Ole Yeller Custom Mustang Paid Tribute to Legendary Pilot
What’s cooler than a GT350? A GT350 customized to resemble a famous P-51 Mustang.
The Ford Mustang may use the famous free-roaming feral horses of the American West in its iconography, but the name – and the legacy – are also inextricably tied to the P-51 Mustang, a warbird that played a major part in winning World War II. Postwar prosperity brought us the baby boomers, and as they reached driving age, the industry responded with a new kind of car – the Ford Mustang.
It makes perfect sense, then, that so many custom Mustangs pay tribute to aviation history. For many years, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) auctioned off custom-built Mustangs. These auctions helped to fund the EAA’s youth education programs, which helped get kids involved in aviation.
Back in 2016, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) auctioned off this custom-built Mustang based on Ole Yeller. Ole Yeller is a P-51D Mustang piloted by the legendary Bob Hoover in air shows. Hoover flew the Ole Yeller from the 1970s through to the late 1990s. Hoover was also a test pilot who was heavily involved in Chuck Yeager’s successful attempt to break the sound barrier. Originally the backup pilot, Hoover followed Yeager’s Bell X-1 in a Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star.
A True American Legend
Prior to this, though, he served with distinction in World War II, even escaping a German POW camp, stealing a Focke-Wulf Fw 190, and flying to freedom in the Netherlands. It’d be impossible to make a movie out of Hoover’s incredible life – you’d need to make at least three.
The Mustang seen here was heavily customized to resemble Ole Yeller. The bright yellow paint, green markings, and aviation-inspired aero made it a fitting tribute to Hoover. Other custom touches included Forgiato wheels and Recaro seats. Under the hood, Ole Yeller retained the stock GT350 powerplant – the beloved 5.2 liter Voodoo V8.
According to HotCars, Ole Yeller sold for an impressive $295,000. In the years since, the EAA has used that money to support a new generation of aviators. Those young aviators will carry the legacy of Bob Hoover, one of the greatest Americans who ever lived.
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