55 Year Return of the Bardahl Special P-51D Reno Air Racer

The iconic P-51 Mustang “Bardahl Special” carved its name into air racing history at the first Reno National Air Races in 1964. Flown by Korean War ace Bob Love in pylon racing and owner Chuck Lyford in transcontinental events, the aircraft dominated early competition.

Powered by a heavily modified Rolls-Royce Merlin engine producing an estimated 3,400 horsepower, it reached speeds no rival could match, averaging 386 mph in its first heat. Despite its dominance, missed pylons and risky engine tuning cost critical victories. After racing success in the mid-1960s, it vanished from competition in 1967. Remarkably, after 55 years, the aircraft returned in 2022, flown by Steve Coutches, restored in a clean white livery, reviving a legendary chapter in Reno racing history.