Warbird for the Road: Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s Eagle Squadron Mustang Storms the UK
As this is being written, the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed is in full swing across the pond in England. Among the participants is our good friend Vaughn Gittin Jr., and he's brought quite the special machine with him. Dubbed the Eagle Squadron Mustang GT, the car gets its inspiration from one of the most famous fighter planes of all time.
Despite the obvious name association with the P-51 Mustang, the inspiration for this one-off build isn't the P-51 but the Supermarine Spitfire, the legendary warbird that's an absolute icon in the UK. It was also the plane flown by the famed Eagle Squardon of American volunteer pilots prior to America's entry into the war, and that's where Vaughn's inspiration comes from.
Dressed in authentic Spitfire markings, the Mustang GT wears one of Vaughn's signature RTR carbon fiber wide body kits and a number of other exterior bits that help give the GT a dogfight-ready vibe.
Under the hood the 5.0L Coyote V8 has been breathed on with a Ford Performance supercharger kit that makes the car good for 700hp and 610 lb-ft of torque. Of course, the transmission is a six-speed manual.
Filling up the widened fenders are a set of RTR Aero 7 two-piece wheels with staggered 20-inch Nitto NT555 tires, and we have to say the look is perfectly suited to the fighter plane vibe. Inside the cabin you'll find custom Eagle Squadron badging and a hand-engraved shift knob made of melted down F-35 fighter jet metal.
Of course, this isn't the first aviation-inspired Mustang build Ford has been part of it, and like past projects, this car will be auctioned off on July 26 at The Gathering to benefit the Experimental Aircraft Association’s youth aviation education programs. The winning bidder will even get a free trip to this year's Woodward Dream Cruise.
An awesome car inspired by a historic airplane, built by a cool guy and all being sold for a good cause. We love everything about this. Now who wants to chip in?
