The U.S. Air Force has partnered up with Galpin Austo Sports for an innovative recruiting strategy that kicked off last month. The aerial branch of the U.S. military decided the best way to grab hold of their nation’s youth was with a pair of highly modified modern day muscle cars. The team from G.A.S. (better known from MTV’s Pimp my Ride!) transformed a Ford Mustang into a beautiful pearlescent fighter jet codenamed the “X-1”; and a radar absorbing stealth bomber dubbed “Vapor” out of a Dodge Challenger.

The Air Force-inspired tuner cars will travel across the country as part of a mobile marketing campaign in an attempt for the Air Force to educate America’s youth about the mechanical and technical career opportunities they offer. If you want to see these two machines in person, the 2009 Super Car Tour will make its rounds to high schools as well as a variety of Air Force sponsored events like the DUB magazine car show, the tuner friendly Hot Import Nights shows, Battle of the Imports, Formula Drift, International Hot Rod Association and local community events.

Together the Mustang “X-1” and “Vapor” Challenger form one of the baddest fleets of high dollar tuner cars in the world. The vehicles are a combination of form, function and big money electronic equipment fused into two very attractive packages. If you want to see the buildup process of these two super cars, the Air Force has you covered, just visit http://www.airforce.com/supercar.

To see all that went into these two modern day muscle cars check out the press release after the jump.

Press release

Galpin Auto Sports collaborated with the United States Air Force to create two customized vehicles for its 2009 Super Car Tour – a new U.S. Air Force recruiting initiative that kicked off in May. The white Ford Mustang ‘X-1’ and black Dodge Challenger ‘VAPOR’ are Air Force-inspired designs that will travel across the country this year as part of a mobile marketing campaign to educate young people on the mechanical and technical career opportunities available within the Air Force.

Southern California based Galpin Auto Sports is widely known for its corporate and one-off vehicle designs, through its involvement with various movies and TV projects, including the 2008 “Knight Rider” series’ KITT car, the upcoming movie car in the thriller “The Red Mist” and the acting-home base of MTV’s “Pimp My Ride”.

“For Galpin Auto Sports to be commissioned by the most technologically advanced organization on Earth is truly an honor” said Beau Boeckmann, Chief Designer for Galpin Auto Sports. “This is one of the most extraordinary and important projects that we have ever done.”

The Air Force looked to Galpin Auto Sports to create two unique hyper-styled vehicles with the most technologically advanced features available. The vehicles are a combination of form, function and futuristic entertainment all fueled together. To see the entire build of the X-1 and Vapor, please visit: http://www.airforce.com/supercar.

Representing the muscle of the Air Force, the ‘X-1’ Mustang is a heavenly matte-pearlescent painted supercar with a jet cockpit that includes a single-driver ejection seat in center of vehicle, short shifter, flight stick, and advanced instrumentation panel. The ‘X-1’ also has a concealed motorized steering wheel, custom foot pedals, GPS transponder and the innovative dash is equipped with a touch screen monitor and sensor pack that displays night and thermal vision. The 4.6 liter engine includes 3-valve Ford Racing heads, cold air intake, hot rod cams, and long tube headers creating 500hp and is maintained by a custom Ford Racing Tuning Program. The Vertical doors feature interior panel fabrication to complete the ‘jet-like’ feel of the ‘X-1’, which will appear on the East Coast portion of the Air Force recruiting tour.

The stealth-black Air Force Challenger ‘Vapor’ features a biometric access to open the Vertical doors, a custom Stealth body kit with Jet enhancements and a carbon fiber exterior trim. Other exterior components include one-off carbon fiber wheels, a custom stealth exhaust mode that allows the vehicle to run in complete silence or you can open up the headers to facilitate the aggressive sound of the engine, shaker hood, radar-absorbing paint, proximity sensors, and a 360-degree camera with ¼ mile range. The interior of the ‘Vapor’ is complete with aircraft style controls, a passenger side steering wheel, GPS tracking, night and thermal vision via a film on the front windshield, and the most technologically-advanced computer system with remote control UAV-type access from anywhere in the world utilizing the internet. The ‘Vapor’ also comes with two custom flight helmets in line with the Air Force theme of the vehicle.

The vehicles recently debuted in Austin, Texas under Brigadier General AJ Stewart, commander of Air Force Recruiting Service as well as 60 U.S. Air Force marketers and GSD&M Idea City. Galpin Auto Sport’s Lead Customizer, Mad Mike, was present for the unveiling and felt a personal connection to this project having started his career in the Air Force. “If it was not for the U.S. Air Force, I would not have the knowledge and skills that enables me to stand where I am today.” said Mad Mike.

"We’re looking for hands-on people to serve in critical Air Force jobs and we’re fortunate to be working with exactly those kinds of professionals at Galpin,” said Daniel Elkins, U.S. Air Force Recruiting Services. "The Super Car Tour is illustrative of the kinds of opportunities available in the Air Force where technology knows no limit."

The 2009 Super Car Tour will primarily visit high schools and a variety of Air Force sponsored events including the DUB magazine auto show, Hot Import Nights, Battle of the Imports, Formula Drift, International Hot Rod Association and local community events.