Wealthy, thrill-seeking collectors assemble near-priceless collections of cars, motorcycles, and airplanes every year. And though many multi-million-dollar toys can scorch racetracks and waft passengers across the sky in comfort, few have the prestige that this fully-restored, 85-year-old P-51 Mustang has to offer. Of course, you’ll have to pay to play to get into this beloved military aircraft. 

If you’ve got millions of dollars and a dream, you can buy ‘Swamp Fox,’ a survivor North American P-51D Mustang

Gather a group of WWII military airplane enthusiasts, and they could argue about the most iconic single-engine fighter plane of the war. You’ll hear mentions of Spitfires, Corsairs, Hellcats, Hurricanes, Zeros, and BF-109s. But you won’t have to wait to hear mention of the North American P-51 Mustang.

Though the Mustang’s days of military service are long behind it, those with enough money to spend can buy one today. Like the historic and fully-restored 1944 North American P-51D Mustang “Swamp Fox” currently for sale by California-based Platinum Fighter Sales.

Between 2007 and 2012, Allied Fighters in Chino, California, and Vintage Airframes in Caldwell, Idaho, carried out a full restoration of the warbird. Today, the P-51 Mustang is a gleaming and, more importantly, airworthy example of a legendary WWII fighter airplane, a full 85 years after it rolled off the assembly line. 

Swamp Fox won’t come cheap, though. To slip into the cockpit of this warbird, you’ll need around $4,300,000. Oh, and a pilot’s license likely wouldn’t hurt. 

It isn’t unheard of for the rich to buy and fly iconic WWII airplanes

Swamp Fox going up for sale is far from a rare occurrence. Wealthy aviation and history enthusiasts buy, maintain, and fly survivor or reproduction WWII airplanes with some frequency. 

Take Tom Cruise, for instance. Everyone knows that Cruise loves to perform his own stunts, drive fast, and ride motorcycles. However, Cruise is also a pilot with a penchant for P-51 Mustangs.

In fact, Cruise put his very own P-51 in the long-awaited 2022 sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick.” He even flew it at the end of the film as the credits rolled on another Cruise action flick.

Let’s say P-51s aren’t your thing. No problem. If you still have a budget for a WWII airplane, you can buy other eye-popping survivor or reproduction fighter planes. Although for most of us, owning a Supermarine Spitfire or Hawker Hurricane will remain a brightly-painted, screaming dream.