For 45 years, the Ford Mustang has been lighting up the silver screen.

From the time of its introduction at the World’s Fair in New York four and a half decades ago, the iconic pony car has appeared in more than 500 movies and hundreds of television programs.

Ever since 1964 when the Mustang appeared in the Bond film Goldfinger, filmmakers have often used the Mustang to symbolize the quintessential American cool. In the 1968 film Bullitt, Steve McQueen played a hardened police detective chasing down killers in a 1968 Mustang GT390.

But the Mustang can also be aspirational. In the 2007 film The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, Freeman’s character is dying and lists “Drive a Shelby Mustang” as one of the things he longs to do before he kicks the proverbial bucket.

Here are just a few of the Mustang’s memorable moments on the silver screen:

Goldfinger (1964) – This Bond film gets high Mustang marks for being the first movie to show off Ford’s new sporty car, a white 1964½ convertible driven by a beautiful woman assassin. After a brief chase in the Swiss Alps, Sean Connery in his Aston Marin DB5 borrows a trick from a chariot racer in Ben Hur to shred the Mustang’s tires and its rocker panel.

Bullitt (1968) – Steve McQueen is the hardened police detective who drives a 1968 Mustang GT390 in a nine-minute, 42-second car chase against killers in a black Dodge charger through the hilly streets in and around San Francisco.

Diamonds Are Forever (1971) – As James Bond, Sean Connery eludes police pursuit in a red 1971 Mustang Mach I fastback on two wheels to squeeze down a narrow alley in downtown Las Vegas. The car tilts up on the passenger side wheels entering the alley and exits the alley on the driver’s side wheels, a pretty neat trick.

Gone in 60 Seconds (1974) – For slam-bang action, it’s hard to beat this B-movie about an insurance-man-turned-car-thief forced to steal 48 cars which have been given women’s names to foil eavesdroppers. The second half of the movie is a 40-minute car chase that destroys 93 cars, leaving the getaway vehicle, an orange 1973 Mustang Mach I, much worse for wear.

Bull Durham (1988) – Kevin Costner is the fading ballplayer in this sports comedy love triangle with Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. Since Costner’s character once tasted glory for a brief time in the major league’s “show,” it’s only fitting that he picked up a 1968 Shelby Mustang GT350 convertible along the way.

True Crime (1999) – Clint Eastwood plays a reporter with a messy personal life who gets one more chance to get it right after something doesn’t add up in the case of a Death Row inmate facing imminent execution. His car matches the man – a 1983 Mustang convertible with more than a few miles on it.

Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000) – In this remake of the earlier film, retired car thief Nicolas Cage has to boost 50 cars in 24 hours to save his kid brother from killers. The ultimate prize is Eleanor, a silver and black 1967 Shelby GT500 styled by car builder Chip Foose.

The Princess Diaries (2001) – Anne Hathaway stars as Mia, an awkward 15-year-old who learns that she’s actually a princess by her royal grandmother, played by Julie Andrews. Initially, all Mia wants to do is stay unnoticed at school and get her 1966 Mustang fixed up in time for her 16th birthday.

Hollywood Homicide (2002) – Josh Hartnett and Harrison Ford star as detectives in this action “dramedy.” Their car of choice? A 2003 silver Saleen S281 supercharged Mustang.

Cinderella Story (2004) – An unpopular girl, played by Hillary Duff, is exploited by her wicked stepmother. She loses her cell phone instead of a glass slipper at the ball, but she gains a prince. Her car of choice: a sky blue 1965 Mustang convertible.

I Am Legend (2007) – Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in New York City, played by Will Smith, struggles valiantly to find a cure. Smith’s co-star in the movie? A red and white 2007 Shelby Mustang.

Quotes
“Mustang has had the most roles of any Ford vehicle, and there are no competing cars that come close. From a product placement perspective, Mustang is the gift that keeps giving and giving.” - Bob Witter, of Ford Global Brand Entertainment (FGBE)

“The Mustang set off a revolution almost to the level of the Model T in terms of making a cool sports car affordable to the average person. When you were driving a Mustang, you were special. You were noticed. You stood out. And today the Mustang delivers the same attributes.” - Bob Witter, of Ford Global Brand Entertainment (FGBE)