Mustang Owner's Podcast

We asked, you responded, and we listened. So here it is – an ALL-NEW format for our Mustang Owner’s Podcast that incorporates several different aspects of the Mustang hobby all in a single, fast-paced episode that we call the “Mustang Roundup.” Why did we try this? Because we’d received so many emails about how we can keep growing the Mustang Owner’s Podcast that we thought it’s time to test out some format enhancements.You’ll recall that John spent a whole episode seeking your input here: It’s Time for Some Mods to Our Podcast –And Your Comments Will Fuel What We Do! Your responses helped us put this first effort together, incorporating many of the “Mods” you suggested in the Comments section and emailed to [email protected]’d love to hear what you think.People who’ve known John for many years will see similarities between this Mustang Owner’s Podcast “Roundup” trial episode and John’s popular cable access TV Show, which moved to YouTube years ago as CarsInContextTV - YouTube (Go ahead and check it out for yourself!). He figured, what worked then may still work now! But we’ll let you be the judge. So get set for a new podcast experience by watching til the end:Mustang News Roundup:John: Why the Mustang Lineup No Longer Features a ShelbyMike: ‘GTD Competition’ Obliterates Corvette ZR1X’s Record at ‘The Ring’I Saw It On the Internet:Set of Vintage Mustang Buttons on FB MarketplaceToday’s Hot Topic:Is it Time for Mustang III?(Could a clean-sheet Redo Make Mustang Great Again (and Sell in Big Numbers)?Trivia Time:What is the name of the famed 1975 Mustang II Fastback built by Roush Performance for Detroit-area street racer Joe Rugirello that terrorized the Motor City’s illicit racing scene throughout the late1970’s?My Mustang Story:You’re not gonna believe the story about how Ryan Girardot snagged his 2024 S650 Mustang GT on the same day he was supposed to be picking up a new Escape for his wife. (Yes, she’s still with him. Blame it on Mustang love that dates back to 1984.)Mustang Mailbag:John: An idea about sharing Mustang owners stories prompts a suggestion from one of the podcast’s biggest fans.Mike: Watching the podcast with Chuck Cantwell Shelby GT350 Legend Chuck Cantwell Shares Inside Stories You Gotta Hear! brings a call for a GT350 reunion to bring together both the people and the cars that made this nameplate so iconic. We hope you enjoyed this new Roundup Episode format – leave us a comment if you want to see more of these – maybe once a month? – or what else we’ll need to do to make the podcast more fun and interesting to you. The more we grow, the better our content will get, so please keep sharing each episode with your Mustang friends!In the meantime, make sure to 👍 Like the video and Leave a Comment 🔔 Subscribe to the Mustang Owner’s Podcast 📢 Share with fellow Mustang enthusiasts. Plus, show that you’re a true Mustang insider by wearing Mustang Owner’s Podcast branded apparel, available on TheSVTstore.com.Email: [email protected]|#Mustang #FordMustang #FirstGenerationMustang #GTD Competition #MustangII #Mustang III #FoxBodyMustang #SN95Mustnag #S197Mustang #S550Mustang #S650Mustang #MustangDarkHorse #MustangRTR #SVTMustangCobra #MustangMach1 #MustangBullitt #ShelbyGT350 #ShelbyGT500

Here’s another fun Mustang Owner’s Podcast episode from the Halderman Mustang Museum in Tipp City, Ohio, just north of Dayton off I-75. This time John and Mike take you on a tour of the show field from the “Gathering At The Barn” all-Ford car show, an annual museum fundraiser event hosted by the Mustang Club of Ohio, and sponsored by Dave Arbogast Ford of nearby Troy, Ohio. Yes, this show had showcased the custom "Mach-X" award-winning show car – a vintage-looking 1969 Mustang Mach 1-inspired modern classic built off a 2012 Mustang GT California Special chassis by Zero-Given Garage. That’s why the boys featured the Mach-X in its own episode of the Podcast, including an exclusive test drive and in-person interview with Aaron Duncan of Duncan Brothers Customs fame, now the creative master behind Zero Given Garage. Go back to the channel and check it out!This year’s “Gathering” also featured special presentations (and an autograph session) by not one, but two famed Mustang designers – Bud Magaldi, Design Chief of the Fourth-Generation 1994 SN95 Mustang, and Bob Aikins, Chief Stylist for the Mustang SVO and the 1979 Mustang Indy Pace Car. What’s more, two members of the Mustang Club of Ohio – Dave and Pam Rose – were inducted into the Halderman Museum Mustang Club Member Hall of Fame in a ceremony emceed by John Clor himself.All that – along with this idyllic venue, some superb weather, an enjoyable food truck, mellow DJ, lots of celebrity-chosen awards and lots of really great cars on display – make this show one worth experiencing. Take a walk with John and Mike to witness some of these fine rides!

