Written by Nicole Ellan James
2023 PALM BEACH AUCTION – 2009 FORD MUSTANG IACOCCA 45TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION – 100% OF THE HAMMER PRICE TO BENEFIT ELLIS ISLAND HONORS SOCIETY
Shelby. Roush. Saleen. Each of these iconic names is associated with the Mustang, thanks to the “Father of the Mustang,” Lee Iacocca, without whom the Mustang may never have happened. While serving as the Ford Division president and general manager, Iacocca saw the birth of the Mustang, which effectively changed the course of the American car. The Mustang has also become embedded into the fabric of American culture.
Iacocca, the son of an immigrant hot-dog vendor, also ran the Chrysler Corporation for a time, making him the only executive in modern times to preside over two of the Big Three automakers. While at Chrysler, Iacocca developed the minivan, another revolution in American car culture. While impressive, this story isn’t about Chrysler, the minivan or even the original Mustang.
Flashback to 1982, when President Ronald Reagan asked Iacocca, then chairman of Chrysler Corporation, to head a private sector effort to raise funds for restoring and preserving the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation (SOLEIF) was founded and, through this project, Iacocca became friends with Nasser J. Kazeminy, chairman of the Ellis Island Honors Society.
Years later, to honor the 45th anniversary of the Ford Mustang, Iacocca joined forces with designer Michael Leone and Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters to create the Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang. Only 45 were produced, and they were sold exclusively through Galpin Ford in Southern California. Lee Iacocca bought one of the cars and Kazeminy later purchased it from his estate, intending to donate it to the Ellis Island Honors Society.
No. 15 of those unique 45 Mustangs is now offered with No Reserve at the 2023 Palm Beach Auction, April 13-15, at the South Florida Fairgrounds, with 100% of the hammer price benefiting the Ellis Island Honors Society.
“The Ellis Island Honors Society heralds the importance of immigration to America’s prosperity and celebrates the contributions immigrants and their progeny have made to our nation,” Kazeminy said. “Money raised from the sale will go to support our knowledge mission. We facilitate this mission through providing education, scholarships, support of the student resource center and support a diverse selection of cultural events.”
The Ellis Island Honors society is also known for its recognition of inspiring American’s who work for the betterment of our country and its citizens. Iacocca received a Medal of Honor in 1986.
“My wife Carolyn and I have witnessed first-hand what a wonderful organization the Ellis Island Honors Society is,” said Craig Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “We are so honored to provide the platform to help raise funds with this spectacular car, for such a worthy cause.”
The 2009 Ford Mustang Iacocca 45th Anniversary Edition is an elegant piece of moving artwork. The unique car is coach-built by a team of talented artists using composite construction laminates, a reinforced material from the aerospace industry also used on vehicles like the Ferrari Enzo, F40 and McLaren F1. The most appealing aspect of the Iacocca Mustang is its sleek appearance.
Each line is clean, very sharp and seems to flow endlessly with the car. It features a unique profile that carries the fastback roofline all the way to the back of the decklid, complemented by the clean, distinctive front end with recessed headlamps.
Each of the 45 Iacocca Anniversary Edition Mustangs was painted in a specially created Iacocca silver hue, with each part separately cured in an autoclave. The Iacocca-designed hood crest was custom-built by a distinguished jeweler, and every emblem was hand-finished and polished. The front and rear wheels are cast aluminum and chrome-plated, with machined center caps that were also chrome-plated.
The interior is stunning, with luxurious touches highlighting the car’s unique heritage. These include Iacocca diamond-design leather seats with embroidery stitching, an Iacocca signature dash plaque with serial number, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with an “I” badge and Iacocca-badged aluminum door sill plates.
While the exterior fastback design and the interior of the Iacocca Silver Mustang are compelling, under the hood resides proper American muscle.
The No. 15 Iacocca Mustang was specially equipped with some additional enhancements. It’s powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine with a 400hp Ford Racing polished supercharger that is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. It was also fitted with the Ford Racing Handling Package, complete Ford Racing suspension and high-performance Brembo brakes.
This Iacocca Mustang represents two iconic American treasures and will sell to benefit another treasure – the Ellis Island Honors Society, a fitting tribute for all Americans. Register to bid today for the 2023 Palm Beach Auction and bring home this symbol of freedom.
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