High-flying Mustang pays homage to WWII pilots
Tally Ho! Ford and world champion drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr. joined forces to create a one-of-a-kind 2018 Mustang, paying homage to a special group of World War II fighter pilots.
The modern muscle car started off as a 2018 GT coupe but then was overhauled to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force for this year's Experimental Aircraft Association's fundraiser and auction, called The Gathering, held Thursday, July 26 at the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The build was inspired by the famed Eagle Squadron, a group of U.S. volunteer pilots who flew combat missions alongside the Royal Air Force over Europe from British airfields near Goodwood prior to the United States entering the war.
The vehicle features Gittin's RTR Mustang carbon fiber widebody kit, and includes a front chin spoiler, upper grille with integrated lighting, and a Gurney lip added to the Performance Pack rear spoiler. Front turning vanes, dive planes, rocker splitters and lower grille diffusers were also fitted.
Once the custom bodywork was completed, the whole vehicle received a camouflaged paint scheme closely matching that of the original Eagle Squadron Spitfire aircraft. Once the looks were locked in, attention turned to power.
To make this pony fly, there's a Ford Performance supercharger kit underhood, helping the V-8 churn out 700 horsepower and 610 foot-pounds of torque on pump gas. The engine is mated to a Tremec six-speed manual transmission with a short shifter and an upgraded, heavy-duty rear axle.
To help the car stay on target and on tarmac, there's an RTR Tactical Performance Suspension Package, with in-car adjustable MagneRide dampers, lowering springs and adjustable sway bars.
Inside the cockpit, pilots and passengers are treated to a custom leather interior featuring Recaro racing seats with embroidered Eagle Squadron logos. A hand-engraved shift knob made from metal melted down from an F-35
Lightning carries over the Eagle Squadron logo, and a one-of-one, hand-engraved badge made from genuine Spitfire aluminum adorns the dashboard.
The vehicle debuted in the U.K. at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb, where it was driven by Gittin, accompanied by Royal Air Force veteran Paul Miller, whose father "Dusty" served in Eagle Squadron in 1941 and 1942.
Its next stop was landing at the 2018 AirVenture Oshkosh event, being held this week through Sunday. There, the wheeled-warrior was auctioned off, with proceeds being donated to the EAA's youth education programs, which encourage and support the next generation of pilots.
To date, Ford has worked with the organization to raise more than $3 million.
Aside from becoming the new owner, the high bidder received an all-expense-paid trip for two to Detroit in August to attend the 2018 Ford Woodward Dream Cruise. There, the winner will be presented with this special steed, along with a plaque autographed by Gittin and members of the Ford design team.