Beaulieu threw open its gates for Simply Ford on Sunday 3rd May 2015, welcoming Fords of all ages, shapes and sizes into the attraction’s parkland. Not even a showery start could put a dampener on the day, with over 900 cars taking part in the event, ranging from highly modified modern examples to immaculate classics.
Over 1700 visitors joined the event, now in its sixth year, as it celebrated all vehicles built with a blue oval badge. For 2015, the Ford Transit was a star of the show, with a special display commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Britain’s favourite van.
Judith Maddox, Beaulieu’s Events Manager, said “Simply Ford has got the 2015 calendar of Simply rallies off to a flying start. Always a hugely popular event with owners and spectators alike, due to its welcoming atmosphere, this year saw a wide range of different vehicles on display.”
The Transit Van Club’s display spanned the five decade history of this legendary workhorse, as the latest models mixed in with examples of the classic Mk1, rugged Mk2 and streamlined Mk3. A crowd favourite was Tasha Rose’s immaculate 1969 camper van, adorned with one-off Jimi Hendrix-inspired artwork on its pristine panels.
Show regulars Ford Heritage supported the celebration with their own Transit Mk1, the oldest example still on Britain’s roads, along with the legendary Transit Supervan 3. This lightweight monster wowed crowds as its raucous V8 engine, mounted in the middle of the van, was started up several times during the day.
Almost thirty other clubs showcased their members’ remarkable machines. The Mondeo Mk2 Owners’ Club brought along a range of these once-common family cars, while fast Ford lovers enjoyed the XR Owners’ Club stand, where examples of the XR2, XR3i and XR4 could all be found.
Nobody could miss the eye-searing line-up of the Electric Orange ST Club, a crowd favourite featuring no less than nine examples of the performance focused Focus ST, all finished in the same vivid orange hue. Elsewhere in the event, Capris, Escorts and Focuses rubbed shoulders with older Ford models, such as Prefects, Populars, and Anglias. American Fords such as a Galaxie and a V8-powered Econoline ‘dayvan’ contrasted with the British Corsair and Cortinas also on show.
Beaulieu’s Commercial Director, Stephen Munn, presented the People’s Choice award to Dave Pritchard for his Escort Cosworth. Dave, who had driven down from Wiltshire to attend the event, has spent over £30,000 lovingly upgrading and restoring his Escort over ten years of ownership, including swapping the original turbocharger for an even bigger one to give a total power output of 630bhp.
Among the runners up, were Jim Watson with his beautifully presented Ford 100E Popular and Steve Blewitt whose American Ford 300 Custom is believed to be the only example in the UK.
Simply Ford will return on Sunday 1st May 2016, for more details visit www.beaulieu.co.uk/beaulieu-events.
Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/47191/
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