The Mustang Owner’s Podcast had the honor of kicking off Show Day Saturday at this year’s Carlisle Ford Nationals, recording a special podcast episode in front of the Fairgrounds Stage right after the 9 a.m. playing of the National Anthem. To showcase the podcast’s theme of “Everyone Has A Mustang Story, co-hosts John Clor and Mike Rey chose seven Mustangs representing all seven generations from some 2,500 Mustang show field entries as part of a special stage-front display. There, the owners shared their car’s story in live interviews recorded in front of hundreds of Mustang fans and friends who assembled in the Grandstands.The “7 Gens of Mustang Stories” participants were:1st Gen (1965-73) – 1968 Mustang GT Fastback Owner: Frank Radio, Franklinville, NJ2nd Gen (1974-78 / Mustang II) – 1978 Mustang II Cobra IIOwner: Arnold Rill, Westminster, MD3rd Gen (1979-93 / Fox Body) – 1980 Mustang Ghia CoupeOwner: Amy Rebecca, Mountain City, TN4th Gen (1994-2004 / SN95) – 2003 Mustang Mach 1Owner: Jonathan Woodward, Rutland, MA5th Gen (2005-14 / S197) – 2011 Mustang GT Owner: Bill Watkins, Wilbraham, MA6th Gen – (2015-23 / S550) – 2015 Mustang GT 50th Anniversary EditionOwner: John Olesuk, Long Island, NY7th Gen – (2024- Present / S650) – 2025 Mustang RTR Owner: Ben Nero, Milford, NHOur thanks to all of the above who appeared in this very special podcast episode, including all the fans in the Grandstands who came down after the recording session to meet the owners and check out their cars. And a special thanks goes to Carlisle Ford Nationals Show Manager Ken Appell (who promoted the live recording session and put it on top of Saturday’s action-packed show program), and Mustang Unleashed Influencer and noted Ford Performance photographer Joe Deladvitch (who managed all the episode’s recording duties). Of course, Carlisle hosts the world’s largest all-Ford show each June, featuring nearly every Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and even Fords from all over the world on the nearly 3,500-vehicle show field for a three-day extravaganza in central Pennsylvania of all things related to the Blue Oval. As usual, all sorts of other special events and attractions were planned this year – with 3,538 total entries, the second largest in the show’s history, beyond seeing all the hottest new Ford products – even the Mustang GTD – and thousands of classic and collectible Fords on display. Those included a 60th Anniversary Bronco Showcase celebrating the past, present, and future of the iconic SUV; a 50th Anniversary celebration of the Starsky & Hutch Torino, featuring three screen-used vehicles, nearly two dozen additional examples on the Showfield, and one of the stars of the television series, Antonio Fargas, who portrayed Huggy Bear. There were also displays commemorating the legacies of Roush, the Ford Taurus, and the Olympic Sprint special editions as well as all the other regular attractions such as the Vehicle Parades, Select Displays, Car Corral, Manufacturers Midway, the massive Flea Market and Vendors area, great food, the Women’s Oasis and even Kids Activities. And don’t forget the Club Challenge, the Coolest Club Hangout Award and the Club Mixer info-session hosted by Team Mustang’s John Clor with help from podcast partner Mike Rey – plus the Autocross, Burnout & Exhaust contests, Celebrity Choice Awards, the annual Downtown Carlisle Parade, Park & Party and of course Sunday’s big Carlisle Awards Presentations. Clearly, if there’s only one big Ford show you need to attend each year, the Carlisle Ford Nationals is it. John and Mike NEVER miss this show – and neither should you! In the meantime, make sure to Like the video and Leave a Comment Subscribe to the Mustang Owner’s Podcast Share with fellow Mustang enthusiasts. Plus, show that you’re a true Mustang insider by wearing Mustang Owner’s Podcast branded apparel, available on TheSVTstore.com.

