For many families, a car is more than just a way to get from A to B. It is a member of the family. It is the backdrop for first dates, the vessel for road trips, and a rite of passage passed from parent to child.

We often talk about the future, but for customers like Tom and David, the Ford electric vehicle lineup isn’t about leaving the past behind. It's about keeping the family tradition alive.

The Family Photo Album

For Tom, a father of three in Texas, the Mustang brand is woven into his DNA. His grandparents bought a 1966 Mustang that eventually passed down through six children. Tom remembers it sitting in a barn for 14 years before his parents restored it. He drove it to high school every single day.

"It has become quite literally the family photo album," Tom said. "You don't just give that away. You keep it forever."

When it came time for Tom to find a vehicle for his own growing family, he wanted to honor that history without sacrificing modern needs. He found the answer in the Mustang Mach-E.

While the badge connects him to his parents, the experience connects him to his children. The spacious interior fits three kids comfortably, and the frunk has become the go-to spot for everything from detailing kits to lego kits. But it is the driving dynamics that bridge the generation gap.

His children constantly ask for "the zoomies." It is their word for the instant, smooth acceleration that pushes them back into their seats with a giggle.

"Mustang means untethered. It is untamed," Tom said. "You feel it when you drive it. It has that exact spirit that has been persisting for 60 years."

Between school runs and "carpool karaoke" sessions in the driveway, Tom has found that filling up with electricity at home is simply easier than the old routine. He isn't replacing the memory of the '66. He is building new memories with the same spirit.

Towing the Legacy

David, a mechanical engineer in Wisconsin, sits at the intersection of old-school mechanics and new-school innovation. His garage is a shrine to Ford history. It houses everything from a 1966 Fairlane race car to the Rangoon Red 1966 F-250 Camper Special his father ordered after returning from service in the Air Force.

"Combustion is great for a hobby," David said. "But it's not how to get from here to there anymore."

David chose the F-150 Lightning not to replace his passion for classic engines, but to support them. He uses his electric truck to tow his vintage gas-powered racers to the track. For David, it is the ultimate best-of-both-worlds scenario. He gets the visceral thrill of the track on the weekend and the quiet comfort of an electric truck for the drive home.

The transition was logical for an engineer's mind. David noted that the low center of gravity provides handling that previous trucks couldn't match. Even his wife, an artist, prefers the Lightning for long trips because of the lack of engine noise. Plus, the ability to wake up to a full charge helps remove the daily hassle of fuel stops.

No Turning Back

Ask either of them if they miss their gas-powered daily drivers, and the answer is immediate.

"I do not miss having a gas car in the least bit," Tom said.

For him, the hesitation about switching to electric vanished the moment he realized how seamlessly it fit his life. The routine of stopping at a gas station has been replaced by the simplicity of plugging in at home. He wakes up to a "full tank," ready for the commute or the carpool line.

David is even more direct. Despite his garage full of V8 engines, he views internal combustion as a weekend pleasure rather than a daily necessity.

"I can't buy another new internal combustion engine car," David said, citing his love for the technology in his electric vehicle. After driving the Lightning, he realized how much the "noise fatigue" — the vibration and sound of a gas engine — wore him down on long trips. The electric experience is smooth and quiet in comparison.

For both families, the verdict is clear: They will always love the cars of their past, but they are embracing an electric future.

A New Chapter

Both Tom and David prove that loving the heritage of American automotive culture doesn't mean staying stuck in neutral. Whether it is the roar of a vintage engine or the silent, powerful pull of a modern electric motor, the thrill remains the same.

The technology has changed, but the feeling is exactly what it has always been. It is a Ford.

Cyndi Booker is Global Marketing & Partnerships manager.