The sort of vehicles that we get exposed to in our upbringing can influence the kind of cars and trucks that we wish to own later in life. If the vehicle is old enough (and the car's would-be caretaker has sufficient spending cash), it could be the sort of car/truck that an auto enthusiast wishes to purchase as a project vehicle to maintain (if it's running), renovate, or resto-mod. The various forms of media — radio, TV, movies, the internet, video games, etc. — all can contribute in a big way to this sort of automotive exposure and influence. Today, we'll discuss a few of our favorite American classic cars from movies and TV shows.

Lighting technology has come a long way since the late 1960s, with one of the most significant developments being the introduction of light-emitting diodes, also known as LEDs. Modern LEDs produce far more light output than the sealed beam lights that were installed in vehicles in the '60s, and they're also much more efficient and reliable. This results in better visibility of the road ahead, and better visibility of your vehicle to other motorists. For these reasons, our friends at Ford Muscle magazine recently picked up some parts from Classic Industries to convert their 1969 F-100 to LED lighting.

No matter how well-made and durable a classic vehicle is, the passage of time always takes its toll. Case in point, take a look at this 1969 Ford F-100 that belongs to our friends at Ford Muscle magazine. The amount of rusty patina on its body panels is a sign that this truck needed a little TLC. Specifically, the glass and weatherstrip on its cab were cracked and severely deteriorated. So, they picked up some original-style replacement parts from Classic Industries and got to work restoring it. Read on to see how our 1969 Ford F-100 parts improved this project truck.

Some collectible cars and trucks lead charmed lives. They have been driven, pampered, and renewed over the years by the people who have been and who currently are their caretaker. Such is the case with a very solid 1977 Ford Bronco Ranger, owned for the last 16 years by Mr. Dave Kunz of Glendale, California.

The Fabulous Fords Forever show made a triumphant return on Sunday, June 13, in Irwindale, California. Drawing more than 1,000 Ford cars, including Mustangs (Classic, Fox Body, SN95, New Edge, S197, S550), Falcons, Cougars, Thunderbirds, Broncos, and F100s, and thousands of Ford fans, the long-running So Cal show was a massive hit in it's first appearance at Irwindale Speedway!

Trucks are naturally utilitarian vehicles, so it's no surprise that many of them lived hard lives on farms, ranches, and job sites. As a result, it's often difficult to find well-preserved examples, especially those with low miles and all-original powertrains. Only a lucky few were stashed away in garages and barns, where they could be found and restored decades later. Such was the case for this beautiful 1970 Ford F-100 barn find, now owned by Georgia Sells, of Huntington Beach, California.

Before the professional sports acronym G.O.A.T. came to mean "Greatest Of All Time," it was the internal project name of the Ford Bronco and stood for “Goes Over Any Terrain.” With the advantage of 20/20 hindsight, that project code name was very apropos. Thanks to the involvement of some pretty sharp individuals like Lee Iacocca and Donald Frey, there was a pretty strong chance that G.O.A.T. would be successful. History tells us that these are the very same two Ford employees who developed and created the magnificent Mustang behind Henry Ford II’s back. They also assisted Carroll Shelby with the Ford GT40 program that enabled Ford to outrun every automotive manufacturer, including Ferrari, at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. They repeated this astonishing feat in 1967, 1968, and 1969.

Photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

Photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc. 

The lead photo is of a fourth generation 1964 Ford Fairlane "Baby Bolt" hardtop that has just 9,200 original miles. The Baby Bolt has the same 289 CI small-block V8 with 271-horsepower that powers the K-code Mustangs. This Fairlane is ready for some drag racing, as it's equipped with a four-speed manual trans, Detroit Locker rear end, tow hooks, Sun Super Tach, and gauges. The car has all its original sheet metal and wears almost all its original Burgundy paint. 

What’s in a name? In the case of the Ford Fairlane, quite a bit. Ford Motor Company Founder Henry Ford and wife Clara lived in an estate on Fair Lane near Dearborn, Michigan. Ford produced the Fairlane from 1955-1970. In this article, we'll look back at Ford Fairlane history across six generations.

Ford introduced the Ranchero, a vehicle classified as a coupe utility, at the New York Auto Show on December 8, 1956. Though this was a new vehicle for the American market, some 22 years earlier Ford of Australia designer, Lew Bandt penned the first coupe utility in 1934. This was in response to Australian ranchers, who desired a vehicle that was rugged enough to haul livestock during the week and sufficiently elegant to go to church with the spouse on Sunday. This coupe utility became known as a ute in Australia. With a production run of 82 years (1934-2016), the ute was a smashing success down under. Read on as we take a look back at Ford Ranchero history from 1957 through 1979.