Ford is offering the first special edition Mustang GTD to mark the achievements of American ingenuity in what it's calling the Spirit of America.

The GTD models are part of Ford's plans to expand the Mustang nameplate into the higher echelons of the sports car and racing worlds.

The Ford Mustang GTD has already cemented its place in the canon of great American sports cars, as it’s the first U.S.-made machine to break the seven-minute barrier at the Nürburgring. The car’s 6:57.685 lap puts it ahead of plenty of serious performance machines, including the Porsche 911 GT3 and the Ferrari 296 GTB.