Ford Is Protecting the Mustang GTD’s Looks
Automakers file patents to protect their intellectual property, and yes, that includes the way their vehicles look. Ford’s latest move involving the Mustang GTD is a reminder that borrowing styling cues from an expensive supercar can become a legal headache.
As of yesterday, the Mustang GTD’s exterior design is covered by US Design Patent No. US D1,154,420 S, first spotted by CarMoses. The patent includes drawings showing the car from the front, rear, sides, and above.
The timing is interesting because this issue dates back to 2024, when automotive influencer TJ Hunt and his company, Streethunter Designs, unveiled plans for a Mustang GT body kit inspired by the GTD.
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TJ Hunt’s Mustang GTD Alternative Ran Into Trouble
Hunt’s idea was straightforward: offer regular Mustang GT owners a way to get some of the GTD’s aggressive styling without spending more than $300,000 on the real thing.
The proposed kit borrowed several distinctive design elements, including vented front fenders, a hood with prominent vents, reshaped rear bodywork, and side intakes. Hunt argued that his design differed from the actual GTD, especially in person.
Ford, unsurprisingly, wasn’t buying it. According to Hunt’s own YouTube recap, Ford sent him a letter raising red flags about the project. Talks started off looking like there might be a middle ground, but things got heated as the 2024 SEMA show in Las Vegas drew closer.
Hunt later revealed that Ford filed a formal complaint with the SEMA organizers, which got his Mustang booted from the show floor. The whole mess put a spotlight on the fine line between drawing inspiration and copying enough of a car’s look to get lawyers involved.
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What Ford’s Design Patent Actually Means
The new patent locks in protection for the GTD’s unique look as shown in the official drawings. Even though the paperwork mentions everything from real cars to toy replicas, what really matters is the Mustang GTD-style shape sketched out across seven pages – even if the giant rear wing is missing.
A design patent doesn’t cover every nut and bolt, and it doesn’t mean all aftermarket parts are suddenly illegal. What matters is how closely a kit copies the protected design, and the legal waters can get murky fast. For now, Ford hasn’t launched a fresh lawsuit against Hunt.
So if you’re a Mustang owner, an aftermarket company, or just someone handy with fiberglass in the garage, here’s the bottom line: copying the GTD’s look is now riskier business. Ford’s got a legal ace up its sleeve, and anyone hoping to sell GTD-style kits will need to think twice about how close they get to the real thing.
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