collaboration of Carol Shelby and Jack Roush, who also used to be pilots and were inspired by the fastest reconnaissance jet ever produced.
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