In this episode, Mike and John score an in-person interview with Aaron Duncan of Duncan Brothers Customs fame, now the creative master behind Zero Given Garage. Better still, the boys get the chance to test-drive Aaron’s award-winning creation, the Mach-X show car that had wowed the crowds during its Detroit Autorama debut. The custom "Mach-X" project car is the Duncan Brothers’ social media darling – a vintage-looking 1969 Mustang Mach 1-inspired modern classic built off a 2012 Mustang GT California Special chassis. After John and Mike drove it to the Mustang Club of Ohio’s annual show at Krieger Ford, they then took it to the Halderman Mustang Museum in nearby Tipp City, Ohio, and showcased it during the museum’s annual “Gathering at the Barn” event where they caught up with Aaron and Joey Duncan and Zero Given Garage’s Eli Sicken.Enjoy some Mach-X perspective and production news from Aaron and ride along with Mike and John in this cool custom Mustang. To get the full story on the Mach-X, check out the feature on FordMuscle.com penned by our good friend Steve Turner. Just click here: Mustang Mach X Turns Heads Faster Than The Speed Of SoundAnd for more information on transforming your own S197, S550 or S650 Mustang into a 1969-era dream machine, you can visit Zero Given Garage here: https://www.zerogivengarage.com/In the meantime, make sure to Like the video and Leave a Comment Subscribe to the Mustang Owner’s Podcast Share with fellow Mustang enthusiasts. Plus, show that you’re a true Mustang insider by wearing Mustang Owner’s Podcast branded apparel, available on TheSVTstore.com.

The best thing about participating or even just attending an all-Ford car show hosted by an established Mustang club is easily the wide variety of great cars you’ll find there. Unlike the hit-or-miss nature of seeing “oh-wow!” cars at casual cruise-ins or cars & coffee events, the annual shows that are hosted each year by longstanding Mustang clubs will always reveal some amazing rides on the show field.That’s not just some AI-assisted uneducated opinion. Your podcast hosts John Clor and Mike Rey are speaking from years of experience in the hobby. John’s 20 years of managing Ford’s Club Connect program had him on the road working car shows for some two-dozen or more weekends per year. Mike’s 20 years at the helm of the Mustang Owner’s Club of SouthEastern Michigan – one of America’s biggest and most-active Mustang clubs – had him managing the yearly “Mustang Memories” show that three times had surpassed an amazing 1,000 entries. Suffice to say, this duo has seen a TON of show cars over the years! So for this episode, we thought it’d be fun if we invited all of our viewers and listeners to walk along with us during a recent big Mustang show to see if you can guess what our choice was for our favorite car on display. Better still, if you stick around to the end of the video, we’ll even interview the owner – because Everyone Has a Mustang Story!Join us as we tour the 50th Anniversary Show at Krieger Ford in Columbus, Ohio, hosted by the Mustang Club Ohio back in mid-May. This show had it all – 25 Mustang, Ford car and truck judged classes, goodie bags for the first 100 pre-registered attendees, Best of Class awards, Awards of Excellence, and Special Awards (100), a pedal car reunion, a Youth Program that both Mike and John got to speak to as they enjoyed a model car contest, design contest, and a real-world Mustang “experience.” Plus there was a disc jockey, special guests, 50-50 and theme basket raffles, along with the Ford Merchandise Trailer and onsite food trucks. And oh -- like so many Mustang clubs, event proceeds went to benefit multiple local charities!👍 Like the video and Leave a Comment 🔔 Subscribe to the Mustang Owner’s Podcast 📢 Share with fellow Mustang enthusiasts. Plus, show that you’re a true Mustang insider by wearing Mustang Owner’s Podcast branded apparel, available on TheSVTstore.com.

