Iacocca shows off his custom 45th-anniversary Mustang

The man behind the original Mustang--Lee Iacocca--is back with a custom-built 2009 version that celebrates 45 years of the iconic pony car.

Iacocca unveiled a sleek, performance 'Stang named after himself, the Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition. It's available through Galpin Ford in Southern California and will be limited to 45 copies.

The car is based on the 2009 model and comes with two powerplants: a 4.6-liter V8 making 320 hp and a supercharged version making 400 hp. The transmission is a five-speed manual. Ford Racing chips in with firmer springs, revalved shocks and a braking package.

Inside are leather seats with embroidered stitching, an Iacocca-signature dash plaque with serial number and special badging on the steering wheel and sill plates.

The Mustang, called a 2009-1/2 to evoke the original 1964-1/2 cars, is the work of Iacocca, designer Michael Leone and California coachbuilders Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters. The venture is called I Legacy.

“Once in a while, a car comes along that changes everything, and that was the original Mustang,” Iacocca said in a statement.

Iacocca championed the Mustang as he rapidly advanced up the Ford hierarchy, eventually becoming president of the company. He was fired after a clash with Henry Ford II, moving on to memorably lead Chrysler from the late 1970s to the early 1990s.

By Greg Migliore