Ford launches tribute to three-man spacecraft

Ford seems divided as to whether its iconic pony car owes a legacy to the aviation industry, but that doesn't mean it can't create new links to aerospace icons.

This year marks Dearborn's 15th year of sponsorship for the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and it's the eighth consecutive year the car maker has rolled out a one-off car to sell at an auction for charity. To date the charity Mustangs have raised nearly USD $3 million.

The unique Mustang takes as its theme NASA's Apollo space missions from the 1960s and 70s, and will be sold at the 'Gathering of Eagles' charity auction to be held at the air show in Oshkosh. Proceeds will go to EAA youth education programs.

"The Apollo program delivered astonishing innovations in technology and achieved a national goal of landing the first human on the moon," said Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford board of directors.

"The entire program was extraordinary – one of our nation's greatest technological achievements. With this year's stunning Apollo Edition Mustang, we salute that spirit of American ingenuity with the quintessential American automobile – Ford Mustang."

Equipped with a performance package, Ford Performance supercharger and shifter, X-pipe with side and rear exhaust, sport-tuned suspension, six-piston Brembo brakes and custom Forgiato 21-inch performance wheels, the Apollo Edition Mustang is rated at 627 horsepower and 540 lb.-ft. of torque – 468kW and 732Nm respectively.

Inside, the Mustang features upgraded gauges, a modified instrument cluster, unique sill plates and embroidered elements in seats, trim panels and floor mats.

If there's one sour note about the Apollo Edition Mustang, it's this: Anyone who has watched Ron Howard's excellent film 'Apollo 13' will know that Ford's arch-nemesis GM supplied the astronauts of the Apollo programme with Corvettes at the time.