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U.S. Air Force

Man pays $398,000 for new Ford Mustang -- again

Chris Woodyard
USA TODAY
  • A San Diego man just paid %24398%2C000 for a new Ford Mustang
  • The car was donated by Ford and is in the colors of the Air Force Thunderbirds
  • Proceeds go to benefit a program to give kids a chance to experience flight
The engineering and design teams at Ford Motor Company have produced a unique U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Edition 2014 Ford Mustang GT

Would you pay $398,000 for a fancy new Ford Mustang? James Slattery of San Diego did, just as he has done before.

Slattery shelled out Roll-Royce-style dough for the Mustang dressed up to look like one of the Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team fighters all because it's for what he considers a good cause.

Proceeds are going to support the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles program, which has provided introductory flights to 1.6 million kids since 1992.

The 2014 Mustang, which has a Ford racing supercharger, suspension handling pack and Brembo brakes, is only Slattery's latest purchase. He has bought the last two special Mustangs, all dressed up as famous fighters and all in support of the same charity.

They included the Blue Angels Mustang in 2011 for $398,000 and last year Red Tails edition, celebrating the Tuskegee Airmen, sold for $370,000.

The Thunderbirds Mustang takes its styling cues right from the F-16 Falcon flighter used by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, who aren't performing their air shows currently because of federal budget cutting.

Ford sponsors the Young Eagles event through the EAA AirVenture show going on in Oshkosh, Wis.

"The dedication and excellence displayed by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds are qualities we also celebrate at Ford," said Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford board of directors, in a statement. "With this year's beautiful U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Edition Mustang, we've captured the recognizable symbols of their stature and paired it with the innovation our Ford design and engineering teams build into all of our products.

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