The annual event, held alternately by the Canterbury Mustang Owners Club and the Invercargill-based Southern Mustang Club, brings together enthusiasts from across the South Island each year at a location somewhere between Christchurch and Invercargill.
This year, Alexandra was chosen as the host town.
At 11am, the cars made their way down Centennial Ave and Tarbet St towards Omakau, drawing onlookers for a rare chance to see so many of the vehicles.
Muster co-ordinator Bob King, who grew up in Alexandra and is now based in Dunedin, said his obsession with Mustangs began at a young age.
‘‘I’ve been nuts about Mustangs since I was 14,’’ he said.
‘‘Growing up in a small town, if you saw a Mustang it was like seeing a spaceship.’’
Mr King, a retired mechanical designer who spent 33 years with Fisher & Paykel, said a lifelong fascination with machinery had never really left him — whether designing it or collecting it.
One rule of the weekend was that cars could not be washed, so the clear sky was a relief for the group.
The field included cars from Christchurch, Wānaka and Alexandra, spanning vintage models from 1964 to 1974 alongside newer cars from 2004 onwards.
Mach 1, Boss, Roush, Saleen and Shelby variants were all represented.
Among those taking part was Derek Smith, of Invercargill, who owns a 2016 Mustang.
‘‘I love the noise and the history of the cars,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s details like the three tail lights — things like that which follow through into the different models.’’
Christchurch’s Mark Hanson brought his 2011 California Special Mustang, while Gary Pascoe, who joined the southern club in 2016, has owned four Mustangs over the years.
Participant Paul Sibbe said the friendship element was just as important as the cars themselves.
The weekend also featured a charity auction in support of The Finery’s Little Learners Trust, participants blind-bidding on mystery brown paper bags.
The group rounded out the day with lunch at Alexandra’s Orchard Garden Cafe.
