Right-hand drive Kiwi Mustangs officially on their way

27 August, 2015

So far, 425 individuals from the land of the long white cloud have raised their hands and committed to purchasing the new Ford Mustang when they finally arrive on domestic soil. And those concerned will be excited to learn that the first Ford Mustangs slated for the New Zealand market have started to make their way down Ford’s factory Flatrock Assembly Plant production line in Michigan.

The pre-sales success should come as no surprise, as this is the first time the Mustang has ever been available to order as a right-hand drive vehicle. New Zealanders aren’t alone in their excitement for the arrival of the Pony, with the United Kingdom also buying them in their droves. Almost 2000 orders for the Mustang have been taken in the UK since January, 80 per cent of UK buyers ordering the 416PS 5.0-litre V8 engine over the more fuel-efficient EcoBoost variation.

Kiwi prices for the Mustang start at $56,990 for the six-speed automatic transmission Fastback — which features a high-performance 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine — to $76,990 for the range-topping six-speed automatic GT 5.0-litre V8 convertible. While we don’t know which version of the Mustang has been the most popular for Kiwi buyers, we do know that Race Red is so far the most popular colour — an interesting characteristic for a blue-oval product!

While the first UK deliveries of the Mustang are expected in November 2015, New Zealand’s estimated times are unknown. However, when they do eventually hit the homeland, we’ll be sure to take one for a spin!

To finish first, first, you must build a winner

Can-Am royalty
Only three M20s were built, including the car that was destroyed at Road Atlanta. This car was later rebuilt. All three cars were sold at the end of the 1972 season. One of the cars would score another Can-Am victory in 1974, driven by a privateer, but the M20’s day was done. Can-Am racing faded away at the end of that season and was replaced by Formula 5000.
These days the cars are valued in the millions. It was unlikely that I would ever have seen one in the flesh if it hadn’t been that one day my editor asked me if I would mind popping over to Taranaki and having a look at a pretty McLaren M20 that somebody had built in their shed.
That is how I came to be standing by the car owned and built by truck driver Leon Macdonald.

Lunch with … Roly Levis

Lunching was not allowed during Covid 19 Lockdowns so our correspondent recalled a lunch he had with legendary New Zealand racing driver Rollo Athol Levis shortly before he died on 1 October 2013 at the age of 88. Michael Clark caught up with Roly and members of his family over vegetable soup