The phrase "skunkworks project" refers to a secretive, independent team within a company that works on innovative and experimental projects away from the regular office. Full definition
Truth be told, this was more of skunkworks project worked on by passionate engineers who created a Mustang to bridge the gap between the Performance Pack 1 and the GT350. (hotrod.com)
David Taggart, President of Interleaf Composites Engineering, metallurgical engineer, advanced composite materials expert, co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer, Hypercar (now Fiberforge), former Lockheed Skunkworks Project Manager. (calcars.org)
-- David Taggart, former Lockheed Skunkworks Project Manager, Co-Founder and former Chief Technical Officer, HyperCar (the spinoff from the Rocky Mountain Institute, which then became Fiberforge), chaired by Amory Lovins (calcars.org)