No, Not A P-51... But This One's Cool, Too
This year's EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh promises to be a big event
-- not just for aircraft lovers, but for automotive gearheads,
too.
In addition to raffling off
a special-edition Ford pickup truck, the EAA
will also conduct an auction on Thursday, July 27 -- during the
annual "Gathering of Eagles" fundraiser for the Young Eagles
program -- that's sure to appeal to muscle-car
aficionados.
And what, you may ask, will the EAA be auctioning off? Well,
that requires some explanation... and a little automotive
history.
In 1966 -- two years after the original Ford Mustang was
unleased onto American Roads -- racing legend Carroll Shelby and
The Hertz Corporation created a series of high-performance,
special-edition Shelby Mustangs that could be rented by automobile
enthusiasts. Ford supplied the Mustangs, Shelby added extra
performance and style... and Hertz made the cars available to the
public. With only 1000 Shelby GT350H Mustangs produced, these are
now among the most sought-after collector cars in the world.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the Shelby GT350H, Ford Motor
Company, Shelby Automobiles, and The Hertz Corporation are creating
500 performance-modified Shelby GT-H Mustangs. Like its
predecessor, the 2006 Ford Shelby GT-H will be instantly
recognizable, with black exterior paint set off with gold racing
stripes, a hallmark of Hertz's vehicle history dating back to the
1920s.
True to tradition, all
of those cars will be available exclusively to rent through Hertz
-- except for one, that is.
"As part of its support of EAA and its programs, Ford Motor
Company, in conjunction with Hertz and Shelby Automobiles, is
providing a dazzling addition to this year's Gathering of Eagles
auction," said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture
chairman. "Aviation enthusiasts enjoy performance both in the air
and on the ground, and this Shelby GT-H Mustang certainly will draw
much deserved attention for its style and power."
"Ford wanted to do something special to support EAA's programs
that build aviation's future," said Jill Fannon, manager of Ford
Global Events and Marketing. "This is an incredible opportunity to
enjoy a new Mustang that has all the legendary Shelby style and
performance, and we're happy to make it happen during EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh."
In addition to attendees of the Gathering of Eagles event, there
are also a limited number of opportunities for those unable to
attend in person to bid on the Shelby GT-H Mustang. Full
information is available online at the FMI link below.