North American NA-122 P-51D

North American NA-122 P-51D

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Built in 1944 as a P-51D-25NA for the USAAF, s/n 44-73518, it came on the civil register as N5483V in 1963. In 1974-1975 it was converted to a racer and was named "Precious Metal", being renamed to "Miss Florida III" the following year. In 1978 it was listed as Racer number "9" and was renamed to "Precious Metal" again.
In 1985 the aircraft was put into storage and the tail section was used to built a new racer that was registered as N6WJ and appeared at Reno in 1988, where it crashed.
A stock tail was used to rebuilt N5483V in 1989. On January 24, 1990, the aircraft ditched into the sea near Galveston, Texas. After been salvaged the aircraft was rebuilt powered by a Rolls-Royce Griffin engine with contra rotating propellors and was listed as Racer number "38". Later it was fitted a tall tail and was named "Precious Metal" again.
Third place - Unlimited Class Silver - 391.366 mph (629.843 kmh).


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Built in 1944 as a P-51D-25NA for the USAAF, s/n 44-73518, it came on the civil register as N5483V in 1963. In 1974-1975 it was converted to a racer and was named "Precious Metal", being renamed to "Miss Florida III" the following year. In 1978 it was listed as Racer number "9" and was renamed to "Precious Metal" again. In 1985 the aircraft was put into storage and the tail section was used to built a new racer that was registered as N6WJ and appeared at Reno in 1988, where it crashed. A stock tail was used to rebuilt N5483V in 1989. On January 24, 1990, the aircraft ditched into the sea near Galveston, Texas. After been salvaged the aircraft was rebuilt powered by a Rolls-Royce Griffin engine with contra rotating propellors and was listed as Racer number "38". Later it was fitted a tall tail and was named "Precious Metal" again. Third place - Unlimited Class Silver - 391.366 mph (629.843 kmh).