Ford create 'Ole Yeller' custom Mustang

After past Mustangs have taken inspiration from WWII fighter aircraft, post-War jet planes, modern military aircraft and, most recently, NASA's Apollo space program, this year's custom Mustang honoured 'Ole Yeller', a piston-engined P51D Mustang aircraft with famous WWII history, but in this instance served as the pace and safety plane for the annual Reno National Championship Air Races in Nevada and was made famous by air show performer (and former fighter pilot) Bob Hoover.

Based on a new Shelby GT350, the Ole Yeller tribute featured a bold yellow paint scheme with green detailing on the spoiler and mirror caps, inspired by Hoover's plane, with green also featuring on the brake calipers and the undercar LED lighting. Additionally, the mirrors projected images of aircraft.

The whopping rear spoiler is another exterior standout, along with the carbon fibre body components, Forgiato wheels and Pirelli low-profile tyres.

Inside, the Ole Yeller tribute featured specially-trimmed Recaro seats, aviation-inspired gauges, as well as bespoke sill plates and floor mats, special window tinting and other touches.

Being based on a Shelby GT350, the Ole Yeller tribute outputs 526hp (392kW) and 429lb/ft (581Nm) of torque, but the flat plane crank 5.0-litre V8 was largely unaltered in this instance, as was the standard Tremec 6-speed transmission.

 

Offered at the EAA Gathering of Eagles auction on 28 July, the Ole Yeller Mustang GT350 sold for US$295,000 (AU$377,000 approx.)