Walter and Cordelia Knott moved to Buena Park, California, in 1920 to farm berries. The couple rented a 20-acre plot of land, which is now part of the 160-acre Knott's Berry Farm theme park-the oldest theme park in the country.
In 1986, L.A.-based Ford executives organized a car show to be held in the massive parking area of Knott's Berry Farm theme park. Today over 1,000 Blue Oval-clad vehicles show up for the Fabulous Fords Forever car show, held annually in April. Split into 50 classes, all Ford vehicles from model-year 1903 to present are welcome.
This year marked the 25th anniversary of Fabulous Fords Forever at Knott's Berry Farm. Though a private luncheon and ceremony was held at the event, recognizing people who have been pivotal in the execution of the show over the years, the show continued as it has for the last 25 years.
This year, one of the favorites was the '11 SMS 302 Mustang. SMS Supercars, led by Steve Saleen, is improving on what Ford has already done with the '11 Mustang GT.
There was also a collection of new Roush vehicles on site. From the Stage 1 to the 427R and the 540RH, Roush offers one of the most comprehensive lineups of modified Mustangs.
One of the most prominent and popular areas of the show is the Shelby division. Shelby American had a slew of old and new Shelby cars. There was an original Shelby Cobra race car, a few Super Snakes, and countless classic and S197 Shelby Mustangs. The GT500 area just keeps getting bigger every year, and there's no doubt that the GT500 is the iconic muscle car of the 21st century.
For Ford enthusiasts young and old, there's no better place to see Dearborn iron than this show. It's a one-day event held on a Sunday in April.
Take a look at a few things we saw there this year, and if you want to see more, visit us at www.musclemustangfastfords.com.
Some Mustang enthusiasts would...
Some Mustang enthusiasts would travel across 10 states just to see just one of these, but this show had two. The '00 Cobra R is arguably the meanest-looking Mustang ever. And since there were only 300 ever made, they are highly sought after. The 5.4L powerplant pumps out 385 hp, and was designed and built specifically for these cars.
There's never a shortage of...
There's never a shortage of Fox-body Mustangs at Knott's. The venerable platform just seems to mold and change with the times, accepting whatever new and innovative technology is thrown at it. The black and green coupe shown here had one of the wildest paint jobs in the show.
The Ford GT supercar is an...
The Ford GT supercar is an amazing car on its own. Dress it up with a Gulf blue and orange paint scheme, and it's awe-inspiring. This one was hanging out with the Panteras and Mavericks.
Shelby American had about...
Shelby American had about a dozen cars on display. A couple of our favorites were this black GT40 and the blue Shelby Cobra behind it. The classic '60s styling is just as popular today as it was then.
Call them what you wish, but...
Call them what you wish, but the Fox-body LTD's are the perfect sleeper cars. There was a whole group of them, and most were modified with Fox Mustang drivetrain, interior, and wheels. The black one in the foreground even had Thunderbird Turbo Coupe wheels.
This is probably what a '10...
This is probably what a '10 Mach 1 would look like if Ford had produced one. The Grabber Blue coupe had a shaker, window louvers, and Mach 1 decals.
A loyal MM&FF reader even...
A loyal MM&FF reader even showed up with this un-spoiled LX hatch.
There were countless Saleen...
There were countless Saleen Mustangs in attendance, including these Fox-body examples.
Molly Saleen took the time...
Molly Saleen took the time to pose with Editor Smith for a photo.
We couldn't help but include...
We couldn't help but include this Capri. It looked like it has been cared for like a newborn child.....
....The paint was original,...
....The paint was original, and there wasn't so much as a wear spot on the seats.
Color-specific groups seem...
Color-specific groups seem to be all the rage. This Legend Lime crew may all have the same color 'Stang, but none looked the same. Individuality and self-expression are what makes Mustangs so popular.
Lisa Kramer of Palmdale, California,...
Lisa Kramer of Palmdale, California, posed for us with her black and pink '08 GT. It's powered by an E-Force blower from Edelbrock and rolls on pink-trimmed Foose wheels.
The Memorial Car Honor Tour...
The Memorial Car Honor Tour made a stop at Knott's. Also known as Fueled By The Fallen, the non-profit organization assists in supporting families of fallen military members and public safety personnel.