Every April, Mustang enthusiasts roll into Concord to celebrate National Mustang Day at the Mustang Owner’s Museum. It’s become one of those events I make a point not to miss—and not just because of the cars.
Concord, North Carolina
For me, it’s about two things. First, celebrating the car we all love. Second, remembering Steve Hall.
I met Steve back when I was part of the original group that helped get Mustang Week going in Myrtle Beach. Back then I was tied up chasing my own path, but you couldn’t miss what Steve was doing. Whether it was anniversary shows, the museum, or whatever project he had going that week—he was always pushing the hobby forward. You’d run into him at events, and he’d already be on to the next idea.
That’s a big part of what this event still feels like today.
This year pulled in close to 200 spectators and more than 100 cars, and it keeps growing every time I go.
The Mustang Owner’s Museum opened its doors on April 17, 2019, and it’s not your typical museum setup.
What makes it different is simple—the cars don’t stay. Every vehicle in the building is still owned by an enthusiast and loaned to the museum, and they rotate them out about every six months. So even if you’ve been before, it’s worth going back.
They expanded in 2023, and one of the cooler additions is the full-scale clay model of the 2024 Mustang straight from Ford’s design team. Stuff like that is what keeps it fresh.
There was a lot going on this year, but a couple things stood out.
The big one was the 2009 Shelby GT500 giveaway—hard to top that. The winner, Anthony Greene out of Maryland, definitely had the weekend everyone hopes for.
The Hall of Fame Induction Dinner is also becoming a major part of the event. It’s a good way to recognize the people who’ve really put time into this hobby over the years.
As far as cars go, there were plenty to look at, but one that kept drawing a crowd was a bright yellow ’77 Mustang II convertible. Not something you see every day. It’s a “Classic II,” a Ford-authorized conversion done by Emmess Coachbuilders down in Florida—only 25 were ever built. Fully restored and done right.
One of the best parts of this event is the people you run into.
You had folks like Emeline King, who worked on the SN95 interiors, and Bud Magaldi, who was heavily involved in the design side of that same generation. John Clor is always around supporting the community.
And then there’s Brad Bowling. If you’ve read Mustang magazines over the years, you’ve seen his work whether you realize it or not. He actually did a feature on my dad’s Mach 1, and watching the level of effort and commitment he put into getting the photos right was something that stuck with me. It gave me a whole different appreciation for what goes into those magazine features.
There were also vendors like AutoBarn Classic Cars and the Wheelhouse Racing School, which add a little more than just cars sitting in a lot.
There were several awards handed out this year, with some solid cars getting recognition:
Events like this don’t just happen.
A lot of credit goes to groups like National Parts Depot and the Mustang Club of America, along with the vendors, the local visitor’s bureau, and everyone behind the scenes making it work.
That community side is really what keeps this event moving forward.
At this point, National Mustang Day at the Mustang Owner’s Museum has established itself as one of the key Mustang events on the calendar. The turnout, the cars, and the people involved already speak for that.
And the reality is—it continues to grow every year as more enthusiasts make the trip to Concord.
If you’re thinking about going, it’s worth making the time.
More info:
https://www.mustangownersmuseum.com
https://www.nationalmustangday.com/
At the end of the day, this one’s more than just another Mustang show.
It’s about the cars—but it’s also about the people, the history, and remembering guys like Steve Hall who helped build all of this into what it is now.
If you haven’t been yet, make it a point next year.
Check out more Mustang pics in the gallery below.
