Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Nypsy on July 02, 2013, 06:37:54 AM

Title: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: Nypsy on July 02, 2013, 06:37:54 AM
(http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q586/eggshen2912/THUNDERSTANG_zps30e30950.jpg) (http://s1165.photobucket.com/user/eggshen2912/media/THUNDERSTANG_zps30e30950.jpg.html)


With Independence Day rapidly approaching, Ford has announced the production of a one-off Mustang GT decked out in the go-fast accouterment that makes us love freedom so much. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Edition Ford Mustang GT—try saying that in between mouthfuls of barbecue—commemorates the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds fighter planes, and not the Blue Oval’s nameplate laid to rest in 2005.
The Thunderbirds edition will be auctioned off to benefit the Young Eagles program of the Experimental Aircraft Association. This is Ford’s fifth tie-up with the Young Eagles in as many years; the automaker’s past munificence has led to the creation of similarly decked-out Mustangs with aircraft connections and has raised more than $2 million for the organization.
Based on the first Mustang GT off the 2014 line, the glass-roofed Thunderbirds Edition Stang wears a patriotic red-white-and-blue livery that mimics that of the Thunderbirds’ F-16 Fighting Falcons. Body enhancements include wider, bespoke panels produced by TS Designs, and a unique belly pan and decals emblematic of the demonstration squad’s, done by California-based Creations n’ Chrome. Forgiato-designed 22-inch wheels handily fill out the Mustang’s amplified wheel wells. Inside, the strictly two-seater special-edition model features a unique navigation screen, instrument cluster, and embroidery, as well as Recaro front seats. As if there weren’t already visual cues that set this Mustang apart, the Thunderbirds Edition Mustang’s puddle lamps display an image of an F-16 (!) instead of the usual prancing pony.


http://blog.caranddriver.com/ford-styles-one-off-mustang-gt-after-air-forces-thunderbirds-to-be-auctioned-for-charity/


Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: eagl on July 02, 2013, 10:55:15 AM
Are they also non-functional due to the sequester?
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: Arlo on July 02, 2013, 11:24:32 AM
Are they also non-functional due to the sequester?


http://www.allianceairshow.com/PilotsPlanes/Schedule.aspx

Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: Arlo on July 02, 2013, 11:25:38 AM
Better:

(http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/47-blue-angels-mustang-auction.jpg)
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: Shifty on July 02, 2013, 12:43:40 PM
Better:

Nope.  :D
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: Dragon on July 02, 2013, 12:59:32 PM
The paint job on the Navy stang is awe inspiring, but I prefer the Air Force ride.
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: gyrene81 on July 02, 2013, 01:22:56 PM
The paint job on the Navy stang is awe inspiring, but I prefer the Air Force ride.
the airforce one looks like a 350z with a stang front cap...bleh.

go squids!!!


errrr...i meant navy.  :D
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: Masherbrum on July 02, 2013, 01:26:24 PM
the airforce one looks like a 350z with a stang front cap...bleh.

go squids!!!


errrr...i meant navy.  :D

Sure as hell looks like a Mustang to me.
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: gyrene81 on July 02, 2013, 01:38:19 PM
Sure as hell looks like a Mustang to me.
look closely at the rear end...it appears to have been shortened like a z.

(http://stwot.motortrend.com/files/2013/07/2014-Ford-Mustang-GT-USAF-Thunderbirds-Edition-with-flag.jpg)

(http://img.turbo.fr/04442582-photo-ford-mustang-une-edition-speciale-pour-les-100-ans-de-la-navy.jpg)
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: Arlo on July 02, 2013, 02:45:43 PM
Being different year models probably had absolutely nothing to do with that.  :D
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: Nypsy on July 02, 2013, 02:59:50 PM
look closely at the rear end...it appears to have been shortened like a z.

(http://stwot.motortrend.com/files/2013/07/2014-Ford-Mustang-GT-USAF-Thunderbirds-Edition-with-flag.jpg)

(http://img.turbo.fr/04442582-photo-ford-mustang-une-edition-speciale-pour-les-100-ans-de-la-navy.jpg)

The 22" wheels may have something to do with making the rear appear shorter.
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: Masherbrum on July 02, 2013, 06:05:05 PM
look closely at the rear end...it appears to have been shortened like a z.

(http://stwot.motortrend.com/files/2013/07/2014-Ford-Mustang-GT-USAF-Thunderbirds-Edition-with-flag.jpg)

(http://img.turbo.fr/04442582-photo-ford-mustang-une-edition-speciale-pour-les-100-ans-de-la-navy.jpg)

No.  It looks exactly like a Mustang.   It also has NOT been "shortened like a Z".   
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: Rino on July 02, 2013, 08:20:31 PM
     At least the USAF one can park in a stall without an arrestor hook  :D  :bolt:
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: morfiend on July 02, 2013, 08:44:07 PM
No.  It looks exactly like a Mustang.   It also has NOT been "shortened like a Z".   


  If you read carefully it states the stang is a 2 seater only,removeal of the rear seat tray would shorten the stangs floor pan about 12 inches!

  It certainly looks like "ford" altered the floorpan on this 1,even the rear quarter "seems" sculpted. I wouldnt say it's anything like a Zcar though,just a Fox floor pan that was altered. I've seen them do something similar before,anyone remember the EXP,a shortened escort in disguize. :lol



   :salute
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: gyrene81 on July 02, 2013, 08:45:44 PM
No.  It looks exactly like a Mustang.   It also has NOT been "shortened like a Z".   
it should look like a mustang, it is a mustang. but the back end from the back edge of the door to the bumper appears to have been shortened. it may just be a visual effect due to the paint and flaired fender.
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: Masherbrum on July 02, 2013, 09:30:25 PM

  If you read carefully it states the stang is a 2 seater only,removeal of the rear seat tray would shorten the stangs floor pan about 12 inches!

