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Gallery: Fab Fords Forever Holds 36th Annual Event
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The 36th annual Fabulous Fords Forever took place on April 24th, filling the huge parking lot of Irwindale Speedway and Event Center with all number of Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, deTomaso, Shelby, Saleen and other Ford-powered products, whose owners arrived early and stayed late to celebrate love of the Blue Oval cars they cherish.
It was a typically sunny Southern California day, one that began with everyone dressed in jackets, but by the time public gates opened shortly before 10AM, shorts, tank tops and short-sleeved t-shirts were prevalent on the grounds. The temps went into the high 80s by mid-afternoon, but didn’t darken the spirits of Ford fans, who continued to arrive well into the day.
Ford Motor Company used this event to showcase three milestones: 90 years of the Flathead V8, 60 years of the Shelby Cobra and 55 years of the Mercury Cougar. Under its own canopy, Bill Stroppe’s “Big Oly”, the off-road Bronco that Stroppe and Parnelli Jones immortalized in Baja was available to see - but not to touch. There was a 1966 white Ford Mustang that was submitted to Lee Iacocca but never slated for production. Both of these special vehicles garnered their share of attention.
Nearly 1,000 Ford, Mercury and Lincoln products had been registered for the show, together with dealer and vendor displays. There were 38 Ford Car Club Council member clubs in attendance. Car displays ranged in age from Model T to Model A to the expected corporate display of the latest Ford cars and trucks. To keep everyone occupied with noise, vibration and harshness, hourly drifting exhibitions - featuring Ford Mustang cars, off course - took place from 11 in the morning until a 3PM finale.
Ford managed to array the cars throughout this vast lot according to type and vintage, noting the vintage of vehicles to section them. Ford placed early Thunderbirds together, for instance, then placed later-year models like with like. And of course there were vendors wanting to showcase their updates for a variety of different cars, along with food vendors to keep everyone sated. With the heat of this day, the shaved ice booth did great business.
By 11 in the morning, a line had formed for a superb autograph session at the Saleen display, where Steve Saleen showcased his current cars - including one that he raced in SRO’s GT4 class in Sonoma last weekend. He was joined by Cleo Shelby, Carroll Shelby’s seventh and final wife, by Miss Hurst Shifter Linda Vaughn and by Willie Stroppe, Bill’s son. The line stretched at least 50 deep the entire hour this quartet were available to meet and greet.
This writer found a few vehicles that caused a pause-and-stop to learn more. One was a right-hand-drive Falcon GT replica, a 30-year-old restoration that could have fooled many in attendance with its time since a revival. The car was clean and well-put-together and its owner, who was born and raised in Australia, is the one that imported the car nearly 30 years ago after its restoration. Close by was a 1985 RS200, one of only 10 in the USA, a sign claimed. This rear-engine car is one of 200 constructed. It looked fast standing still.
A customer-owned Ford GT allowed fans of this car, which has been exceptionally successful as a racing vehicle, to take a close look without fencing or ropes around the car. There were Mustangs with winged doors, many more extravagant updates to recent Mustangs, a pair of DeTomaso Panteras (four were expected; two made the trek), a couple of “rat-rod” Model As and Fodors, a 1966 Sunbeam Tiger owned by a younger dude whose sister has adopted her own Sunbeam Alpine, preferring the four-cylinder while brother likes the Six.
Thankfully the day wasn’t as hot as last year’s 35th edition, which was held in July when temps were over 100, rather than its regular April date. This, of course, was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There were no pandemic requirements for the outdoor event and everyone seemed overjoyed to be back to the regular date of celebrating Fabulous Fords Forever.
Click Here to Begin Slideshow
The 36th annual Fabulous Fords Forever took place on April 24th, filling the huge parking lot of Irwindale Speedway and Event Center with all number of Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, deTomaso, Shelby, Saleen and other Ford-powered products, whose owners arrived early and stayed late to celebrate love of the Blue Oval cars they cherish.
It was a typically sunny Southern California day, one that began with everyone dressed in jackets, but by the time public gates opened shortly before 10AM, shorts, tank tops and short-sleeved t-shirts were prevalent on the grounds. The temps went into the high 80s by mid-afternoon, but didn’t darken the spirits of Ford fans, who continued to arrive well into the day.
Ford Motor Company used this event to showcase three milestones: 90 years of the Flathead V8, 60 years of the Shelby Cobra and 55 years of the Mercury Cougar. Under its own canopy, Bill Stroppe’s “Big Oly”, the off-road Bronco that Stroppe and Parnelli Jones immortalized in Baja was available to see - but not to touch. There was a 1966 white Ford Mustang that was submitted to Lee Iacocca but never slated for production. Both of these special vehicles garnered their share of attention.
Nearly 1,000 Ford, Mercury and Lincoln products had been registered for the show, together with dealer and vendor displays. There were 38 Ford Car Club Council member clubs in attendance. Car displays ranged in age from Model T to Model A to the expected corporate display of the latest Ford cars and trucks. To keep everyone occupied with noise, vibration and harshness, hourly drifting exhibitions - featuring Ford Mustang cars, off course - took place from 11 in the morning until a 3PM finale.
Ford managed to array the cars throughout this vast lot according to type and vintage, noting the vintage of vehicles to section them. Ford placed early Thunderbirds together, for instance, then placed later-year models like with like. And of course there were vendors wanting to showcase their updates for a variety of different cars, along with food vendors to keep everyone sated. With the heat of this day, the shaved ice booth did great business.
By 11 in the morning, a line had formed for a superb autograph session at the Saleen display, where Steve Saleen showcased his current cars - including one that he raced in SRO’s GT4 class in Sonoma last weekend. He was joined by Cleo Shelby, Carroll Shelby’s seventh and final wife, by Miss Hurst Shifter Linda Vaughn and by Willie Stroppe, Bill’s son. The line stretched at least 50 deep the entire hour this quartet were available to meet and greet.
This writer found a few vehicles that caused a pause-and-stop to learn more. One was a right-hand-drive Falcon GT replica, a 30-year-old restoration that could have fooled many in attendance with its time since a revival. The car was clean and well-put-together and its owner, who was born and raised in Australia, is the one that imported the car nearly 30 years ago after its restoration. Close by was a 1985 RS200, one of only 10 in the USA, a sign claimed. This rear-engine car is one of 200 constructed. It looked fast standing still.
A customer-owned Ford GT allowed fans of this car, which has been exceptionally successful as a racing vehicle, to take a close look without fencing or ropes around the car. There were Mustangs with winged doors, many more extravagant updates to recent Mustangs, a pair of DeTomaso Panteras (four were expected; two made the trek), a couple of “rat-rod” Model As and Fodors, a 1966 Sunbeam Tiger owned by a younger dude whose sister has adopted her own Sunbeam Alpine, preferring the four-cylinder while brother likes the Six.
Thankfully the day wasn’t as hot as last year’s 35th edition, which was held in July when temps were over 100, rather than its regular April date. This, of course, was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There were no pandemic requirements for the outdoor event and everyone seemed overjoyed to be back to the regular date of celebrating Fabulous Fords Forever.
Click Here to Begin Slideshow
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