It may come as a surprise to some Mustang owners and fans, but the idea of celebrating National Mustang Day each year on (or around) the car’s public introduction day of April 17th didn’t originate from Ford Motor Company. Rather, it was the brainchild of the late Steve Hall, originally set up to be an annual fundraiser for his newly founded Mustang Owner’s Museum via the sale of windshield stickers to participating clubs. The museum created a National Mustang Day website to facilitate the sale of the window clings and list all of the participating club activities planned for that day, as well as to register for the museum’s own NMD events beginning in 2018.Much like the creation of the Mustang Owner’s Museum, Steve’s idea of founding an annual National Mustang Day on the anniversary of the car’s public birthday was well-embraced. And after that first one was in the books, the practice of owners and fans gathering on National Mustang Day has grown into a global phenomenon. For 2026, Mischelle Hall invited the podcast to attend both days, to be a guest speaker at the museum show and set up our Meet & Greet tent.Friday night’s Hall of Fame dinner was emceed by MCA past president Steve Prewitt, who introduced the inductee for the Mustang Industry category, Bud Magaldi, chief designer and styling design manager of the Fourth Generation (SN95) 1994 Mustang. Next up was the Mustang Journalism category with fellow Mustang author Brad Bowling, perhaps best known for his unearthing of Steve McQueen’s original Bullitt movie car. John Force was inducted in the Mustang Racing category, but the retired NHRA drag racing legend was unable to attend. The final Hall of Fame category, Mustang Hobby, was posthumously awarded to the late Steve Hall, founder of the Mustang Owner’s Museum and National Mustang Day itself.Smiles were the order of the day on Saturday, as the cars started rolling into the museum lots before 7 a.m. for the National Mustang Day car show. There were easily over 100 Mustangs on display outside, with attendees coming in and out of the museum and filling the presentation tent all afternoon. The first guest speaker was Angela Graham from AutoBarn Classic Cars, who shared insights about the facility, including classic car sales, consignment, storage and memorabilia. The second speaker was Matt Grev from Wheelhouse Performance Racing, formerly the Ford Performance Racing School. Matt discussed the details of the continuation of the school under Wheelhouse and how they can help anyone take their driving expertise to the next level, whether they are beginners or experienced racers.We were able to catch some of the talk given by the third guest speaker, none other than our friend Emeline King, Ford’s first-ever black female transportation designer. Known as the interior designer of the Fourth Generation 1994 SN-95 Mustang under Bud Magaldi, Emeline came down to witness Bud’s induction into the HoF as well as to offer the backstory behind her inspirational book, "What Do You Mean A Black Girl Can't Design Cars? Emeline King, She Did It!"This year’s 9th Annual Mustang Owner’s Museum National Mustang Day event wrapped up with a brief awards ceremony, with each car show award winner chosen by the Hall of Fame Inductees, the Mustang Owner's Museum and by event attendees. They were:Carrie Boschan - Black 1996 SVT Cobra CoupeChosen by Mustang Industry Inductee Bud MagaldiBrian Rosenstein - Grey 1985 GTChosen by Mustang Journalism inductee Brad BowlingMike & Lorie Williams - Bright Yellow 1977 Mustang II ConvertibleJimy Reid - Vapor Blue 2024 Dark HorseChosen by Emeline King on behalf of Mustang Hobby inductee Steve HallEric Hausfeld - Dusk Rose 1967 Coupe Sports SprintChosen by the Mustang Owner's MuseumCJ Carter - Ivy Green1966 Shelby GT350And finally, the winner of the drawing for the 2009 Shelby GT500 Giveaway Car was Anthony Greene – who was actually in attendance when his name was drawn!

In this episode, recorded in the lounge of the Halderman Mustang Museum in Tipp City, Ohio, John and Mike sit down with a longtime local Mustang owner and fan to hear the story of how she came across a random chance to meet the late Gale Halderman, the principal designer of the original Mustang. Carol Ratermann had shared her “How I Got to Meet Gale Halderman” story with John after Gale’s daughter, Karen, had hosted a Cruise-In event at the Halderman Barn Museum in early May. Carol revealed that years ago, she happened to enjoy a dinner night out with her husband at one of Gale’s favorite local restaurants, the Carriage Inn in nearby Enon, Ohio, at the same time Gale was there dining with a group of friends. Wait until you hear how seeing Halderman’s famed Concept Sketch on display at the eatery had sparked a conversation with the restaurant owner and brought an unexpected introduction. We hope you enjoy hearing Carol’s memorable tale as much as we did – because Everyone Has a Mustang Story. It’s just that not everyone gets the chance to meet a Mustang celebrity as historically significant as Gale Halderman. Our thanks to Karen for inviting Carol out to the Barn Lounge to meet up with us – and our thanks to all of you who click “Like” and “Subscribe” to the Mustang Owner’s Podcast! #mustang #ford #fordmustang