  It certainly looks like "ford" altered the floorpan on this 1,even the rear quarter "seems" sculpted. I wouldnt say it's anything like a Zcar though,just a Fox floor pan that was altered. I've seen them do something similar before,anyone remember the EXP,a shortened escort in disguize. :lol

   :salute

It is tubbed for the 22's.   The rear quarter has been sculpted to accommodate said wheels and tires.  I read it, but took exception to being even remotely compared to a pos nissan.   They look nothing alike, from any angle.   

But the Red stripe going from the hatch to the rockers, makes for a perfect deception of perception.
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: gyrene81 on July 02, 2013, 10:17:18 PM
(http://allautocar.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Picture-Nissan-350Z-V6-Highway-Thunder.jpg)

 :neener:   :neener:   :neener:   :neener:   :neener:
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: Zacherof on July 03, 2013, 01:03:57 PM
Hmmm as a squid, I like the AF model better. It come in blue :banana:
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: icepac on July 03, 2013, 06:39:34 PM
Been using this one to test and fix the dyno at work.

Not really feeling the color or interior motif.

In case you're wondering about the connection, the second picture is there to explain.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7450/9178891062_0285d90e17_b.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8195/8141630450_24766c38bc_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: 5PointOh on July 04, 2013, 02:27:26 AM

  If you read carefully it states the stang is a 2 seater only,removeal of the rear seat tray would shorten the stangs floor pan about 12 inches!

  It certainly looks like "ford" altered the floorpan on this 1,even the rear quarter "seems" sculpted. I wouldnt say it's anything like a Zcar though,just a Fox floor pan that was altered. I've seen them do something similar before,anyone remember the EXP,a shortened escort in disguize. :lol



   :salute
They would not cut out 12" of the floor pan.  They simply remove the rear seat and use a delete kit, much like they did on the Boss 302 Laguna Seccas.  What you are seeing is two very similar cars (minus rear quarter work, rear spoilers, and front bumper covers) that are two very different colors in different lightings. If they took out 12" of floorboard you'd have to cut the roof down as well. Didn't happen as the quarter windows are roughly the same size (also believe there is some picture compression here)
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: morfiend on July 04, 2013, 07:21:14 PM
 TBH, I don't know what "they" did to the car,I'd have to see the car in person to really know.

  The 12 inches I mention was an approximation of the size of the rear seat floor tray,they wouldn't cut it out they'd just not install it when the chassis went into the floorpan bucks.

   I built a few 100thousand cars over the years,8years 1 shift,half the production!  The roof wouldn't need cutting either but that's another story.   To me it looks altered,whether that's because of it being tubbed for those 22's I cant say for sure. It would be interesting to see the wheel base specs,that would tell you if it was shortened or just an optical illusion.

  I was only going off memory,the rearseat tray could be as small as 6 inches,it was 79 when I built my last fox floor pan car.



    :salute
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: Shifty on July 04, 2013, 10:47:43 PM
Go on Morf, post us a picture of a Snowbird Mustang!  :aok
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: 5PointOh on July 05, 2013, 02:44:48 AM
If you look at the other pictures in the C&D article , I believe that it's the flaring of the fenders to accommodate the over sized wheels.  I'm doubting the vehicle was really "tubbed", the fenders are flared almost like a wide body kit. Wheel specs would only tell us is the car has a widened rear end housing, if they just used a a large offset, or both. To get a true idea of the vehicle you would need to know the distance from the A-pillar to the B-pillar at even given point to compare to a stock '13 Mustang.

In my previous job at Honda R&D Americas, we engineered multiple odd ball cars that we called "mules".  Basically we take a previous generation car/SUV and shove in different components for durability testing.  Also we did a lot of work in disguising vehicles for on road testing, depending on the angles you can make a car look very different compared to a stock bodied car.

79, never had a 79 Fox, but I've had a quite a few Fox cars, including my current 82GT Fox, a SN-95, and Gen 1 Lightning.  Currently looking for a 93-Up Ranger for a twin turbo 5.0L drag race truck.

This was my 89, 11.60s @137 all motor car...
(http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/Coprhead/A0DD3168-9CBA-4416-82EC-04C8F190CFAE-2567-0000024C0D24FE6C_zps831d9826.jpg)
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: Rich46yo on July 05, 2013, 03:36:46 AM
I bought my first car in '73. It was a '66 powder blue Mustang with a black vinyl top, a .289 under the hood, custom Pony interior...ect I found it on a used car lot in perfect condition, with 30,000 miles on it, for $600. This was my High School car and Ive had a love of Mustangs ever since. Unfortunately I dont have any pictures of it "crashed it drag racing" but they never made a Mustang I didnt love.

Get a load of this monster http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/07/04/saleen-351-mustang-enters-production/?intcmp=features
Title: Re: Thunderbird Mustang
Post by: 5PointOh on July 05, 2013, 01:22:24 PM
In kind of the same way, bought my first Mustang in 95 when I turned 15 (Much to the dismay of my father; an avid Corvette fan and owner). Since then, I've probably had about ten of different Mustang, from basic street cars, SCCA/NASA solo prepped to drag cars.  Absolutely love them all, especially the new ones.  I'm just not sure FoMoCo could really top the current body style.