Archives for August 2015

GAME ON! Can you figure out the message on these Vanity Plates? 

Can you name all of these famous car logos? Test your brand knowledge now!

Mustang Modifications

Once you’ve purchased your first Ford Mustang, you realize immediately that you have

collected a piece of American Musclecar history. What you may not be fully aware of, however,

is a rich tradition of taking your “muscle” up to the next level through one of the great

conversions and modification packages available. Here’s a little insight into some of the great

partners that do this work.

Shelby

Carroll Shelby began his career exactly where you might expect it, on the racetrack. From there,

he began his lifelong love of souped­up cars, and developing his own much­loved Shelby Cobra

which he licensed from the British AC Motorcars. He then brought his high­performance talents

to Ford with the very first Mustang in 1965 and has been a part of our family ever since. Shelby

consistently provides some of the fastest, sexiest, and most­powerful Mustangs on the market.

Saleen

Much like Carroll Shelby, Steve Saleen began started his career on the racetrack. From there

he began Saleen Autosports in 1983. In 1985 he created the very first Saleen Mustang with a

supercharged engine and gained much notoriety by using said Mustang to win the incredibly

challenging 24 Hours of Moport race. This notoriety propelled him and Saleen Autosports into

an dynasty of amazing and coveted Mustangs that still dominate the roadways to this day.

Which to Choose?

There are many reasons to pick one style over the other. The debate rages on Mustang forums

across the Internet as to the superiority of one over the other. Our advice: get in one, go for a

spin, and see how if feels for YOU!

Diamonds Are Forever

1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Diamonds Are Forever, a James Bond classic featuring Sean Connery, features a red 1971 Ford Mustang. Although the film is riddled with continuity and production errors, a widely praised scene involved a car chase, when Bond’s Mustang briefly balanced on two wheels.

Jurassic Park

Ford Explorer
In the original Jurassic Park film in 1993, this Ford Explorer was primarily used to guide tourists through the dinosaur exhibits. It was portrayed as a nifty vehicle, having its own drink tap for the visitors and a self-navigation system.

Thelma and Louise

1966 Ford Thunderbird
Back in the days when Brad Pitt was merely a supporting cast member, this critically acclaimed crime drama film features main characters Thelma and Louise crusing in a 1966 Ford Thunderbird. Whether it was quietly driving to a fishing trip or fleeing from the authorities, the convertible did it all for the movie.

The California Kid

1934 Ford Coupe
Martin Sheen spent one of his earliest roles playing a character with a constant need for speed. This customized Ford Coupe helped him do just that, and may’ve actually outstaged Sheen for the more important part of the movie.

Mad Max

1973 Ford XB Falcon
If you want to avenge the deaths of a fellow rookie officer and your family, you’ll need something fast. In Mad Max, Max does just that. The powerful automobile with a V8 engine and what would be the fastest car on the road was a 1973 Ford XB Falcon, in which the addendiges such as the Concorde and the supercharger, were only for show and did not actually work.

Bullitt

1968 Ford Mustang GT 390
In a movie that defined Steve McQueen’s public image as a fearless stuntman, Bullit featured what many movie critics considered one of the most excited car chase scenes of all time, which lasted for nearly eleven minutes and peaked at 110 miles per hour. In fact, McQueen not only considered becoming a professional racecar driver, but also took part in a series of Ford Mustang commercials.

Scooby Doo

1963 Ford Econoline
Of course, the world famous Mystery Machine had to be incorporated into the Scooby Doo movie. Because the film is based off a cartoon, it took a little brainstorming to determine what van would be a good fit for the needs of the production and the visual symmetry with the animation, which ended up being the 1963 Ford Econoline.

Dumb and Dumber

1981 Econoline
Being a dog groomer may not be the most glamorous job in the world, but it doesn’t mean you can’t roll up in style. The goofy, costumed van driven by co-main character Harry is a Ford 1981 Econoline.

1) Ford allows for customization—Generation Y is one that values uniqueness, which shows on how many in that age group carry themselves. Whether its different hairstyles and colors, to tattoos, to exotic wardrobes, we’re seeing a rise of a generation that likes to stand out. Ford allows you to customize your car to your liking, including paint designs and different cosmetic parts.

2) More social media interaction—four different Facebook pages (“Ford Motor Company”, “Ford Mustang”, “Ford Performance”, and “Ford Trucks”) have over 1 million followers. Its Twitter account has nearly one million followers by itself. Each of these pages are loaded with videos and pictures, nearly all of which are received by 2,000+ ‘likes’ and often with 150+ ‘shares’ and nearly 200 comments. There is also a lot to be said about the actual content, as many of the photos and videos incorporate young people driving and interacting with the cars, therefore selling less of a product and more of an experience, which is exactly what studies conclude that millennials prefer.

3) Country music—country music has become the fastest rising genre among millennials when it comes to popularity. Taylor Swift, who’s only 25 years old, is the most popular artist. Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton have also made huge strides in both music sales and selling-out shows all over the Northeast. Country music and Ford have a historic relationship, and the songs that glorify highway rides and pickup trucks have trickled down to and resonated with the younger crowd.

4) Pricing—studies show that owning a car is more important to millennials than owning a house. Therefore, the fact that Ford has such affordable prices resonates with Generation Y. You can own a Ford Fiesta for only $14,090. All of its cars’ starting prices are below $25,000. Most SUVs are below $30,000, and Ford’s famous trucks go for an average $28,000. These reasonable prices, compounded with its renowned quality, are what millennials are looking for.