![]() 07/02/2018 at 15:32 • Filed to: Ford, Ford Family Day, Focus RS, Focus ST, Fiesta, Mustang, Netherlands, Meeting, Planes | ![]() | ![]() |
Fords and planes
For kids there was a bounce castle and a playground, for dads there were a lot of cars and planes. And for moms, well, they were just happy the kids and dads had somewhere to play.
Ford Netherlands, the official importer of the Netherlands, organised the Family Day for fans across the country. All major Ford car clubs were invited. The location this time was the National Military Museum, a cool museum with tanks, planes and other military stuff from the Dutch and other armies. As the museum is located at a militairy airfield, there was plenty of room for the cars.
Ford Focus line-up
Skies were blue, and so was the line-up all Focus-es in front of the building. Ford had asked the Focusclub to form a row of all Focus models, from the first generation to the 3rd generation, all in color blue. The cars stood right under a few missiles, making it even cooler.
The Family Day was also the first introduction of the brandnew Focus, the fourth generation. It was the first time people could see it for real. The crowd certainly did not waste this opportunity, crawling all over the cars and measuring everything. There was a hefty discussion over whether it looked better than the previous one or not.
The new Focus IV
Rows and rows of cars lined the parking, skattered between a few airplanes. This made for a great view. Some cars were literally parked under the wings of the plane, as a giant duck protecting its offspring. Also it was one of the few places where one could park in the shade.
Danger: launch area
The Ford Focus and Fiesta are very common in the Netherlands, so it was no surprise a lot of these models were present. Most of them were the sportier models, like the RS and ST.
As rare as it is to see a bright orange Ford ST live on the streets, here they were all around. It was striking to see how many cars were painted in bright colors, especially given the grey mass of cars you see everyday.
This RS was sheer perfection
Some models have disappeared from the Ford catalog, but this doesn’t mean they are forgotten. Older models like the Sierra, Scorpio and Escort got a lot of attention. These cars once ruled the streets, but the rust bug got most of them. Now they are lovingly restored.
A bright white Sierra RS Cosworth stood shining in the sun. Even with its huge wing and funky white rims it looked quite plain compared to modern-day RS models. It was clearly dreaming about the days it rules the streets in the 80s.
Sierra RS Cosworth, look at those wheels!
The only American cars present were Mustangs. This is a shame as Ford has made so many more models. However, only the Mustang is officially sold here by Ford, and even only since the 2015 model.
However since the Mustang Club TMCN was invited, all Mustangs were welcome. All models were present: first generations, a gorgious 1972 Mach1, a pristine Mustang II, a few Foxbodies and SN95s and quite a few newer models. A gotta-have-it-green Boss from 2013 really stood out.
Mustangs, Mustangs, Mustangs
As I was walking around, I came across two very happy guys in a pristine 1989 Escort convertible. These cars are increasingly hard to find in good condition, they told me. They however got their hands on an all original Dutch convertible from the first owner. It was a true time machine.
All original 1989 Escort with very happy owners
Ford had arranged for a professional photographer to take photo’s of the cars in front of a large Lockheed from the Dutch navy. The brightly colored Fords looked really good in front of the plane. A bit further were some jet planes, including a Russian Mig, waiting to be photographed.
Tail ends
Owners also had the opportunity to show their cars on stage, where the presenter bombarded them with questions. No matter how stock the car was, it was treated like it was a rare model.
The way down from the stage was tricky, especially with low bumpers or splitters. But also the stage itself was not without danger: at one point the wind knocked over the presentor’s cola bottle, pouring cola all over a Mustang Mach1.
There was a large variety of cars. Some completely stock daily drivers, some sporty models and some completely modded cars.
Low Fiesta
The Pumadrivers Club was also present with an impressive number of Ford Puma’s. This sporty model, based on the Fiesta, was only built from 1997 to 2002. Few people outside the Ford community still remember them, but they have a steady fan base.
In between the Pumas sat a woman in a circle of garden chairs. “I don’t even like cars,” she said. “But I like the atmosphere, just being together hanging out.” Pointing at the empty chairs around her, she laughed: “Me and all my friends!” Everybody from here family drove a Ford: her brother a Puma, her uncle an RS.
Puma line-up
Real classics were far and between, but they really stood out. A lovely lowered first-generation Escort looked like it was a blast to drive. The few Sierras and Scorpios that showed up were all Cosworth models. A few old Mustangs also appeared but the oldest car was a Ford Anglia, the one with the tilted rear window.
This must be fun to drive!
The turn-out was good and the weather couldn’t have been better. There were so many nice cars out that most people never went inside the museum. It was a great show, where owners of fast cars, old cars, pimped cars and regular cars were able to share their passion for the blue oval.
Cosworths are really rare and wanted
Fiesta RS
Diesel goes here
Focus ST
“Fairly modified” Ford Puma
Somebody imported a fully functional UK police Mondeo into the country
I love those wheels!
Ford Anglia
Mean looking Mondeo
![]() 07/12/2018 at 11:10 |
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What a wonderful idea - and nice pics too, thanks!
Just a little detail: not a Lockheed P-3 Orion (four engines) but a Bréguet Atlantic (just two, double-barrelled fuselage).
Also interesting to see those Nike Hercules missiles
![]() 07/12/2018 at 11:14 |
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That’s a good amount of mustangs. How many bystanders died?
![]() 07/12/2018 at 11:15 |
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Heh, was just about to post the same thing regarding the plane. Even had the Wikipedia page open and everything: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breguet_Atlantic
![]() 07/12/2018 at 11:20 |
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Curse my metal body, I wasn’t fast enough.
![]() 07/12/2018 at 11:20 |
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Cars cars cars cars OOH! A Breguet Atlantic! Cars cars cars cars.
Great pics. Thanks for posting!
07/12/2018 at 11:24 |
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Simon’s Cat ! I love it!
![]() 07/12/2018 at 11:24 |
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None.
We’re not Americans
![]() 07/12/2018 at 11:28 |
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Thanks! I got the plane information from the museums website, it must have gone wrong somewhere.
![]() 07/12/2018 at 11:29 |
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A question for both Mr Ttyymmnn and Mr Facw:
What are those downward-facing barrels (I assume) for? s
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flares?
![]() 07/12/2018 at 11:32 |
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Maybe they moved the P-3 somewhere else and got an Atlantic in the meantime!
![]() 07/12/2018 at 11:38 |
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I’m not sure, but I think they are probably for sonobouys (seen here being loaded into a P-3):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonobuoy
Possibly there are other things that can go in the tubes as well (the plane can carry depth-charges, mines, etc. but I’m not sure what form factor those are in. It does have a weapons bay where they might go instead).
![]() 07/12/2018 at 11:41 |
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And a Hawker Hunter.
And what looks like some sort of spaceplane. Maybe a scale model of the
Hermès
for aero research? Although the planform looks slightly different.
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![]() 07/12/2018 at 11:43 |
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![]() 07/12/2018 at 11:56 |
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Google XCOR.
![]() 07/12/2018 at 12:00 |
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![]() 07/12/2018 at 12:01 |
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I can believe it: