Dates

Event

Constructed as a P-51D-25-NA by North American at Inglewood, California, USA.

Circa 1944

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-73704.

By 10 August 1968

To unknown owner with c/r N6168C.

10 August 1968

Involved in an incident.
Summarized NTSB narrative from report number MIA69F0111: There were no fatalities. Incident occurred at 14:19 hours. The damage was substantial. Incident occurred at the Sarasota Airport, Sarasota, FL. The flight departed from Sarasota, FL, with the destination Pensacola, FL. The engine failed or malfunctioned while cruising. Landed wheels up during the landing rollout. There was a partial power loss with the failure of one engine...
For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

From 12 September 1972 to 17 September 1972

Raced as #25.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Joe Henderson. Qualified in 29th place with an average speed of 347.59 mph. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 308.08 mph. Raced in the Make-Up race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 322.00 mph. Raced in the Reserve race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 341.49 mph.

Circa 12 September 1972

Photographer: Al Chute
Notes: Lefty Gardners Mustang as it appeared at the 1972 Reno Air Races. Leftys son-in-law Joe Henderson was often seen at the controls of this airplane as Lefty was piloting John Sandbergs Kingcobra which can be seen next to his Mustang.

Circa 12 September 1972

Photographer: Unknown
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races.

From 16 January 1973 to 21 January 1973

Raced as #25.
Competed at the The Great Miami Air Race in the John Livingston Cup race. The primary pilot was Joe Henderson. Raced in the One Mile Course race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 304.26 mph.

From 16 January 1973 to 21 January 1973

Raced as #25.
Competed at the The Great Miami Air Race in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Joe Henderson. Qualified in 8th place with an average speed of 319.93 mph. Raced in Heat B. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 268.35 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 300.66 mph.

From 11 September 1973 to 16 September 1973

Raced as #25.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Joe Henderson. Qualified in 9th place with an average speed of 381.41 mph. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 357.57 mph. Raced in the Reserve race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 366.55 mph.

From 10 September 1974 to 15 September 1974

Raced as #25.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Joe Henderson. Qualified in 10th place with an average speed of 373.19 mph. Raced in Heat B. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 346.02 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 372.03 mph.

Circa 10 September 1974

Photographer: Charlene Aro
Notes: Photographed at the National Championship Air Races at Stead Field near Reno, NV.

From 9 September 1975 to 14 September 1975

Raced as #25.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Marvin *Lefty* Gardner. Qualified in 10th place with an average speed of 384.73 mph. Raced in the Reserve race. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 366.10 mph.

From 7 September 1976 to 12 September 1976

Raced as #25.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Marvin *Lefty* Gardner from Mercedes, TX. Qualified in 4th place with an average speed of 384.73 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 379.61 mph.

Circa 7 September 1976

Photographer: Unknown
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races.

From 13 September 1977 to 18 September 1977

Raced as #25.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Marvin *Lefty* Gardner from Mercedes, TX. Qualified in 9th place with an average speed of 366.74 mph. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 374.42 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 374.67 mph.

6 October 1978

Photographer: Peter Nicholson
Notes: As NL6168C this Mustang was present at the 1978 Confederate Air Force Airshow at Harlingen, Texas.

From 26 February 1979 to 4 March 1979

Raced as #25.
Competed at the Homestead Florida in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Joe Henderson from Mercedes, TX. Qualified in 4th place with an average speed of 362.068 mph. Raced in Heat 1 Silver. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 300.680 mph. Raced in Heat 2 Bronze. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 324.574 mph. Raced in the Gold Semi-Final race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 334.883 mph.

From 11 September 1979 to 16 September 1979

Raced as #25, named Thunderbird.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Marvin *Lefty* Gardner. Qualified in 14th place with an average speed of 368.63 mph.

Circa 1980

Photographer: Charlene Aro

1 August 1980

Certificate of airworthiness for NL6168C (P-51D, 44-73704) issued.

19 September 1984

To Marvin L. Gardner, Mercedes, TX keeping c/r N6168C.

September 1985

Flown by Lefty Gardner in the 1985 National Championship Air Races, Reno, Nevada with a qualifying speed of 359.299 mph.

By 9 September 1985

To unknown owner with c/r N6168C.

