The unique, aviation-inspired Ford “Ole Yeller” Mustang put together as a result of the hard work of our design and engineering teams at Ford Motor Company sold for $295,000 last week at the recent Gather of Eagles charity event. At the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh 2016 – the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration where the auctioning took place. The bid was won by the CEO and president of OFS Brands in Huntingburg, Indiana by the name of Hank Menke.

The earnings discovered from the car donation and sale benefit EAA’s youth education programs, as well as the Young Eagles, which has aided the provision of free preparatory flights to over two million young people since 1992, an act which helps to build and increase upcoming aviators.

Ford Motor Company has created the most track-ready and road-legal Ford Mustang to benefit Experimental Aircraft Association’s youth education programs, including the Young Eagles. The aviation-inspired Ford “Ole Yeller” Mustang will be donated and sold via auction at the Gathering of Eagles charity event – the ninth straight year Ford has donated a car – on July 28 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016, the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.

The Ford “Ole Yeller” Mustang is the latest of the nine unique vehicle which Ford design and engineering teams have manufactured for auction to fund the EAA youth education. Over $3 million have been realized from all the vehicles donated by Ford at the EAA AirVenture events.

The Ford “Ole Yeller” Mustang is designed to have a traditional yellow exterior finish with “Ole Yeller” badging and accents, mirrors projecting images of the aircraft and unique carbon fiber components. The interior showcases uniquely designed Recaro seats, floor mats with unique logos, sill plates, and aviation inspired gauges.

A product of the extreme high-performance and limited production, Shelby GT350® Mustang, it comes with a 5.2L Ti-VCT V8 engine with Flat Plane Crank. Turning out to be the most powerful naturally-aspirated engine designed ever designed by Ford, the Shelby GT350 produces a heart-pounding 526 horsepower and exhilarating 429 lb-ft of torque. This powerhouse is attached to a TREMEC® 6-speed manual transmission and structured to have a beautifully modified sport suspension, which makes it to be the best track-ready and road-legal Mustang ever made.

The unique Ford Mustang for this year honors two aviation greats, the historic and iconic P-51D Mustang fighter plane, and the well decorated test pilot, fighter pilot, and air show performer, Bob Hoover, popularly referred to as one of the greatest pilots that ever lived,” According to Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford board of directors. “The Shelby GT350 Mustang, with its swiftness, aerodynamics and speed, offers the perfect platform to create this tribute to the P-51D aircraft. As a result of this project, it will be a thing of great pleasure for us to continue our support for EAA youth education programs.”

The “Ole Yeller,” with its catchy and bright yellow exterior, stands to be one of the most distinguished P-51D Mustangs in the world. Still holding the prop plane record for extensive travel at 5 hours and 20 minutes which was set in 1985. R. A. “Bob” Hoover, well-known as a pilot’s pilot, will always have a bond with the “Ole Yeller.” Hoover is popularly considered to be the founding father of contemporary aerobatics and thrilled airshow fans piloting “Ole Yeller” for over 20 years. Hoover sold “Ole Yeller” out to his good friend John Bagley of Rexburg, Idaho in 1997. “Ole Yeller” still flies time after time and the Legacy Flight Museum in Rexburg, Idaho is its base.

“We’re truly grateful Ford is, and has been, such a committed sponsor of EAA and AirVenture,” said Jack Pelton, EAA CEO and chairman of the board. “With its ninth Mustang donation, Ford has definitely delivered something exceptional that any auto or aviation enthusiast would love to own. The Ford “Ole Yeller” Mustang will allow EAA to provide support to our valuable programs helping us grow the next generation of aviators.”

The Ford “Ole Yeller” Mustang interior and exterior were designed by Ford Design Manager Melvin Betancourt. Interior improvements were supported by Ford Designer Nicole Rush and the Ford design fabrication team. MAD Industries made the custom modifications, led by Chris Mangum. Those who also contributed to the project include Ford Performance, Brembo, Pirelli tires, diode dynamics, Carbon 2 Carbon, Rigid industries LED lighting BASF Refinish, sPOD Power Distribution & Switching Components, PIAA, APR Performance, 3M Window films, Rosen Electronics, FOCAL/The Source AV, Recaro, Odyssey Battery, Miko, Northern Engraving, American & Efird, Takata Holdings, Inc., Coverkings, Forgiato Wheels, Ceramic Pro 9H, L&G Enterprises and Signature Performance Tire & Wheel.