Mustang enthusiasts “in the know” already know that the annual Ponies In The Smokies show is one of the top must-see events in the country. (To see why, check out our Podcast Playlist to see John and Mike’s own coverage from last year’s Ponies show.) With its assortment of fun activities, spectacular venue at the Sevierville Convention Center and close proximity to the famed “Tail Of The Dragon” driving route, PITS has become a bucket-list event. So it should be no surprise that Show Me Mustang Club President Jerry Watkins and club co-founder Mitch Mitchell decided to jump in Jerry’s Shelby GT350 and head for Pigeon Forge, TN, to join in the fun. But while heading out to take on the Tail Of The Dragon before the show, catastrophestruck: They got broadsided by a Kia! They both survived the crash but the GT350 was totaled. How would they get back to their hotel from the hospital? What’s going to happen to the car? How will they get home so far away from their home in St. Louis? Listen in as Jerry explains how some fellow club members and the Mustang Brotherhood and Sisterhood stepped in – not only to help them get around and experience the show, but also to even find a replacement ride for the smashed GT350. Listen in as Jerry reveals this incredible story (plus his new car) while John and Mike confirm what great friends we all have in the Mustang enthusiast community!Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe and leave a Comment. Plus, show that you’re a true Mustang insider by wearing Mustang Owner’s Podcast branded apparel, available on TheSVTstore.com!

The greatest Ford festival party on the planet – the annual Carlisle Ford Nationals – is all about Blue Oval camaraderie and vehicle clubs and celebrating the myriad of Fords produced over the past century. After John created the Ford Performance Club Connect program for Ford Racing more than a decade ago, the Carlilse Ford Nats became his “Super Bowl” of car shows as he could meet up with dozens and dozens of Ford clubs all in one place over a single weekend.John even got to choose Carlisle’s “Coolest Club Hangout” award each year as he and Mike visited as many of the club tents on the show field as they possibly could. But a few years ago, something big happened: Frank Spinellla’s Venom Outlaws Mustang Club showed up and turned the club hangout experience into a themed happening with a massive tent and custom-decorated footprint that dwarfed everything else that clubs gad set up on the CarlisleFairgrounds. In this episode, Mike and John visit with Frank to get the inside story of his club, and how being founded on family fun has powered the annual “Venom Invasion” at Carlisle.Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe and leave a Comment. Plus, show that you’re a true Mustang insider by wearing Mustang Owner’s Podcast branded apparel, available on TheSVTstore.com!

When Mustang celebrated its 60 th birthday with a special Anniversary Edition model for 2025, John and Mike fielded an email that asked why Ford counted the 60 years from 1965, just the way the company counted it for the 50th anniversary. First, it just seemed logical since first- generation Mustangs were all 1965 models. But when you consider that all previous Mustang Anniversary cars were counted from 1964 – the year that Mustang was introduced to the general public – it begs the question, Why the change? From that first Mustang 20 th Anniversary model back in 1984 all the way through the 45 th Anniversary Edition in 2009, the start date had been 1964. So John and Mike decided to “Get Smart” – as in reaching out to longtime Mustang author and expert Jim Smart – to help figure out which date is correct. Listen in as Jim and the guys explore some possible answers, and reveal Jim’s claim that he may have influenced the whole “Anniversary Car” idea that spawned the 1984 Mustang GT350 20 th Anniversary model.Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe and leave a Comment. Plus, show that you’re a true Mustang insider by wearing Mustang Owner’s Podcast branded apparel, available on TheSVTstore.com!

If you’ve been in the Mustang hobby for a while, then you’ve likely heard about extensive Mustang collections that some fortunate fellows have been able to put together over the years. But it’s not too common to come across women with personal Mustang collections that they’ve grown well into the double digits. That’s precisely why John and Mike decided to catch up with Mustang enthusiast-turned-collector Amy Rebecca, whose eclectic stable of Ford pony cars is both notable and remarkable. Listen in as Amy traces the story behind each and every Mustang she owns – and why she loves them. While John knew Amy from her Mustang II Ghia’s appearance at a show, Mike’s interest stems from Amy’s favorite Fox Bodies, including the super-rare early-80’s Cobras. And just wait until you hear what’s next!

In this month’s mailbag episode, John and Mike own up to how they misidentified a 60th Anniversary Edition in Brittany Blue during the New Ford WHQ Grand Opening episode (well, more like they give an excuse), and then unsuccessfully field a question about how many of those were produced in that color. The guys then handlea request to discuss a publishedcomment about the latest Ford LED headlamp assembly and module replacement costs (about $600 for some new Mustangs but up to $3,000 on other Fords) vs. just replacing a $10 bulb. John also discovers a years-old email from his Spam file asking about the Ford Performance Pick Car show award cling. If you’veever received one of these ultra-rare Recognition Award window clings at a car show, you cannow get the full story on what thse were all about. Finally, John and Mike reveal some photos that Podcast followers have shared – one from across the country and another from across The Pond. You’re encouraged to get mentioned inthe next Mailbag session by posting in each the YouTube episode Comments section or sending us an email to [email protected].

