Editor's note: The author is the only child of Phil Clark, the man who sketched the Mustang's original running-horse emblem. She, like the Mustang, celebrated her 40th birthday in 2004.

The running ... of the Mustang 1 Concept. That’s when Ford designers got together to review sketches for badging this new car. With a name like Mustang it needed to reflect the horse and America.

This included touches all the way down to the iconic Mustang taillight bezels, gas cap, and that sweet running horse emblem. "There's a lot of nuances that went into the design, and we're proud of ...

CHARLOTTE – Dave and Kaye Persell's 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback ... The iconic silver horse emblem on the front still shines like it did fresh off the assembly line nearly 50 years ago.