Ford has a longstanding tradition of helping support the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagle operation, which is geared to inspiring the next generation of leaders, aviators and innovators in America. For each of the past six years, it has produced a special one-off Mustang that gets auctioned to support that cause during the EAA’s annual AirVenture event in Oskosh, Wisconsin. This time around, the automaker’s engineering and design teams collaborated to create a vehicle that celebrates the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force’s Thunderbirds precision flying team. Based on the first production-model 2014 Ford Mustang GT — VIN#0001 — this unique U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Edition melds distinctive graphics and body bits with some serious performance enhancements.
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In addition to reprising the classic red, white and blue color scheme that adorns the F-16s flown by the Thunderbirds, this patriotic Mustang GT wears a custom wide-body kit crafted by TS Designs, paint work — including a Thunderbird logo on its belly pan — by Creations n’ Chrome, and bespoke 22-inch Forgiato alloy wheels. Inside, the car boasts a pair of Recaro sport buckets covered in white leather and embroidered with a Thunderbirds graphic, a modified navigation screen and instrument cluster, a rear-seat delete, custom sill plates, and puddle lights that project the profile of an F-16 jet on the ground when the doors are opened.
Mechanical enhancements to the USAF Thunderbirds Edition 2014 Ford Mustang GT include a Ford Racing 2.3-liter Whipple supercharger that pops output of the car’s 5.0-liter V8 from 420 to about 550 horsepower, a full sport suspension and handling package, plus upgraded Brembo brakes.
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This trick Mustang GT will be on the block during the EAA’s charity auction on August 1. For more information on how to pre-qualify for participation in the event, contact the EAA Development Office at 800-236-1025 or e-mail development@eaa.org.
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