Yes, it’s true that the Mustang Owner’s Podcast was previously able to sit down for a long interview with Chuck Cantwell, the legendary project engineer for the original Shelby GT350, back in the spring of 2002. That’s when our podcast’s founder, the late Steve Hall, steered Cantwell through a load of questions with Chuck offering up story after story on this historically significant Mustang. But that was also when we were only on Spotify, and didn’t have the video to witness Chuck’s smile as he fondly recalled what went on behind the scenes introducing the Shelby GT350 to the motoring public. This time around John and Mike were able to get Cantwell join us for a recording session where we were able to ask his views on things we’ve never heard others ask him before. Listen in as we celebrated Chuck’s 92 nd birthday with more great stories behind the development of the Shelby GT350 that you won’t want to miss.

We discovered Robert Kennedy a few years ago, thanks to his rather unique ability to put the Ford Mustang’s generational history into the context of the times when each version was introduced and sold in the marketplace, rather than the all-too-common apples-to-oranges comparisons of models that came before or after. Kennedy’s self-produced “Adapt Or Die” YouTube video about the significant impact that the 1974-78 Mustang II had on the successful lineage of Mustang’s product history was the kind of perspective put in context that helped the Mustang II shed those “Worst Mustang” and “Pinto Stang” labels that today’s internet wannabe historians incorrectly regurgitate ad nauseum. John reached out to enlist Kennedy in a growing Mustang II movement that John and Mike founded in August of 2016. That’s when Mike’s “MOCSEM Mustang Memories & All Ford Show” at Ford World Headquarters hosted nearly 100 Mustang II’s from across the country for the first-ever national second-gen reunion. In this podcast interview, Kennedy reveals how that involvement had inspired him to pen a massive self-published Mustang history book he called “Unbridled,” whose success has now led to an updated remake published by Motorbooks International alled “Mustang Unbridled” Listen in as Kennedy explains what makes his new hardbound Mustang history book so unique, while John commends him for some other children’s books he’s created and Mike salutes him for taking charge of the Mustang II Reunions that will mark their 10th anniversary event this summer.

If you’ve had any experience in the Mustang club world and have been following the collector car hobby of late, then you’ve likely already heard that traditional, dues-paying Mustang clubs have been suffering substantial losses in membership over the past decade. Some say it’s just natural attrition based on an aging club member population, while others think it’s due to an irreversible downward spiral in the number of young people who are interested in cars. As the hobby is seeing a shift toward social-media based clubs and Cars & Coffee events, is this just a temporary trend or is it indicating a tragic end to the Mustang club universe? We ask two experienced former presidents of large, established Midwest clubs – Mark Bedel of the Greater Pittsburgh Mustang Club and our own co-host, Mike Rey of the Mustang Owner’s Club of SouthEastern Michigan – for some real-world insight on the future facing Mustang clus and young people inthe hobby. Listen right to the end to hear their surprising predictions!

When Ford put out the word that it was planning a huge open-to-the-public gala for thegrand opening of the all-new Ford World Headquarters on the Ford engineering campusin Dearborn last November, Blue Oval fans were excited. While some seemed moreconcerned about the impending demolition of The Glass House, others were interestedin bringing their collectible Fords to a hastily assembled “Community Car Show” on thesite. While John toured the show lot on that brisk and blustery day and talked to owners,Mike got to go inside and check out the futuristic state-of-the-art facility. Both share theirexperiences and photos from the event in this episode – with some celebrity surprisesincluded!

Ford insiders know Mike Berardi from his years serving as the Director of Ford’s Field Service Engineering operations. But enthusiasts from across the Midwest may know him more from his personal collection of 70-plus Mustangs (along with some interesting Fords). Thanks to the work of former FordPerformance.com photographer Joe Deladvitch, John and Mike take you on a picture tour of Berardi’s cars, with some cool backstories adding to the eclectic mix. Find out about Mike & Sue Berardi’s involvement with Good Humor Ice Cream, distributed at select events via their fleet of restored classic Ford Good Humor trucks – it’ll make you instantly understand why Berardi is a well-respected and beloved enthusiast collector who just recently took the helm of MOCSEM, replacing Mike Rey as president of Detroit’s mega-Mustang club.

