Classic and contemporary come together in the 2023 Canberra Mustang Show at Viking Park on Sunday 26 February. Cars from across the region and as far as the north and south coasts, Sydney and rural NSW, will roll their way into the park for the charity show day – with vehicles from the 1960s right through to those fresh off the production line.

“We’re hoping to have an example of just about every model that has been made and I think we’ll actually do it this year,” says John Perryman, spokesman for the ACT Chapter of the Mustang Owners Club of Australia.

Along with stunning cars, there will be coffee, cold drinks, ice cream, donuts, and trade stalls operating throughout the day, plus a special appearance from Supercar driver Thomas Randle, driver of the #55 Castrol Tickford Mustang.

The event occurs every two years and this year’s nominated charity is the Australian Federal Police Veterans Association, a cause dear to the club’s heart.

Ian ‘Jacko’ Jackson was an integral part of the club until the former policeman unexpectedly passed away in September 2021. He was passionate about his cars and mates in blue, and is dearly missed by all who knew him.

From the time Ian and his wife Heather joined back in 2009, he took the reins organising the charity event. He was also an instrumental member in establishing the AFP Veterans Association and served as its treasurer.

“During the bushfires in 2020, he realised that veterans, their members, needed assistance when tragedy or hardships happened,” says Heather Jackson, welfare co-ordinator of the AFP Veterans Association Ian ‘Jacko” Jackson Welfare fund.

Ian joined the AFP when he was 19. His wife says he basically grew up on the force during the 16 years he spent there. He left the force for an overseas opportunity, but, like many other former police officers, always came back to the community.

Former co-worker and president of the association, David Savage says they aim to assist former AFP members, to connect them with their community, and help them navigate the lasting impacts of their service.

“They suffer from PTSD and trying to adjust to life outside of the police, and also the life expectancy of a former AFP member is 62 and a half years. It’s really horrific,” David says.

He says the association was honoured to be nominated for the event by a club that loved their good mate Jacko as much as they did.

Heather drives the black Mustang with small pink highlights that her husband had built for her.

“I have pages and pages of him building the Mustang … he did that car because he said ‘I am building that car for my wife’,” she smiles.

According to John Mustang cars have become a pop culture symbol, featuring in iconic action movies such as John Wick and James Bond.

John says he was a car enthusiast in his 20s, but then his career in the Navy saw him spending more time on a ship than behind the wheel. Giving in to the itch that wouldn’t go away, he bought his yellow 1966 Mustang in 2017 and joined the club to connect with like-minded people.

“You really do need to tap into that expertise concerning who is best to take it to maintain,” he says.

The club meets at least a month and regularly go on day trips to smaller towns, stopping for a meal to give regional communities a bit of an economic boost. 

With around 70 members on the books, John says they average about 20 cars hitting the road on a run day – “which is quite a colourful display when you see them … travelling out to one of these events”.

Andrew, a member of the show organising committee, says the Mustang club has a great family focus and there are a lot of women involved either as owners, partners or enthusiasts.

“It’s a really good outlet to get away and do social things … we’ve got people from eclectic backgrounds, people who know a lot about cars and people who know nothing about cars,” he says.

Andrew first joined the club in 2011 before he owned a Mustang, though soon he bought his own – a 1965 Mustang Fastback, still with its original engine, but with right-hand drive conversion done by a previous owner.

“I think when people see a car like that they think ‘that’s nice’. What they don’t see is a picture of the car at the time of purchase when it was delivered as a rusty wreck. The labour of love and the level of detail that goes into preserving one of these cars is significant,” he says.

John O’Keefe bought his 1965 Mustang Fastback as a bare shell in 2010 and has restored it from the ground up.

“It’s got later model motor and running gear underneath it, so it’s a bit of old and a bit of,” he says.

Being part of the club on and off for 20 years, John has made many friends through chatting, sharing interests and advice, and even helping build some members’ cars with and for them. He has turned his passion into a profession, leaving his former job to start his own classic car and hot-rod restoration business.

Owner of a stunning red 1964 convertible, Warwick Elliot purchased his vehicle in 2001. Rebuilding it after an incident, he says that with upgraded suspension, it drives like a modern vehicle while retaining its striking vintage look.

Warwick and his wife joined the club as soon as they got their first Mustang and enjoy the social aspects and travel.

“I’ve met a lot of beautiful people here from all walks of life, all over Australia because we’ve taken it to nationals,” he says.

One of the vehicles that is sure to turn heads is the 1988 factory police car, coming all the way from Washington State – one of 12 cars used by the sheriff’s department. With only 15,000 made in a ten-year span, they are highly sought after, particularly by ex-police officers who want to restore them.

Owner Don Frey* brought it back from the US in 2014, however, he’s been a member of the club since the 1990s.

“There’s a club registration scheme, which is a cheap registration with limited day usage. All the other states have already got what they call the 60 days scheme plus your club days. Canberra has been on the brink of having this for quite some time and, hopefully, this is the year,” Don says.

At the more modern end, Tony Whichelo has a striking blue 2016 Mustang Super Snake; one of 16 made in that year, one of only four in that colour, and the only one in Canberra. He says it’s a genuine Shelby and on the American heritage list.

He and his wife have been a part of the club for a couple of years and enjoy being part of a community who enjoy each other’s company and shared interests.

“Everyone has a real passion for vehicles. You can tell by the way they look after them, the way that they drive them. People that own these sorts of cars don’t do crazy things, they’re very responsible,” he says.

*Name has been changed

The 2023 Canberra Mustang Show, Viking Park, Sunday 26 February 8.30am-2.30pm; facebook.com/groups/canberramustangshow

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