SMALL FORD SUNDAY
Australia’s finest Ford fest.
In what seems to be no time at all, another 12 months have flown by, it’s the peak of Summer in Australia, and time for arguably the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest gathering of classic Fords — Small Ford Sunday.
Organized by the RSOC of Victoria, an ever-growing club formed back in 1996, the classic Ford-biased show ’n’ shine is held annually on the first Sunday in February. Even with an unfavourable weather forecast (a chilly 25 degrees!) some 264 vehicles turned up to display at Melbourne’s Williamstown Seaworks shipyard — a great venue in one of the city’s most scenic locations.
A mostly overcast day saw a few sunny breaks and a huge variety of cars turn up, including Prefects, Anglias, Zephyrs, Fiestas, Sierras and some personal British imports, as well as the ever strong contingent of Cortinas, Capris and Escorts — especially the Mk2s, this year being celebrated and exhibited inside the large warehouse. RS2000s, both two-door and the Aussie produced four-door, factory flatfront 2-litres, Rallye packs, and Sundowner panelvans to name a few of the Aussies special editions produced in the Mk2 range.
There was plenty for the punters to see, from concours restorations right through to competition vehicles and a 2000 bhp Mk1 Capri. When the owner gave this beast a kick in the guts, the bark of that serious motor could be heard for miles.
With fantastic support from local Ford businesses like RS Shop and Yesterford, and great attendances from the RSOC of Victoria members, the Mk1 Cortina Owners’ Club and Capri Owners’ Club, the quantity and quality of vehicles on show was at an exception level.
All classic Ford owners are welcome to the event, even when not associated with any clubs, so the event seems to grow in popularity and public interest each year. Some interstate owners travelled a crazy 1800 km round trip to be a part of this brilliant event.
So next year when Winter sets in for the northern part of the globe, why not head south for a summer holiday and drop in to enjoy a visit to Small Ford Sunday? With its growing reputation for being able to draw out some of Australia’s finest classic Blue Ovals, Melbourne’s Small Ford Sunday is becoming one of the biggest Ford events in the Southern Hemisphere.