(July 25, 2012) DEARBORN, Mich. — The engineering and design teams at Ford have produced a truly unique “Red Tails” edition 2013 Ford Mustang GT. This car will be sold at the Gathering of Eagles charity auction Thursday (July 26) during the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh 2012, the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.
 
All proceeds from the car donation and sale will benefit the EAA Young Eagles program, which has provided free introductory flights to more than 1.6 million young people since 1992, helping inspire and motivate the next generation of leaders, aviators and innovators.
 
Ford is the exclusive automotive partner of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, held July 23-29 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis.
 
“The perseverance and excellence displayed by the Tuskegee Airmen are qualities we also celebrate at Ford,” said Edsel B. Ford II, a member of Ford’s board of directors. “With this year’s beautiful ‘Red Tails’ edition Mustang, we’ve captured the recognizable symbols in honor of their important role in our history, and paired it with the innovation our Ford design and engineering teams build into all of our products.
 
“Through this project,” Ford added, “we take great pride in continuing our support for EAA and the Young Eagles organization.”
 
The Ford “Red Tails” Mustang GT celebrates and commemorates the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen, comprised of the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group, during World War II. This courageous squadron of P-51 Mustang pilots was the United States’ first African American military airmen. Known for the red tails of their planes, the Tuskegee Airmen saw combat in more than 1,500 missions in World War II.
 
This one-of-a-kind car is secured under VIN 00051 in honor of the P-51 Mustang planes flown by the Tuskegee Airmen. The design of the modified 2013 Mustang GT 5.0-liter glass-roof coupe will unify the creative connection of the World War II fighters with a contemporary flair for the serious collector.
 
The exterior will showcase a unique polished aluminum nonproduction finish paint, accented with Race Red and School Bus Yellow, consistent with the P-51 fighter plane’s red tail cues and the logos and markings of the United States Army Air Corps, 332nd Fighter Group and Squadrons.
 
Unique interior details of this “Red Tails” Mustang include a modified navigation screen, instrument cluster and rear seat-delete. The car’s Recaro seats will include the embroidered “Red Tails” logo and floor mats embroidered with the 332nd Fighter Group logo. Additional features include a “Red Tails” script in the illuminated sill plates and puddle lamps that project “Red Tails” imagery when the doors open.
 
With a Ford Racing 2.3-liter twin-screw Whipple supercharger, handling pack, unique side exhaust, performance quad exhaust from SVT, Forgiato 20-inch aftermarket wheels, GT500 Brembo brakes and rear diffuser, the “Red Tails” Mustang will exude power and performance.
 
Mustang Chief Designer Darrell Behmer, Design Manager Melvin Betancourt and Chief Nameplate Engineer Dave Pericak led the design and engineering teams that developed the “Red Tails” Mustang.
 
The Young Eagles Auction is part of the EAA Gathering of Eagles at the EAA AirVenture Museum. The Gathering of Eagles annually draws more than 1,000 aviation enthusiasts in support of Young Eagles and other EAA programs that inspire young people to become engineers, aviators, astronauts, scientists and innovators – the aviation pioneers of tomorrow.