REPORT - 2026 All Ford Day
For any car show to rack up 35 years is an achievement, let alone a show devoted to one brand. But that’s exactly what the All Ford Day did this year. What started in 1991 as a small, local celebration of Ford Australia in its birthplace – Geelong, Victoria – soon gained momentum and is now the biggest show of its type, not just in Victoria, but throughout Australia.
In the decade since Ford’s local manufacturing operations closed, the All Ford Day has continued to increase in popularity. Recent shows have attracted more than 1,500 display vehicles, along with thousands of spectators.
The 2025 All Ford Day was a huge one, marking 100 years of Ford in Australia. This year’s show was on track to match that until the US-Iran war kicked off in late February. With skyrocketing fuel prices as a result of the conflict, many of the interstate visitors who make a pilgrimage to the All Ford Day simply couldn’t afford to do so this time around. The date for this year’s event, 29 March, was just before the halving of fuel excise was introduced on 1 April – bugger! Along with exorbitant fuel costs, there’s no doubt that ongoing cost of living pressures had an impact on attendee numbers, too.
Despite these hurdles, the 35th Anniversary edition of the All Ford Day still attracted a touch over 1,000 display vehicles to the ovals of Eastern Park, on the outskirts of the Geelong CBD. Along with the full gamut of models from Ford’s Australian manufacturing history, the show welcomes Fords from the US, UK and Europe. So, there were Galaxies, Mustangs, Prefects and Zephyrs on display, as well as marques under the broader Ford umbrella, like Lincoln and Mercury.
It’s not just a car show, either, with light commercials, like Falcon utes and F-Series pickups, plus larger trucks (including big Ford prime movers) and 4x4s adding to the all-Ford atmosphere.
Ford Australia has been a strong supporter of the All Ford Day from the beginning, ramping up their presence in recent years by showcasing new vehicles, one-offs and rarities from their historic fleet, plus a massive merchandise stand to tempt the Blue Oval faithful.
Among the highlights from Ford Australia’s display this year was the Ranger Raptor that won its class at the 2025 Finke Desert Race (still wearing all its competition fittings and decals), the latest Mustangs and a rare Mach-E electric SUV in GT form. These were joined by a classic Mustang fastback in tarmac rally spec and a reproduction of the Ford-powered Gurney Eagle – one of the most beautiful F1 cars ever built.
Ford Australia also present trophies – the Ford Australia Award - to a pair of outstanding vehicles on the day, while Best of Show each year receives the William Clay Ford Jnr Perpetual Trophy, presented by the Ford Motor Company.
This year, the Ford Australia awards were shared by a 1937 sedan and 2025 Shelby Supersnake, illustrating the breadth of Ford history that was on display, while the William Clay Ford Jnr Perpetual Trophy went to a 1967 XR Fairmont that won several other awards.
While it’s not a new car on the show scene, the XR Fairmont that scooped up the Best in Show remains an impressive vehicle. Wearing the number plate of ‘PLEASR,’ this Fairmont had been purchased as a tidy weekend cruiser. What started out as a mild makeover turned into a six-year, ground-up rebuild. Having a family of revheads, including a couple of uncles in the panel beating trade, helped the owner bring PLEASR to fruition.
Powered by a Dart-block 427 Windsor V8, this Fairmont also features a manualised T400 gearbox, full suspension upgrade, Wilwood disc brakes all round and American Legend ‘Hornet’ 19-inch alloys.
The paint is a custom orange with heavy silver metalflake, while the bumpers and other exterior brightwork were finished in Black Oak Brown; a VW colour.
In the cabin, two pairs of BA Falcon front pews deliver a four-seat layout, separated by a custom full-length console. Factory instruments had been replaced with AutoMeter gauges (including units moulded into the dash centre), with the head unit for a modern Pioneer sound system hidden in the glovebox.
Along with the William Clay Ford Jnr Perpetual Trophy, PLEASR won the Powered by Ford (Best Engine), Best Paint and Best XR-XT Falcon trophies.
Other notable award winners included an EL Falcon XR6 (from the same family as PLEASR) that was the Perpetual Trophy winner in 2025 and picked up the Best Falcon EF-EL gong this time around. An FG Falcon won Best Interior, a stunning 1956 F100 pickup won Best Panel Van/Ute, and a WWII-era ute was awarded the Survivor (Best Unrestored) trophy. An XB Falcon GT secured the Best Performance Ford, with the Shannons Choice award going to a TE Cortina Ghia. Oddities on the day included an AU Falcon converted to a drift car and a Mach E that had been reconfigured as a hearse! Both won awards on the day.
The All Ford Day is a major event for Ford clubs throughout Victoria, and they were well represented this year. Along with state and local chapters of the Falcon GT Club, there was also Club FPV and the FPV GT Community, the Zephyr and Zodiac Club of Victoria, Early Falcon Owners Club of Victoria, Geelong Street Rodders, Melbourne Old School Cruisers, Classic Cars United, and the FPV & XR Owners Club of Victoria, to name just a few of the clubs that took part. Cars from these clubs were augmented by hundreds of non-club display vehicles
Changes to the non-car elements of the All Ford Day this year aimed to bring in more families, with a DJ, dodgem cars and a greater variety of food trucks added to the programme.
Despite having to contend with elements outside of their control, organisers of the 35th annual All Ford Day were very pleased with the numbers this year and are looking forward to seeing cars and spectators return en masse in 2027.
A date for next year’s show is locked in – Sunday, 11 April, 2027. For updates and further details, go to: allfordday.org.au or look for All Ford Day on Facebook and Instagram.
Words & Photos: Mike Ryan