From 9 September 1985 to 15 September 1985

Raced as #25.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Marvin *Lefty* Gardner. Qualified in 13th place with an average speed of 380.725 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 359.299 mph. Raced in Heat 2C. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 364.753 mph. Raced in Heat 3D. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 377.321 mph. Started the Championship race, but did not finish.

By 8 September 1986

To unknown owner with c/r N6168C.

From 8 September 1986 to 14 September 1986

Raced as #25.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Marvin *Lefty* Gardner. Qualified in 15th place with an average speed of 381.468 mph. Raced in Heat 1B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 369.873 mph. Raced in Heat 2D. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 368.11 mph. Raced in Heat 3D. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 367.316 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 381.233 mph.

By 14 September 1987

To unknown owner with c/r N6168C.

From 14 September 1987 to 20 September 1987

Raced as #25.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Marvin *Lefty* Gardner. Qualified in 16th place with an average speed of 373.654 mph. Raced in Heat 1B. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 370.458 mph. Raced in Heat 2C. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 355.274 mph. Raced in Heat 3D. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 388.416 mph. Started the Championship race, but did not finish.

By 7 May 1988

To unknown owner with c/r N6168C.

From 7 May 1988 to 8 May 1988

Raced as #25.
Competed at the Hamilton Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Marvin *Lefty* Gardner from Mercedes, TX. Qualified in 16th place with an average speed of 330.412 mph. Started the Consolation race, but did not finish. Left the Silver final race on lap #3.

By 12 September 1988

To unknown owner with c/r N6168C.

From 12 September 1988 to 18 September 1988

Raced as #25, named Thunderbird.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Marvin *Lefty* Gardner. Qualified in 25th place with an average speed of 369.540 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 361.475 mph. Raced in Heat 3. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 392.604 mph. Started the Consolation race, but did not finish.

From 11 September 1989 to 17 September 1989

Raced as #25, named Thunderbird.
Attended the National Championship Air Races, but did not compete in the Unlimited class and it is uncertain if there was an intent to compete.

Circa 11 September 1989

Photographer: Timothy Weinschenker
Notes: Lefty Gardner and Thunderbird at the 1989 Reno Air Races.

By 17 September 1990

To unknown owner with c/r N6168C.

From 17 September 1990 to 23 September 1990

Raced as #25, named Thunderbird.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Marvin *Lefty* Gardner. Qualified in 22nd place with an average speed of 358.586 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 361.970 mph. Raced in Heat 2D. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 384.749 mph. Raced in Heat 3D. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 372.009 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 376.882 mph.

25 February 1994

To Musco Inc, Dallas, TX keeping c/r N6168C.

Circa 8 April 1999

Photographer: Earl A Holmquist
Notes: Photographed at the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends in Kissimmee, FL.

1 January 2001

Certificate of airworthiness for NL6168C (P-51D, 44-73704) issued.

Based at Ezell Aviation, Stephens County Airport, Breckenridge, TX.
View the Location Dossier

Markings Applied: FF-704

2 August 2008

Photographer: David Miller
Notes: At 2008 AirVenture at Oshkosh

7 June 2011

To Maggies Mixer Llc, Aspen, CO keeping c/r N6168C.

3 April 2014

To Maggies Mixer Llc, Los Altos, CA keeping c/r N6168C.

Based at Monterey Peninsula Airport, Monterey, CA.
View the Location Dossier

Contracted to Airmotive Specialties/David Teeters, Salinas Municipal Airport (SNS), Salinas, CA for work on the airframe.
View the Location Dossier

16 April 2016

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at Airmotive Specialties in Salinas, CA, while undergoing restoration.

16 April 2016

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at Airmotive Specialties in Salinas, CA, while undergoing restoration.

16 April 2016

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at Airmotive Specialties in Salinas, CA, while undergoing restoration.

16 April 2016

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at Airmotive Specialties in Salinas, CA, while undergoing restoration.

26 December 2018

Certificate of airworthiness for NX6168C (P-51D, 44-73704) issued.

21 February 2019

Certificate of airworthiness for NX6168C (P-51D, 44-73704) issued.

29 April 2019

Certificate of airworthiness for NX6168C (P-51D, 44-73704) issued.

9 August 2019

Certificate of airworthiness for NX6168C (P-51D, 44-73704) issued.