A website specializing in selling unused state equipment and assets in the USA is offering a 13-year-old Pontiac G8 GT sedan for bidding with 64,400 km (40,000 miles) on the odo. The car is in good condition and has been bid to $24,200 so far.
The U.S. Air Force imported the V8-powered saloon from Australia to use as an assistance vehicle during the landing of U2 spy planes (watch the attached video to get an idea). Due to its structural limitations, the U2 required assistance from a second pilot, who was to remain on the ground and drive a special car, reporting to the first pilot in the cockpit such critical parameters as coordinates and altitude.
In order to keep up with the airplane, second pilots needed extremely fast cars to move in. According to The Drive, the speeds reached as high as 130-140 miles per hour (210-225 km/h). The Air Force preferred using U.S. cars for this purpose, but occasionally employed imported vehicles from Europe and other continents, as long as they fitted the bill in terms of acceleration.
This particular G8 GT packs a six-liter V8 rated at 335 PS (330 hp / 246 kW) and 522 Nm (385 lb-ft) of torque. The only exterior traits that make it stand out are redesigned bumpers and a hood cover with a couple of added air intakes. The cabin is wrapped in black and red leather.
The seller says that the car underwent a pre-sale preparation that saw its tires, brakes and gearbox replaced.