Mustang-mania as cars descend on Hawke's Bay

Graeme Bicknell (left), Tom Parkinson and Eric Kyle with their classic American Ford Mustang cars which will be part of the 170 set to hit the Bay roads this weekend. Photo / Warren Buckland

Hawke's Bay will be the home of horsepower and hot looks over Labour Weekend as 170 sparkling Ford Mustangs gather for the 39th annual convention.

The event is being staged by the Manawatū Mustang Owners Club, which takes in the Hawke's Bay region.

"It is going to be great," Hastings-based club committee member Tom Parkinson said.

He is one of about eight local owners of the classic American cars, and said almost every model produced from 1964 to 2018 would be represented.

"There will be some pretty special cars here," he said.

It's been about five years since the convention was last staged in the Bay.

A highlight for the public will be the grand display set to be staged at the Pettigrew Green Arena on Saturday, October 20, between 10am and 4pm, with proceeds going to the Hawke's Bay Rescue Helicopter Trust.

About 90 Mustangs will be in the arena and the rest will be lined up outside.

Parkinson said he started out with the club "many years ago" the events would draw around 80 to 100 cars.

"So it's grown pretty well."

He has had his Mustang for just over 20 years and said he had always "mucked around with Ford V8s".

He heard about the 1976 model he runs when it was in Wairoa and thought he better go take a look. He ended up buying it.

The local enthusiasts will join fellow Mustang owners who will be arriving from as far afield as Invercargill and Whangarei.

As well as putting on a fine show on Saturday, the owners will also assemble at the Hawke's Bay Racing Club around noon on Sunday for competitions "and other fun".

They will also take part in a run across rural roads around the Taihape Rd and Matapiro area.

Parkinson said they would be seen and certainly heard as their V8s sang.