Ford enthusiasts had plenty to enjoy at this year’s Lake Mirror Classic, which took over downtown Lakeland, Florida, from October 17–19. Running for nearly a quarter century, this year’s event delivered a strong showing for Blue Oval fans with a wide range of historic and high-performance machines, including a spotlight on 60 years of Shelby American.
From concours-quality Cobras to custom-built muscle machines, the 2025 edition proved once again why this show draws enthusiasts to Central Florida from across the country.
What sets the Lake Mirror Classic apart isn’t just the cars, though there were plenty of impressie rides. It’s the mission behind the event. Run entirely by volunteers and free to the public, the show blends a community-focused spirit with national-caliber vehicles. All entry fees go directly to local charities, and since 2022, the event has raised over six figures for causes throughout the region.
This year’s show had no shortage of Blue Oval power. The Shelby anniversary celebration drew a strong lineup of modern and historic models and late-model interpretations of Carroll Shelby’s vision. With 2025 marking six decades since the debut of the original Shelby GTs, the timing couldn’t have been better. In honor of the anniversary, Shelby American president Gary Patterson served as the event’s Grand Marshal.
First-gen Ford GT designer Camilo Pardo also made an appearance, adding a stronger connection to the Ford legacy. As a result, there was also a strong showing of Ford supercars, including the GT90 concept car, which was once considered a Ford GT successor…