“Wild Horses” at Crawford cements automotive legacy, pop culture iconography of the Ford Mustang

CLEVELAND, Ohio – You would be hard pressed to find an American car considered more iconic and coveted than a vintage Ford Mustang . Not all of us will own one, but fans of the legendary sports car will get an eyeful of them in a new exhibit at the Crawford-Auto Aviation Museum .

"Wild Horses: 60 Years of Ford's Mustang" is a celebration of the classic automobile that features 20 examples of every generation of the Mustang – from "the little coupe launched by Lee Iacocca" to the 2024 Dark Horse and its 500-horsepower Coyote V-8 engine.

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The exhibition opens this weekend and will run through early May 2025, showcasing America's original "Pony Car" as a revered pop culture icon on tracks and screens to streets and highways.

Each car in the exhibit serves to reinforce memories and enthusiasm for the Mustang's history and legacy as one of America's most enduring automotive symbols.

A global icon, curated locally Crawford's "Wild Horses" exhibit was curated by Larry Davis, who serves as Crawford's Auto Aviation Collection manager. Davis is a part of the world's largest organization of Ford Mustang enthusiasts ( Mustang Club of America ) and known as a Concours d'Elegance judge for them.

He does the same for the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals .

Davis evaluates cars based on their authenticity, condition, maintenance and restoration. He procured a lion's share of the horsepower on display and delights at how it all came together.

"I own four vintage Ford Mustangs," Davis told Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer in a recent interview. "I belong to every club from Cleveland to Youngstown to Pittsburgh, so those connections run deep."

So much so that his primary mission was to source vehicles for the exhibition regionally. Back in June, Davis took to social media with a request:

"[L]ooking to borrow some beautiful examples of Ford's pony car... [L]ooking for clean versions of every generation of the Mustang, from 1964.5 to present. If you've got a Mustang that looks very much like it did when it came off the showroom floor, we'd love to hear from you."

"I went after local cars and I'm proud that 18 of the 20 displayed are from Northeast Ohio," Davis said, adding that his favorites in the display are the 1969 Boss 429 and the 1970 Boss 302.

Davis said that the Mustang has been seen in nearly every corner of the globe – even serving as an icon of peace. True story: a 1965 Mustang convertible was one of the most popular "diplomatic gifts" given by U.S. embassies to foreign dignitaries during the 1960s.

The Upper Gallery at the Crawford houses models across generations of the Mustang evolution — from the early '60s classics to the latest high-tech marvels including the electric Mach-E , which combines Mustang's enduring heritage with ecological modernization.

It's a bit controversial among purists including Davis.

"My opinion is that hybrid technology [for sports cars] would be more successful than strictly electrical. Battery power has its place in certain commercial applications – namely delivery vehicles and public transit."

Wild horses couldn't drag them away The Ford Mustang was an immediate hit when it was introduced in April 1964 as a relatively lightweight rear-wheel drive sports car, with seating for four in coupe and convertible options.

The Mustang was introduced the same week the Rolling Stones' debut album arrived. Talk about a pop culture explosion! The Stones have offered homage to this over the years – whether in blatant television commercials for the make-and-model, or in the music video "Ride 'Em On Down," starring actress Kristen Stewart .

The Mustang has the rare distinction of uninterrupted production, first "roaring to life" on a chassis borrowed from the Ford Falcon. Charging out of the barn, the Mustang simply oozed personality.

With multiple engine and transmission options, Ford Motor Company sold nearly 700,000 units of the car in the first 18 months of production. To date, over 10 million Mustangs have been sold – nearly twice as many as Chevrolet's rival sports car, the equally-sleek and sassy Camaro.

While millions of conventional car buyers embraced the Mustang, it's also been a hit with Hollywood, racers and car builders.

Steve McQueen's Mustang GT was part of remarkable chase scenes in the movie "Bullitt" – while a Mustang nicknamed "Eleanor" stole the heist-action flick "Gone in 60 Seconds" away from its marquee actors Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie.

Mustangs have been central to other blockbuster movies, including the James Bond classic "Goldfinger," "The Fast and the Furious," "I Am Legend," "John Wick" and the recent period piece, "Ford vs. Ferrari."

Off-screen, many famous celebrities have owned a "Pony Car," including Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone, Madonna, Charlie, Sheen, Jay Leno, former president Bill Clinton and the late Jim Morrison of The Doors. Each were drawn to its unabashed air of power, fashion sense and attitude.

Gone in 60 seconds, brawn for 60 years

The Ford Mustang has been a force in auto racing since its debut, evolving from a stylish street car to a competitive machine on racetracks worldwide.

Automotive racing legends like Carroll Shelby and Jack Roush used Mustangs as platforms to build celebrated street and race cars – which is part of the "Ford vs. Ferrari" movie plotline.

Car designer Shelby transformed the Mustang into the Shelby GT350 in 1965, making it a competitive model in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) series. Its success helped establish the Mustang as a serious contender on the track, a reputation Ford has built upon ever since.

In drag racing, the Mustang quickly became a favorite, competing in National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) events as early as the late '60s. Models like the "Cobra Jet" became renowned for their quarter-mile abilities.

On the international circuit, the Mustang was a – competing in Trans-Am racing since the series' inception in 1966 , where it often competed against other American muscle cars.

More recently, Ford introduced the Mustang to NASCAR, where it currently competes in the NASCAR Cup Series with the Mustang Dark Horse edition.

Last year, Ford announced the Mustang GTD – a $300,000, race-inspired supercar designed to dominate both on and off the track, taking Mustang racing into new territory with a focus on endurance racing.

All have cemented the Mustang as an enduring icon of American motorsport and as the "love interest" of drivers and enthusiasts alike. Davis sees versatility among its greatest assets and reason for longevity.

"The Mustang is a car for the masses," Davis said. "Whether you need a daily commuter, or a small car or your freedom or a big, rowdy engine that gives you a seat-of-your-pants thrill drive to work every day, it's a model that appeals. There's something for everyone."

Davis added that the Mustang has endured as a signpost of American pop culture because of its status as a lifestyle brand. He hopes that attendees come away from the "Wild Horses" exhibition with an appreciation for what it takes for a car company to have a production model last 60 years.

"Your father had one, you bought one, when your son or daughter is 16, you'll buy them one," Davis said.

"It's one of a handful of iconic brands that has endured over the years – Harley-Davidson is another one – where fandom and camaraderie centers around that lifestyle."

, at 10825 East Boulevard, Cleveland. Hours for the museum are Thursdays from 12 – 8 p.m.; Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.