Article from Driven World - Originally Published in 2014

 - Written by Scott Martin for Driven World and originally published in 2014 - 

Walking into the parts department at Mustangs, Etc., it looks like a typical Mom & Pop shop with a lot of new and used Mustang parts hanging on the walls and in display cabinets. But once you walk through the back door, you enter a warehouse full of floor-to-ceiling shelves full of NOS (New-Old-Stock), newly manufactured and original used parts that keeps going and going.

Starting out as a Mustang dealership in parts and service in 1976, owner Arnold Marks has been successfully building the Mustangs, Etc. brand for almost 40 years, beginning with the first building on Bessemer Street in Van Nuys. The structures attached to the original store and warehouse have gone through several transitions, most recently serving customers looking to store their classic Mustang and other Ford models.

A virtual salvage yard of rust-free Mustang and classic Ford parts of every description

But that’s not even the half of it…just give Arnold a hint that you would like to see “the Warehouse”, a huge separate building leased in 2003, and he will enthusiastically give you the tour of a wonderland of rare vehicles awaiting restoration among a virtual salvage yard of rust-free Mustang and classic Ford parts of every description. He and his son Garrett have even bought out inventories of parts from several companies that went out of business and keep those in separate sections. The most recent is a treasure-trove of NOS ’64 to ’67 model year Mustang parts.

The to-be-restored vehicles in the warehouse deserve a story of their own, but here’s the short list, and all with no rust! Mustangs: 1967 S-Code Fastback 390; 1969 428 Cobra Jet GT; 1970 Mach 1 351 4-Speed; 1966 Cougar GR S-Code; 1969 Cougar Eliminator Coupe; 1940 Delivery; 1949 Ford 2-Door Shoebox.

When the opportunity arose in 2007, a large facility was leased for the increasing service needs of Mustangs, Etc’s customers. That business has continued to grow as the facility’s reputation spreads through the hard work of Service Manager Mike O’Brien and his talented staff. There is currently no body shop on the premises, but Mike’s crew works in conjunction with several highly credible shops to partially or completely restore several cars per year. One current example is the total restoration of an original Shelby GT 350 (see photos on the rotisserie.) Another great example of restraint in restoration is a 1965 Mustang built the last day of production at the San Jose plant (and sold locally by Fairview Ford) that the Mark’s were able to purchase with documentation and will keep and possibly sell as original because a “car is only original once”.

Future plans for the original adjoining building at 14843 Bessemer include a new office/showroom with a separate showroom to spotlight three or four specially restored vehicles. As with all brick-and-mortar businesses these days, the internet and social media aspects of the organization are being addressed. Sephanie Pacheco is the in-house coordinator who definitely has her hands full!

Arnold is being honored at a presentation at the official Mustang 50^th Anniversary Party in Las Vegas

As the 50^th Anniversary of the Mustang occurs this year, Mustangs, Etc. is right in the thick of it. As a 2008 recipient of the Lee Iacocca Award, Arnold is being honored at a presentation at the official Mustang 50^th Anniversary Party in Las Vegas on April 19^th at the Luxor Hotel in conjunction with Craig Cunningham of the Mustang Owners Club of California. Also, one of his 1965 Mustangs was just photographed at Will Rogers State Beach in artwork to be featured at the 5-day event.

Talking to Arnold, it definitely sounds like he takes his work home with him. Above his multi-car garage, his wife Jann lets him have a “playroom” with all of his automobilia. But that is a small reward for someone who has always done it all for the love of the cars…yes, it’s great to make a good living and raise a family in your life-long career, but it’s all really for the fun of it if you’re a true car guy!