--- title: "Ford Won’t Paint the $325K Mustang GTD Mystichrome Because It’s ‘A Challenge’" description: "Ford will paint the Mustang GTD in any color that any customer wants, except for the one many customers want." date: "2024-08-20" modified: "2024-08-20" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/ford-wont-paint-the-325k-mustang-gtd-mystichrome-because-its-a-challenge" categories: - "Ford News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Coupe" - "Mustang" - "sports car" --- # Ford Won’t Paint the $325K Mustang GTD Mystichrome Because It’s ‘A Challenge’ ![]() *Ford* Perhaps Henry Ford's most famous and overused quote is: "Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it's black.” Well, today's Ford Motor Company is taking the opposite approach for its most special, most expensive car, the [Mustang GTD](). You can order the GT3-derived pony car in any shade you like—as long as it isn't Mystichrome. Mystichrome quickly became a fan-favorite color among Mustang enthusiasts after it debuted on the [2004 Mustang SVT Cobra]() at the 2003 New York International Auto Show. Ford then made 1,010 color-shifting Mystichrome Mustang Cobras, instantly becoming the most desirable of all Cobras from that era. It's little surprise the Mustang faithful started dreaming up that iconic Chromaflair-infused paint when Ford announced its extended palette program for the GTD. However, when recently asked if GTD buyers could choose Mystichrome specifically, Ford said no. "We won't do it again. An owner did it for \[Ford\] GT. He paid extra to lock out that color. It was a challenge," Jim Owens, Mustang Brand Manager, told [*CarBuzz*](). ![]() ![]() The [Ford GT]() customer Owens is referring to is California tech entrepreneur Justin Choi, who used Ford's paint lockout option to keep others from also choosing Mystichrome. The Mustang GTD has the same lockout program, but Mystichrome isn't on the table. As *CarBuzz* puts it, it "seems that Ford simply thinks it's too much trouble" to offer the familiar finish again. Any paint with Chromaflair's color-changing pigments is very difficult to apply. It requires a rigorous preparation process as well as an absurdly precise mixing process, and then it must be meticulously detailed and polished afterward. Any minor imperfections, and the entire process must be started over from scratch. It's hard and expensive, and Ford evidently doesn't feel like dealing with it. Keep in mind that Nissan, Porsche, and even Mustang-tuning company RTR all offer Chromaflair paints. So it isn't an impossible, unheard-of technique. I get that the Mustang GTD is a highly limited production car, so building the facilities needed for Mystichrome would be a serious undertaking. Such costs would only be exacerbated if the customer that chose Mystichrome *also* chose the lockout option, meaning Ford would have to go through all that effort for just one car. However, there's a seemingly obvious middle-ground solution here: just don't allow Mystichrome to be locked out. That way, Ford can charge enough to make the investment worthwhile, while keeping customers happy. Also, don't forget the price of the Mustang GTD: $325,000 before any options or expensive paints. If customers are willing to spend [Lamborghini]() Huracan money on a Mustang, they likely also have the scratch for Mystichrome. Ultimately, though, you'd imagine nothing is preventing Ford from changing its stance down the line. *The Drive* reached out to the company for comment, though no comment was received by the time of publication. We'll update this story with any information we should learn. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()