We drive Ford's first global Mustang to Australia's biggest Mustang gathering
The National Concours of the Mustang Owners Club of Australia Inc (MOCA) was held with a difference this year, with the first global Mustang taking centre stage at the 2016 event on the Gold Coast over the Easter weekend.
To mark the occasion, we took a new 2016 Ford Mustang GT on a road trip from Melbourne for the event, which was attended by members from across the country and kicked off with a welcome function on Good Friday.
The major sponsor was Mustang Motorsport, which displayed its first Queensland-built Roush R627 Mustang, as well as one of the 500 limited-edition 2007 Saleen/Parnelli Ford Mustangs. There was also a nice selection of three wide-body Shelby GT500 Super Snake Mustangs.
Mustang Motorsport also choose the event to announce it will produce an Allan Moffat Edition S550 Mustang to honour Moffat’s 1969 Boss 302 Mustang touring car.
First thing on Saturday morning, Mustangs entered in the concours were inspected by the judges as the other members assembled for a cruise through the Gold Coast hinterland towards Tamborine National Park.
Concours judging took place at local Ford dealership and event sponsor Sunshine Ford, which displayed a new V8 Mustang and a Falcon XR8. The cars were inspected inside and out by the judges, including putting them on a workshop hoist.
Sunday morning saw the Show & Shine and National Concours display at Broadwater Parklands, where all cars were on display to the public.
There were Mustang on display from every state of Australia except the Northern Territory, including a great range of Shelby Mustangs from three different states and periods — everything from a late ’60s unrestored Shelby GT350 convertible to the a more modern early-2000s GT500KR.
Other notable vehicles on display included a number of 2016 Mustangs in a variety of specs and colours, a 2012 Boss 302, a couple of late ’60s California Specials, a Gone in 60 Seconds Eleanor replica, a selection of fourth-generation Mustang convertibles, a 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt edition and even a recently fully restored original Model T.
The MOCA is a national club with different state chapters catering for all Mustangs — stock or modified, from the first 1964 model to the brand-new model currently arriving in dealerships.
Thanks to the team at the Mustang Owners Club of Queensland – especially Sandra Whitney for her hospitality — for allowing us to be part of this year’s momentous event.
To find out more about the Mustang Owners Club of Australia in your state visit www.mustang.org.au.
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