In this latest Mustang Mailbag episode, John and Mike respond to an email filled with a whole host of suggestions – including the perceived need for the creation of a web-based “Mustang Resource Center.” Then they combined several inquiries into one response to answer what happened to the annual Midwest Club Summit that John and Mike had hosted for the past decade. Should it be resurrected as a live seminar at the Carlisle Ford Nationals? Finally, a podcast viewer from the Thunderbird club world offers his ideas on how to best interact with young enthusiasts. Lots of great info and insight here, and make sure to listen to the very end to get word on Thunderbird Appreciation Day 2026!

It keeps on happening, so we decided to put a stop to it – the myth that the Ford Mustang was named after the WWII fighter plane just won’t go away. After a podcast subscriber spotted a big-name website pushing the falsehood, we knew we had to get Smart! No, not get wiser, but to get noted Mustang author, historian and expert Jim Smart to come on the podcast and reveal what Lee Iacocca and others had told him about the Mustang being named after a horse, John and Mike share their own insider info – from the likes of Gale Halderman and Hal Sperlich – to finally shoot down this Mustang myth once and for all.

If you think the traditional Mustang club world is only for old-timers and retirees -- it’s time you think again. Turns out the Greater Pittsburgh Mustang Club (GPMC) just got a new president – Jacob Werner -- and he’s just 33 years old! We sit down with Jacob to find out how he and his Mustang landed in the leadership position with the GPMC (along with other Thirtysomethings on the Board), what he plans to take the club into the future, and then discover that our paths had actually crossed years ago!

We met up with Eric Richards when John was booked as the Guest Speaker for the Show-Me Mustang Club’s 40th Anniversary banquet just outside of St. Louis in January. John remembered Eric as being a huge Dave Pericak fan after he and fellow club members had previously attended Mike Rey’s Mustang Homecoming event in Dearborn, but we’ve since found out that Eric has an even deeper dedication to the Mustang hobby.

Whenever someone is known as “The Crazy Mustang Man,” you know there’s a story to tell. So Mike and John tracked down Lyle Sturgis, the famed SVT / Roush / RTR Performance Manager at Tindol Ford in Gastonia, NC for an explanation on just how he earned that name. Since Mike Rey had worked at Roush a while back, you can be sure that he and Lyle will have some insider “remember when?” stuff to share with all of us!

In this episode John and Mike talk to Tony and Jeni Lucas about their purchase of a 2024 Dark Horse Mustang and their experience of attending Ford’s 2-Day Dark Horse Track Attack Program together. But wait – there’s more: While coming home from Charlotte, we find out that Jeni was so enamored with her newfound appreciation for the Dark Horse that she told Tony she’s keeping their Dark Horse for herself and that Tony would get something else to drive for himself. So what does Tony do? Why, he goes out and buys a 2025 Dark Horse, of course! Listen in to find out how attending the Track Attack was a game-changer for them and what they plan to do with TWO Mustang Dark Horses in the family.

For this special episode, John uses his Cars In Context Media Credential to attend the Press Preview Day of the annual Detroit Auto Show and give you an insider's look at the 2026 Mustang footprint there. After covering the show since 1988 when he was with AutoWeek magazine, John found this year's low-key Ford display to be so Bronco-centric that the iconic Mustang seemed like an afterthought. Check out his photos and hear his views on how much this once-dazzling automotive spectacle has now taken on trade-show vibe.

John and Mike have received so many emails about how we can keep growing the Mustang Owner’s Podcast that we think it’s time to make some format enhancements. In this episode, John asks YOU to tell us what “Mods” you’d like to see by putting them in the Comments section. Want us to include things like Mustang and Ford News, History, Tech, Trivia – even add a “My Mustang Story” feature where you can show off your ride? Put it In the Comments or email John at [email protected] and we’ll make the best suggestions happen. 

After a fun-filled podcast interview with Henry Ford III, Mike and John catch up with his father, none other than Edsel Ford II himself – the patriarch of Ford Racing. Edsel shares some favorite memories of Ford’s racing victories at LeMans and the Mustang’s product legacy. Plus, he offers his views on the role that enthusiast clubs play in building brand loyalty.

We get letters (OK, technically they’re emails), so when the inbox gets interesting, we read ‘em and weep. Well, at least for one listener who bemoans the lack of Mustang dealer brochures and posters. Another thinks John talks too much – and Mike not enough. Yet another wants to see Ford’s next 4-door sports car called a Falcon. All that and more in this Mailbag!

Mike and John stop in to Perkins Restorations in Juneau, Wisconsin, where the longtime authority on Mustang authenticity, Bob Perkins, offers up real-world stories and close-up looks behind his incredible collection of miniscule-mile, first-generation Mustangs and memorabilia.

Mustangs -- and Ford’s Michigan Central Resto-- Shine for Detroit’s ‘Cars At The Station’ ShowMike and John knew they’d see plenty of Mustangs and collectible Fords during the two-day “Cars At The Station” Show put together by Hagerty and RADwood Detroit. But what they didn’t expect was how cool Ford’s recently restored Michigan Central Station (The Motor City’s iconic, century-old train depot) and the adjacent Roosevelt Park was for a show venue.

What does a T-Bird 70th anniversary, a Mercury Cougar reunion and a Mustang club cruise-in have in common? They all partied at the ‘Birds, Cats & Ponies’ Dearborn Homecoming, as did more than dozen notable Ford designers, engineers and execs – including Henry Ford III.

Mike and John walk you through the photo highlights of Mike’s annual MOCSEM mega-event, the Mustang Owners Club of SouthEastern Michigan’s “Mustang Memories & All Ford Show." Seen via the lens of photog Joe Deladvitch, it was the last-ever show at this iconic Ford WHQ.

After John had walked Ford’s Mustang Alley for MustangOwner’s Podcast interviews in 2024, Mike asked photog Joe Deladvitch to give us a photo tour of Mustang Alley 2025 to catch some of the hidden gems that you’ll always uncover there during Detroit’s Woodward Dream Cruise.

Tom Welch, Communications Director for the Mustang Club of Mid Michigan joins John and Mike to discuss what the club recommends you do to your Mustang when you put it away for the winter.

Started by retired Ford engineer Dave Glickman, John and Mike take you on a tour of this summer’s Ford employee Research and Innovation Center car show at the Ford World Headquarters campus in Dearborn.

John and Mike tour the show field behind the Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells complex to bring you the owner stories behind some of the star cars they found at the 2025 Fall Ford Fest.

John and Mike sit down with John’s longtime careermentor, Jim Sawyer, who reveals how the Ford Special Vehicle Team became a sales success despite having no advertising budget.

Mike and John join a tour of the Ringbrothers shopin Spring Green, Wisconsin, where they catch a look at their new SEMA Mustang build and custom billet parts operation before cornering Mike Ring for an exclusive interview while he was working on a protype hood.

The dynamic duo of Mustang history and culture answer questions from the audience at Fall Ford Fest 2025. Congratulations to Dan Neve and the team for 15 years of fighting cancer with the support of the Mustang enthusiast community.

Stewart tells us about the formation of the registry and why is his last name so familiar?

When Ford launched the Mustang in 1964, Henry Ford II commissioned a few custom Mustangs to be built for some very special people. Perry Los Kamp tells us of the two he acquired.

Exclusive - Ford Collectors Edition Unboxing

Hint: Industry & Mustang Hobby Guru)

Hint: Ford Enthusiast Connections Creator

Chris Cervenka is the founder of Modified Muscle, a website marketplace dedicated to the Mustang enthusiast. Chris tells John and Mike all about the concept and future endeavors.

Art Cairo is a longtime Ford collector who bought a 1964½ Mustang for $500 believing it was just a unique early model. It turned out to be an extraordinarily rare prototype originally created for Henry Ford II.

John and Mike give us a photo tour of this year's Bay Harbor Classic Car & Boat Show in Bay Harbor, MI.

The Foxbody community continues to gain momentum. John and Mike take us on a tour of this year's event at FWH.

An insider look at the Hal Sperlich Memorial Service

Ken Dabrowski is a longtime executive and engineering leader at Ford Motor Company, known for his influential role in powertrain development and performance engineering. Throughout his career, he played a key part in advancing Ford’s high-performance vehicle programs and was deeply involved in the resurgence of Ford’s motorsports efforts. With a deep technical background and passion for racing heritage, Dabrowski helped bridge Ford’s performance legacy with modern engineering innovation, earning respect across both the corporate and enthusiast communities.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of MOCSEM. Mike gives us a sneek peek into their signature event "Mustang Memories" held the day after the Woodward Dream Cruise on Sunday, August 17th.