Saleen’s Patriot American Flag Edition Ford Mustang

This has got to be the first time we’ve seen a car tuner build a custom vehicle to honor its country’s servicemen and women, with Ford specialist Saleen building a unique pony car dubbed the Patriot American Flag Edition. Saleen, in fact, built the cars, as a way to say welcome to troops arriving home from abroad.

Only 24 cars will be built, each based on the S281 Supercharged Mustang and available in red, white or blue. Under the hood is a 4.6L V8 engine with 465hp (347kW) and 575Nm (425ft-lb) of torque available. The bump in power over the standard Ford mill is thanks to uprated fuel-injectors, a twin-screw supercharger, intercooler and high-flow intake and exhaust system.

A five-speed manual transmission comes as standard, mated to a 6.6in differential with a final drive ratio of 3.31:1. Handling is improved with a Racecraft suspension set-up with new coil springs, sway bars, shocks and bushings.

Stopping power comes from 12.4in vented discs in the front and smaller 11.8in discs up back. These reside within 20in chrome finished alloys wrapped with Dunlop tires.