Mustangs to muster en masse
Invercargill is expected to live up to its petrolhead reputation this weekend, as Ford Mustangs park up in town for a convention.
It is the second time the city has hosted the National Mustang Owners Club Convention, which is in its 38th year, after it hosted the event in 2011.
Southern Mustang Club club president John Lyons said its club members owned 65 Mustang cars between them, and he believed there were a lot more homed in Southland.
One car owner taking part in the convention from Christchurch had spent at least $400,000 on their car to restore it, Lyons said.
Overall, the club expects to host 335 attendees from the six Mustang clubs throughout the country, with some convention goers driving cars from as far afield as Auckland.
About 20 cars would be coming from the Auckland club and 55 from Christchurch. In total, 175 cars from throughout New Zealand will be showcased, dating back from Mustang’s inception in 1964 through to the present day.
Lyons said the car show was an excellent chance for the public to get up close and personal with the muscle car.
For Wyndham Mustang enthusiasts, Garry and Leonie Heywood, the convention allows them to indulge their passion closer to home than usual.
Regular attendees of the New Zealand convention over the past decade, they have also travelled to the United States to attend Mustang events.
In 2014, they visited Las Vegas for the 50th birthday of the iconic car, with a highlight being the opportunity to experience the latest models being put through their paces.
‘‘We had a few hot laps in the new Shelby Mustangs around the Las Vegas speedway,’’ Garry said.
Ford came to the party displaying rare models, including some of the original one-of-a-kind prototypes from 1964.
Another trip to them to the east coast of the US for the annual Mustang Week in Myrtle Beach, with nearly 3000 of the cars on display.
Holding the convention locally means less travel for the Heywoods, but they are excited about the opportunity for Southern motor enthusiasts to experience these cars up close.
‘‘We miss out on having the holiday, but it allows more of our club to participate.’’
Highlights of the weekend include a public car show at Stadium Southland on Saturday morning.
People could also expect to see the cars on the road on Sunday morning with a rally to Balfour for lunch, before a scenic return through Central Southland to Teretonga Park.
Mustang Fast Facts