Ford snubs Australian Mustang fans at their biggest gathering of the year

FORD has a renewed mission to focus on customers as sales hit a 48-year low — but it has given some of its biggest fans the cold shoulder.

We are doing a story on the Ford Mustang Nationals in Adelaide (publishing this Saturday, the day it opens). Ford has snubbed the event, by not supplying one of the new cars for display even though there are three cars in Australia. [PIC] Ford Mustang SA club president John Greco & his wife Kerry with their 1966 coup & 2006 convertible Mustangs, at Glenelg. pic by Bianca De Marchi - 3.4.15

FORD has snubbed Australian Mustang fans at their biggest gathering of the year.

The company put a brand-new Mustang on a high-rise rooftop for Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, but it won’t put one on a truck to Adelaide for a show dedicated to the iconic muscle car this weekend.

Ford fans are upset the company won’t be sending a new Mustang for the show, even though there are three display models in Australia ahead of the car going on sale later this year.

“Not in my wildest dreams did we expect Ford to let us down,” said John Greco, the president of the Mustang Owners Club of South Australia, which is hosting the annual gathering of every Mustang club across the country in Adelaide on Saturday.

Party’s over ... the Ford Mustang is not going to South Australia.

“Ford likes to say that it is in touch with its fans, but you’d have to say that’s not the case, we’re bitterly disappointed.”

Mr Greco suspects Ford did not support the event because it wrongly believes Mustang enthusiasts can’t afford one of the new models, which will cost from about $50,000.

“What Ford probably doesn’t realise is that more than a dozen club members have already ordered a new one, and many of the classic Mustangs are worth as much as, if not more than, a new one,” said Mr Greco.

“At some point, big corporations need to support the people at the grassroots level, who support you.”

Disappointed ... Ford Mustang SA club president John Greco and his wife Kerry with their 1966 coup & 2006 convertible Mustangs, at Glenelg. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

More than 250 classic Mustangs will be on display, including cars from interstate clubs.

Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood confirmed there was “dialogue” with the Mustang club about displaying a new model “but no commitments were given”.

“We always live up to our commitments and we’ve not reneged on anything,” said Mr Sherwood.

“Our global approach is that car clubs are self sustaining, in general we don’t have a regular role with the clubs,” said Mr Sherwood. “That’s no different to what we do anywhere in the world.”

Ford said it would be “there in spirit” at the Mustang event this weekend. “We’re connected to them no matter what,” said Mr Sherwood.

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling