Each year, a one-off aviation-themed Mustang is auctioned off to benefit a charitable institution. This special-edition Mustang is presented to the Experimental Aircraft Association Airventure celebration and was sold for $370,000. The Tuskegee Airmen of World War II that came out in 2010 is the inspiration for this year’s 2013 Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca Red Tails edition. Last year, a Mustang GT was customized to have the appearance of a U.S. Navy Blue Angel F/A-18 Hornet, while a Mustang tribute to the SR-71 Blackbird was featured the previous year. The Tuskegee Airmen are famous for being the first squadron of African-American pilots of the U.S. Army Air Force. “Red Tails,” a movie by George Lucas, even mentioned them.
These Airmen went on several missions, including one that had them escort B-17 and B-24 bombers as they bombed Europe, which were occupied by the Nazi back then. The tribute prepared this year for the airmen is a good fit especially since the original Ford Mustang got its name from the Army Air Force’s P-51 Mustang fighter, which is actually the fighter that the Tuskegee Airmen used.
This 2013 Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca features a 5.0-liter V-8 fitted with a Ford Racing supercharger. Its suspension is improved with the use of Ford Racing, Brembo brakes, and distinct 20-inch wheels. The Mustang Red Tails edition uses an aircraft-themed livery, complemented with a Tuskegee Airmen logo, a red tail (the Tuskegee Airmen’s signature), and yellow checkered nose art. The Mustang is equipped with a one-of-a-kind exhaust system that was developed to imitate that of the P-51 fighter plane. The interior of this one-off Mustang has the “Red Tails” logo embossed on its seats. Its upholstery is in black and red.
