2023 Mustang Round Up highlight – 2016 ‘50th Anniversary’ convertible

Hosted by the Victorian chapter of the Mustang Owners’ Club of Australia (MOCA VIC), the Mustang Round Up is an annual all-Mustang car show and concours. At least, it was until a few years ago. COVID caused the event’s cancellation for two years, while torrential rain saw the Round Up scrubbed in 2022. For their first major show in four years, MOCA VIC went big in 2023 and Mustang owners responded, with 485 cars entered.

The Round Up hosts the MOCA Victorian State Concours, as well as the Shelby Nationals, Boss Mustang Display Concours and a Show ‘n’ Shine. The state concours sees the best of the best amongst the MOCA VIC membership submit their vehicles for judging in Original and Modified classes, where the sixth-generation convertible featured has been a regular trophy winner, thanks to its immaculate presentation.

Once you know this Ruby Red convertible belongs to MOCA VIC’s resident car care guru, Peter Alderson, its immaculate condition makes sense. Peter provides car cleaning tips and techniques in the quarterly MOCA VIC member magazine and practises what he preaches on this car, which you may be surprised to learn is his first Mustang.

Peter’s car history is nothing if not diverse, with a Torana SLR 5000, Chrysler PT Cruiser and a Toyota Camry hybrid amongst his past vehicles. This Mustang is unconventional, too. While most first-time Mustang buyers default to the 5.0-litre V8, Peter decided he wanted the EcoBoost 2.3 turbo four-cylinder. With 233kW, Peter says the turbo four has more than enough power for his needs, but is economical, too. The only thing lacking is the V8 exhaust note.

Being an ‘EcoBoost Premium’ (a package that was optional for the US market but standard for Australia), this car comes with extras like high-gloss Ebony Back alloys, an updated sound system, heated/cooled front seats, ambient interior lighting and projector headlights.

Peter selected Ruby Red over the more common Race Red when ordering this car, which took almost a year to be delivered. Reflecting Peter’s passion for paint protection, his car also features optional GTECHNIQ ceramic treatment, as well as front parking sensors and dark window tinting.

Peter loves this Mustang and isn’t afraid to drive it, but is methodical when it comes to cleaning and protecting that rich metallic crimson paint. That thorough approach was recognised with the award for Best Post-2015 Mustang at the Victorian State Concours as part of the 2023 Mustang Round Up.

For JUST CARS report on the 2023 Mustang Round Up, click HERE.