The aftermarket industry has made a point to
pay tribute to the aviation industry that built a foundation for innovative American automotive engineering. Now, Ford Racing and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) are teaming up to produce a similar accolade: the AV8R Ford Mustang.
The one-off Mustang will be presented at this year’s AirVenture meet in OshKosh, Wisconsin, running from July 28 to August 3. Over 2,500 show aircraft and 650,000 visitors are expected at the event.
Despite the show’s large attendance numbers, the one-of-a-kind aviation-themed Mustang will be the one show spectacle that every visitor will be itching to get a peak at. The car will be auctioned off during the show to support the Gathering of Eagles youth aviation initiatives.
So, what’s so special about the AV8R? Ignore the corny acronym (according to Edsel Ford II, AV8R stands for AirVenture V8), and you’ve got a unique aviation-themed Mustang with an aluminum block 4.6-liter that produces 400 horsepower. To do so, the team at Ford Racing grabbed a handling pack, a super blower and a tuned exhaust straight from their catalogue.
Special F-22 Raptor-themed additions to the GT include a star-studded (literally) glass roof, custom fascias for the front and rear, integrated spoiler and Shelby GT500 wheels
"The Mustang AV8R is the latest commitment from Ford in support of EAA's effort to build the future of aviation," said Tom Poberezny, EAA president. "This stunning, one-of-a-kind automobile will be a very special addition to our Gathering of Eagles fund-raiser, which supports EAA's aviation education and preservation work throughout the year."
For more photos and information for the AV8R Ford Mustang, check out the replies below.