Roush, Shelby and Ford Motor Company team up to build 2011 SR-71 Ford Mustang

Jack Roush and Carroll Shelby have put their legendary automotive minds together for the first time to collaborate with Ford Motor Company on a one-of-a-kind SR-71 Ford Mustang inspired by the SR-71 "Blackbird", the long-range reconnaissance USAF aircraft built by Lockheed Martin.  The SR-71 Mustang was built to be auctioned off at the annual meeting of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) for the Young Eagles program.  The last three years Ford has provided highly unique vehicles for the Gathering of Young Eagles fundraiser charity auction including the AV-X10 'Dearborn Doll' and the AV8R Mustang.

The SR-71 Mustang (S for Shelby and R for Roush) is based on the 2011 Mustang GT with its all-aluminum 5.0-liter V-8 engine and will feature a 2.3-liter Whipple Twin Screw Supercharger with Ford Racing calibration and a Roush intake, Ford Racing Handling Pack, Ford Racing exhaust, SVT Track Pack wheels with custom paint, glass roof with unique graphic and roll cage plus many more unique touches.

The SR-71 Mustang be on display at the Oskosh Air Venture event July 26 - July 31st.  The charity auction for this vehicle will take place on July 29th at 7:30 p.m. central time at the EAA Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Press Release:
It’s a collaboration that’s never happened before, a collaboration that will result in a one-of-a-kind 2011 Mustang that simply will be without equal. For the first time ever, Carroll Shelby and Jack Roush were on site to meet with Ford Motor Company to design, engineer and produce the SR-71, a vehicle inspired by the SR-71 “Blackbird,” the long-range reconnaissance USAF aircraft built by Lockheed Martin.

For the last three years, the Ford Motor Company has provided EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) with unique auction vehicles that have raised over one million dollars for EAA’s Young Eagles program. The Young Eagles Auction takes place each year at AirVenture, EAA’s annual air show and gathering. Ford Motor Company has been a proud supporter of EAA and Young Eagles for the past 15 years by providing various vehicles and donations each year to be raffled and auctioned off.

The SR-71 Mustang (S for Shelby, R for Roush) is being built at the ROUSH facility in Livonia, Michigan, with the participation and input of all parties involved. As inspiration, the Lockheed Martin SR-71 took it’s first flight in 1964, the first year the Ford Mustang was produced. The SR-71 “Blackbird” holds all official airspeed and altitude records and is the most technically advanced and unique aircraft ever produced. It was an aircraft loaded from end-to-end with features that, to this day, are still admired and copied.

The SR-71 Mustang will be packed with special and unique features as well, right down to the embroidered signatures of Jack Roush and Carroll Shelby in the exclusive racing seats. With Carroll Shelby’s history as an USAF flight instructor and Jack Roush as a well known P-51 Mustang pilot, the objective was to hand build a highly valued vehicle that would excite both enthusiasts and collectors alike. Also, the vehicle will be on display to generate enthusiasm and excitement for the 500,000 plus AirVenture attendees July, 26th through July 31st.

The auction for the SR-71 Mustang will take place on Thursday, July 29,th at 7:30 PM ( Central Time) at the EAA Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

To participate in this once-in-a-lifetime auction, pre-qualify by contacting Matt Miller at 1-800-236-1025 or mmiller@eaa.org by July 26, 2010. Visit www.airventure.org/gathering to learn more.