Some automotive enthusiasts are very familiar with the history of the Ford Mustang and why it has sold so well for its entire existence, dating back to its premiere in April of 1964. But most people just view the Mustang as a sporty car with a clever name. There are perhaps a baker’s dozen reasons that the Mustang was such a resounding automotive triumph right out of the starting gate, and why it continues to be the frontrunner in the hearts and souls of millions of car gals and guys.

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.

One of our favorite aspects of classic cars is the history behind each one. No two cars follow the exact same path as the decades and miles pass by. We've documented dozens of these stories from Classic Industries customers, so we appreciate watching other publications do the same. Petrolicious is one such channel, offering high-quality short films about a wide range of classic cars. The following video, titled "Throttle Therapy," tells the story of one man's journey with a beautiful 1965 Mustang Fastback. 

Aircraft and aeronautics have been a frequent source of inspiration for cars, whether it was aesthetic elements such as cones and fins, functional aerodynamics to increase top speed and cornering capabilities, or simply their names. Most automotive historians agree that the Ford Mustang was named after the famous P-51 Mustang fighter plane, so it's no surprise that Ford continued the theme with the performance-oriented Mach 1 option package. Representing the velocity of an object equal to the speed of sound, the term Mach 1 is synonymous with going fast.

We love watching classic cars get restored, whether it's in our own garage, at a local shop, or on our TV screen. Regarding the third category, we've had the privilege of working with quite a few well-known restoration TV shows over the years, including Overhaulin', Chop Cut Rebuild, All Girls Garage, and Iron Resurrection. More recently, Classic Industries was able to assist Steve Pazmany from the History TV series Fully Torqued with a few of his projects. Today, we'll take a quick look at their 1966 Mustang build that features many Classic Industries parts.

We always love to hear the stories behind our customers' restored classic cars. No two are the same, and many are closely tied to fond memories from childhood. For Boynton Morris, of Buena Park, California, the Ford Mustang was a car he admired since he was young. Over the following decades, as he restored several other classic cars, the Mustang was always in the back of his mind. One day, an acquaintance decided to sell his '65 Mustang convertible project car, and Boynton knew the time had finally come to buy it.

A 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn Kurier won Best of Show at the 70^th edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, held Sunday, August 15, 2021. For the first time ever there were also 38 former Pebble Beach Concours Best of Show automobiles on display to welcome the 540K to this prestigious club of Best of Show winners at the pinnacle of vintage automobile events.

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!

What was the first car you owned? Even if it wasn't an exciting muscle car or glamorous luxury coupe, you probably have fond memories of your time behind the wheel. Our first cars gave us independence and allowed us to experience the thrill of the open road. Fernando Guzman, of Irvine, California, was fortunate enough to have a very cool first car, which he owns to this day. He's held onto this 1965 Mustang GT for 32 years. In fact, it's still his daily-driver.

Some of our favorite classic cars have appeared in movies, and seeing them on the silver screen makes their real-world counterparts seem even cooler. The Bullitt Mustang, Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am, and Vanishing Point Challenger are just a few noteworthy examples. You'll rarely see those star cars outside a museum, but we recently had an opportunity to photograph a Classic Industries customer's car that had a movie cameo of its own. This 1969 Mustang convertible was featured in the 2002 film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.