A Classic Industries coworker told me several months ago to go visit the Segerstrom Shelby Event Center, in Irvine, California, and several times thereafter over the passing months. Every time he mentioned it, I'd make a mental note to myself while responding to him with something like, "Yeah, I gotta go there and check out all the Shelby Mustangs, Cobras, and Shelby Daytona coupes." 

Though we spend our five- and six-day work weeks catering to the needs of our honored customers who own and are working on, driving, showing, and enjoying American muscle machines, many Classic Industries employees are wrenching away, driving, and enjoying our own vintage vehicles in our free time. Some of us drive our old cars daily. 

Whether it's fictional tales of alternate history or sci-fi movies about parallel dimensions, many of us enjoy pondering what might've happened if the past played out a little differently. In the automotive realm, there were many period-correct parts and upgrades that, in retrospect, could've been combined to create a fantastic vehicle from an alternative timeline. This thought process led Steve Strope, of Pure Vision Design in Simi Valley, California, to build his 1966 Ford Mustang into a truly unique racecar that never existed. Starting with a Ford/Lotus Indy car engine from the same year, and drawing inspiration from road rally cars and the iconic Martini & Rossi racing team livery, Strope's Mustang is the best kind of automotive fantasy.

Recently, Classic Industries published an article for the multitude of 1st Generation Mustang owners and enthusiasts (1964.5-1973) called: Decoding the 1964-1973 Mustang VIN: A Comprehensive Buyer's Guide. This article is specifically designed to enable 1964.5 Mustang (early 1965) caretakers and fans to decode the pony car's Data Plate, which gives us useful information such as assembly plant, body style, color, interior trim, engine, transmission, and much more.

"This isn't just a replica, it's a reproduction — it has the DNA of the original Mustang, but it's evolved with modern technology," explained Tom Scarpello, founder and CEO of Revology. On a recent episode of Jay Leno's Garage, Scarpello showed Leno around one of the roughly 200 made-to-order Mustangs his company has built at its Orlando, Florida factory. Each car starts with a bare unibody and moves through a 26-stage assembly line, finishing as a complete classic Mustang that has been fully updated to drive, perform, and feel like a modern, high-end sports car.

Author's Note: This is a Classic Industries team member's car. As of this writing, we've logged over 900 miles on our Factory Five Racing Mk4 Cobra roadster replica. Since this is the very same sports car that is the subject of the book that I wrote, How To Build Cobra Kit Cars + Buying Used, we thought you would enjoy reading about our first test drive of the FFR Mk4 after Dad and I constructed this little road burner.

Whether you're searching for a 1964-1973 Ford Mustang to purchase, or you already own one, it's very important that you know how to decode the Mustang's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN tells you how the Mustang was originally equipped when it first rolled off one of Ford's magical assembly lines. Read on for all the details of our Ford Mustang VIN decoder, as well as some historical information Mustang buyers and restorers will find helpful.

Installing new carpet in your American muscle car or truck is a fantastic way to lay the groundwork for transforming your vehicle's interior. Sears & Roebuck Co., a renowned mail order and retail giant, popularized the Good-Better-Best approach to marketing their extensive range of products. Who can forget the exceptional quality of Sears' Best Craftsman tools that stood the test of time? Classic Industries employs a similar strategy when it comes to carpet options, ensuring that finding the perfect carpet for your ride is a breeze.

How time flies! There have now been 74 annual Grand National Roadster Shows. The 74th GNRS took place on Friday, February 2 through Sunday, February 4, 2024, at the Pomona, CA Fairplex. Al and Mary Slonaker presented the first GNRS in 1950 in Oakland, CA. In 2004, the Grand National Roadster Show moved from Northern California to its present home at the Pomona Fairplex in Southern California.

Passing down a pony car to younger family members is a great way to keep the American Muscle Car Hobby growing strong. It's also a wonderful way to nurture families here in the U.S. and around the world with a great hobby that can be shared and enjoyed.