In this particular movie, a duo of ’66 Mustang convertibles were used throughout the film for various scenes.

Coming in at number four on our Top Five list of movie Mustangs is a fairytale dream come true for fictional commoner Mia Thermopolis, played by Anne Hathaway, and her 1966 Mustang Convertible. It ranks number four on my list (it is in the upper 20’s and 30’s for most others, if at all) because I want this happy ending with a Mustang in my life! Keep the tiara, give me the car!

No. 4 – “The Princess Diaries”

In the flick, Hathaway perfectly plays an awkward, unpopular 15-year old (who else can relate to this growing up?) living with her mother and cat in San Francisco. Our damsel in distress sports a battered, blue 1966 ragtop coupe throughout much of the original film, with the same car reprising as a much healthier, shinier pony car in the movie sequel, “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement,” in 2004.

Image courtesy of IMDb

In one of the most memorable shared scenes, Mia spends the day driving her grandmother Queen Clarisse Renaldi of Genovia, played by Julie Andrews, around the city in her neglected Mustang.

In the end, not only does Mia receive a complete makeover and princess lessons, her Mustang finally receives a much needed restoration – one fit for a princess.

Where Is It Now?

Disney sold the 1966 Mustang when filming wrapped. The current owner proudly displays it at local shows, where it draws attention as a celebrity show car, and authentic piece of Ford history.

The ’66 now belongs to a private owner in Connecticut. On a Facebook page dedicated to its movie star lineage, the owner states she purchased the car from Buena Vista Pictures and Disney in 2003.

“The Mustang was originally red in color, but Disney painted it, and to make it look older they oversprayed it with something to make it appear dull and old” she wrote. “We were able to strip off that dull look and make it look better. The car itself is a straight six-cylinder with no power anything.”

She also explained there were actually two identical Mustangs used in the filming of the movie code named PD1 and PD2. “We have PD1; PD2 was purchased by someone in Texas who did a total restoration to it and spent thousands to bring it to original. PD2 was used in the gas station scene and one of the highway scenes.

“PD1 had the most screen time, which included the famous trolley car accident, and the last-minute thought to get to the ball in the rain. No body work has been done to PD1, only mechanical repairs in the front end, and springs were replaced.”