When Lee Iacocca spearheaded the design and development of the original Ford Mustang, likely not even in his most fevered dreams would he have expected the model to be running strong over five decades later. And yet, the Mustang remains America's favorite car, though there have definitely been some ups and downs along the way. Even Mustang fanboys would likely list the model's fifth generation as only the fourth-best, after the first, current, and third iterations. But the fifth-gen Mustang did include a seriously rare version celebrating the nameplate's 45th anniversary and the man whose vision started it all, and now one of only 45 ever built has popped up for sale online via Barrett-Jackson.
Special, Rare, And Impressive
This Mustang has everything going for it. From its ridiculous rarity to pristine condition and hardcore performance upgrades, it's just about as good as a fifth-gen can get. Originally sold in 2009, the car still only has been driven 1,527 miles. That's not a ton of work that's had to be performed by the 4.6-liter V8 engine under the hood, which features special upgrades like a Ford Racing polished supercharger, a polished aluminum coolant expansion tank, chrome valve covers, and even a polished power steering fluid tank.
As Special As They Get
Barrett-Jackson's listing points to highlights of the 45th Anniversary Mustang's production, which include "sophisticated composite construction used in the aerospace industry and on amazing vehicles like the Ferrari Enzo, F40 and McLaren F1." This car features plenty of badging delineating it as an Iacocca edition, plus diamond-design embroidered upholstery, sunken headlights, a slanted grille, and a custom paint job. Performance enhancements above and beyond the supercharged engine include the Ford Racing Handling Package and a Ford Racing suspension setup, plus Brembo brakes. This is the fifth example produced and is being sold with a reserve out of Scottsdale, Arizona.
Source: Barrett-Jackson