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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!

The Great River Road

4 July, 2025

A few years ago my family, knowing my fondness for driving, gave me the book Unforgettable Road Trips: Thirty-Six Drives of a Lifetime by Martin Derrick. Most of the road trips listed take less than a day in places like Scotland, Monaco, and Australia, plus one in New Zealand. Most of these places were too far to go just for a short drive but four of them would take several days. My interest was piqued, and those four drives were added to the bucket list. To date, I have done three of them: ‘Route 66’ (USA 21 days), ‘State Highway 6’ (NZ 10 days) and ‘The Great River Road’ (USA 22 days). You can drive all of them in less time, but you could also fly over them. We wanted a decent immersion in their charms.
The great river referred to is the Mississippi. While the name conjures the deep south, the river actually starts at the bottom of the great lakes, before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico about 3800km later. The great road is more of a concept than a specific strip of tarmac, as you can drive down either side of the river on various routes. Regardless of which side you drive, time should be kept aside for detours to places such as Nashville, which is famous for something or other.

A diamond in the rough

24 June, 2025

Two years ago, Lew finished a thorough restoration and the impressive ute has taken on a new life and colour. Lew plays down the amount of effort required but, despite his protestations, I suspect he put a lot of time into the project. A few unwanted tenants were evicted along the way.
“It didn’t take me long. There had been mice living in the firewall, which had caused a bit of damage. It apparently broke down and was pushed into a shed. It was 20 years to the day when I pulled it out and it sat in my other shed for 3 years before I started on it. That’s why it’s in such good order — it’s been kept in a shed for so long and still is.”