2014 Ford Mustang GT U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Edition

This is a custom Mustang developed by Ford’s own design and engineering team for the annual EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. As in past years, the custom Mustang was auctioned off for charity, with all proceeds going to support the EAA Young Eagles youth education program. It sold for $398,000 at auction during the EAA AirVenture that took place in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The winning bidder was James Slattery of San Diego, California, though his bid of almost $400k was well short of the $500,000 bid put down back in 2008 for the Mustang AV8R.

The cars have all been donated by the Ford Motor Company and typically developed by the Blue Oval’s own engineering and design teams. The latest was based on a 2014 Ford Mustang GT bearing VIN #0001. It features a glass roof and was styled after the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds’ F-16 Falcon fighter jets.

The car also packs a bevy of performance mods, selected by Ford Racing. These include a supercharger, uprated suspension, Brembo brakes, 22-inch wheels, Recaro seats, a modified navigation screen, a new instrument cluster, and even puddle lamps that project an aircraft silhouette when the doors open.

“The dedication and excellence displayed by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are qualities we also celebrate at Ford,” Edsel B. Ford II said at the conclusion of the sale. “With this year’s beautiful U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Edition Mustang, we’ve captured the recognizable symbols of their stature and paired it with the innovation our Ford design and engineering teams build into all of our products.”

This car honored the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration squadron and their fleet of F-16 Falcon fighter jets. The exterior is finished in the same red and white livery as the fighter jets and comes complete with matching blue stars and the logo of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. The unique treatment includes a wide-body kit and a hand painted “belly pan” that emulates the F-16 Thunderbird appearance. The final touch is a set of 22-inch wheels from Forgiato.

Inside, designers have added a modified navigation screen and instrument cluster and removed the rear seats. Custom Recaro buckets have been installed up front and come with embroidered Thunderbirds elements. Additional features include unique sill plates and puddle lamps that project the aircraft silhouette when the doors open.

In the performance department, a number of Ford Racing components have been added to the chassis and the car’s 5.0-liter V-8. These include a supercharger, uprated suspension and brakes, and a high-flow exhaust.