Ford has switched things up for this year’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh event, as instead of creating a custom Mustang like usual, the automaker has designed a custom F-150 Raptor.
Set to be auctioned off at the annual EAA Gathering of Eagles on July 27, the 2017 F-150 Raptor fittingly takes inspiration from the Lockheed F-22 Raptor fighter jet and is the brainchild of Ford design manager Melvin Betancourt.
Chief among the exterior modifications are new carbon fiber wheel arches, a roof-mounted light bar, a distinctive silver, black and red wrap and custom wheels. An eye-catching front grille incorporating an F-22 Raptor model is also present.
Beneath the revised skin, the twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine has been tweaked by Ford Performance engineers and sports a Whipple intercooler and a number of other engine enhancements that lift power to 545 hp .
Speaking about the pickup, EAA vice president of marketing and business development Dave Chaimson said: “Ford’s support of EAA and AirVenture has allowed thousands of young people to discover, enjoy, and pursue aviation. The unique F-22 version of the tremendously popular Ford F-150 Raptor truck will be an enormously popular highlight of the Gathering of Eagles auction, and we’re very grateful for Ford’s support for our initiatives.”
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