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New Mustangs secured in 30 seconds

16 June, 2014

 

The nerves of Ford executives about releasing there “baby” were eased when the first 500 Euro-spec 2015 Mustangs were reserved within the first 30 seconds of the UEFA Champions League Final in Europe.

There were 9300 people who tried to secure one of the 500 spots when registrations opened during the match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. The 500 secured ended up being spread across 20 countries

The vehicle goes on sale officially next year and it is the first one ever to be made available across Europe.

“We knew there was huge excitement building for the new Ford Mustang coming to Europe, but the response during the UCL Final was overwhelming,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, marketing, sales and service, Ford of Europe.

“It was a truly special way to kick off the Ford Mustang era in Europe.”

The models made available for the UEFA final release were the fastback models in Race Red and the convertible models in Magnetic Silver. Securers were able to choose from Ford’s all-new 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine with more than 309 PS and 407 Nm of torque; or the 5.0-litre V8 engine which delivers more than 426 PS and 529 Nm of torque.  They’ll also get Ford’s SYNC 2 connectivity ad navigation system,, heated and ventilated seats, Park Assist, black leather trim, chrome detailing, and 19-inch alloy wheels.

You can see the thoughts behind the redesign of the iconic vehicle here:

NZ Classic Car magazine, July August 2025 issue 400, on sale now

15 June, 2025

Good for the soul, a dose of Hemi Orange – Chrysler’s champion Charger
The Australian-developed Chrysler Charger was a game changer for the company in 1971, as it faced a faltering start introducing its new VH range. The stylish big coupe signalled a massive change of direction and emphasis for Chrysler.
Auckland racing driver Rod Coppins raced successfully in Australia and New Zealand. Rod found success behind the wheel of a couple of Chargers, and it is a special E49 R/T in the custody of Mike Todd for some years, that is our feature car.
A full restoration of this car has been completed at Auto Restorations (AR) in Christchurch. We recently sampled the car, ready to be shipped back to Mike and spoke to AR’s Harry Dawber, leading the team who completed the superb restoration of this rare piece of NZ motor racing history.
I mentioned that Chrysler Chargers were never built to this standard as we walked around the gleaming Charger in its Hemi Orange colour scheme.
“We took a lot of time getting those shut lines exactly right. It’s been a great car to work on, and the paint and trim have been very well done by the team here.”

Britannia rules the roads – Royal Tour Cars – part 2

13 June, 2025

Royal rollers and fancy Fords
Ford Zodiacs had transported the Queen Mother during her tour in 1958 but five years on, their glitz had perhaps faded a bit too much for an actual monarch. As there was no longer a convertible version of Britain’s Zephyr or Zodiac on offer, Ford looked to their American arm for a replacement, finding it in the huge Ford Galaxie. The Public Service Garage purchased the car at around £3000 for royal tour work and VIP transport.