For the first time in Woodward Dream Cruise history, Mustang enthusiasts will be able to have their cars customized right before their eyes to sound louder, go faster, and look better, all thanks to a new Mustang Garage that will provide quick in-and-out service with full Ford factory-warranted parts.

The Mustang Garage, which will be held on Friday, August 14, is part of Ford's display of new and classic vehicles. The Ford display will spread more than a mile along 9 Mile Road east and west of Woodward in Ferndale, Michigan, and it will run throughout the weekend of August 14-16, 2009.

"The idea of the Mustang Garage was to bring customization to the people in such a way that they could come in, get some parts and then get back on Woodward to cruise," said Fritz Wilke, Ford performance and enthusiast manager.

Show-goers will be able to walk up to the Ford Racing booth and purchase parts on site then have them installed on their cars. Customers who spend more than $500 will get two free limited "Powered by Ford" badges for their front fenders, while supplies last. These badges are not for sale in the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog, so this is a unique opportunity.

Mustang Garage is all-new for this year at the Ford Mustang Alley, which will feature more than 500 examples of the legendary Pony car, one of the largest displays of Mustangs in the country. The display also will feature a number of the company's other new products, including the 2010 Fusion and all-new Taurus.

"The great thing about Mustang Alley is we're able to showcase our strong new product lineup to car enthusiasts," Wilke said. "There is a lot of rich heritage with Mustang, and this is the perfect place to show off what we consider to be the best Pony yet, the 2010 Mustang.

"Mustang owners love to come out and show off their cars," Wilke added. "The turnout gets better year after year, and we're sure to see some exciting Mustangs showcased this year."

For a different taste of what the company offers, the west side of 9 Mile will house Ford's truck display. Visitors can check out the new F-150 SVT Raptor, various F-150s and the Ford monster truck, "Blue Thunder," with an appearance by driver Linsey Weenk.

Current and future products will line the streets, including displays by Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) and Ford Racing. Other companies joining in the Ford display include Roush Performance, Shelby Automobiles, Steeda Autosports and Falken Tire, all taking to the streets of Ferndale to join in the celebration.

"This is all about getting back and talking to the customers," Wilke said. "Customers can actually meet with Ford Racing engineers. You can ask the brand managers questions about the vehicles. We're getting in touch with enthusiasts," he added.

The Ford area also has two stages with live classic rock 'n' roll entertainment, food courts, and a kids' play zone, which will include a visit from Chip Foose and RIDEMAKERZ, a retailer that specializes in building customizable toy cars.

For visitors looking to take a piece of Mustang with them, Ford is selling Mustang Bears for $10, with all proceeds to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Mustang and Ford merchandise will also be available for sale.

Woodward Dream Cruise--it's all about the history

Presented by Motor City Casino, the Woodward Dream Cruise is the world's largest one-day celebration of classic car culture. The event attracts more than 1.5 million visitors and more than 40,000 muscle cars, street rods, custom collector and special-interest vehicles.

The annual cruise started as a small event to raise money for a soccer field in Ferndale, Mich., in 1995. Nelson House and a group of volunteers hoped to create the days of the 1950s and 1960s when cars, music and teenagers took over Woodward Avenue, America's first highway. That year 250,000 people participated--nearly ten times the number expected. Today, nearly 100 area charities benefit from the sale of official Dream Cruise merchandise and refreshments each year.