Special Mustang ready for liftoff

[hotwheels]

Jack Roush won't sell you his beloved P-51 Mustang airplane, but he will offer his P-51A Mustang car for sale.

The P-51A is the highest-horsepower yet from Roush Performance, the aftermarket arm of Roush Industries and Roush Fenway Racing. The car is tentatively rated at 510 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, though those numbers are expected to increase when final certification is finished.

Jack Roush's Livonia-based company is a major supplier to the auto industry and operates several NASCAR stock car racing teams. Roush's hobby is vintage aircraft; his collection includes the World War II Mustang that he flies frequently.

Roush says he's wanted to add a P-51-badged Mustang to his automotive fleet but has had to wait for the right platform, technology and timing.

The P-51A is built on the latest Mustang platform. It also is the first Roush Mustang equipped with internal engine components developed by Roush's own engineers and technicians, people who were responsible for much of the hands-on work that created the engine for the Ford GT.

To pump 510 horsepower out of a 4.6-liter Ford V-8 -- that comes from the factory rated at 300 horsepower -- Roush installs its own forged steel H-beam connecting rods. It also bolts on its own aluminum upper and lower intake manifold, air-to-water intercooler and Roushcharger supercharger, as well as custom fuel rail and high-flow fuel injectors, high-flow capacity fuel system and dual electronic throttle body.

The car also gets a Roush aerobody kit with front fascia, chin spoiler, hood scoop and rear spoiler and a black high-flow grille. The car rides on the Roush Stage 3 suspension hardware, gets upgraded 14-inch front brakes and 18-inch Roush forged wheels.

Inside there are special seats and floor mats, white-face gauges and billet aluminum pedals and a short-throw shifter with retro-designed black ball knob.

The car also gets special yellow and red badging and accent colors like those used by the 357 Fighters Group of the Eighth Air Force ETO (European Theater of Operations), the so-called Yoxford Boys who led all P-51 groups in air-to-air victories in World War II. The group included Capt. Clarence E. "Bud" Anderson, flier of the famed "Old Crow." One of Roush's P-51 airplanes is painted like Anderson's aircraft.

The P-51A Mustang goes into production in February. Price target is the low- to mid-$60,000 range. The car comes with its Ford warranty and with a separate three-year/36,000-mile warranty on all Roush-installed equipment.