Ford And Mustang Roundup At Silver Springs - Spring at the Springs
The calendar said January, but the thermometer was more like May during the Ford and Mustang Roundup at Silver Springs
writer: Donald Farr
photographer: Donald Farr
We couldn't believe people were complaining about the heat. After chilly or downright freezing weather for the past three years, temperatures in the 80s were a welcome change for National Parts Depot's 13th Annual Mustang and Ford Roundup on January 6-7, 2007. Held at Silver Springs, home of the famous glass-bottom boats, warm temperatures and sunshine made it feel more like spring than winter-well, except for Saturday afternoon's rain showers. T-shirts and shorts were the preferred attire, as opposed to jackets and sweaters.
As usual, NPD paid for the registration costs for the first 1,000 pre-registered vehicles-a deal that also included two passes to the Silver Springs park-resulting in more than 1,400 preregistrations. With great weather in store, 1,040 Mustangs and Fords were jammed into every nook and cranny, setting a new record for the Roundup.
Traditionally held the first week in January, next year's event has been pushed back to January 12-13 to avoid conflicts with New Year celebrations. Let's hope for more good weather.
At every show, there's always a car that has everyone talking. At Silver Springs, it was Jimmy Voyles' eye-popping '66 fastback. Completed just days before making the trip to Florida from China Grove, North Carolina, the sparkling Mustang was an attention-grabber with its bright-red paint, polished five-spoke wheels, and dressed-out small-block. | 
One of the nicer restorations in the show was the '68 GT hardtop owned by Tom and Loretta DeShane. Most GTs restored to this quality are Cobra Jets, but the DeShane coupe is powered by the base 289, which is as detailed as the rest of the car. | 
Event sponsors earn prime real estate at the show for displaying their products and services. This year's Roundup included Heacock Classic (formerly Parish Heacock), Collector Car Insurance, TMI Products, RRS, Mustang Monthly and Mustang & Fords magazines, Eaton Detroit Spring, Stainless Steel Brakes Corporation, and Blue Moon Motorsports. |
A pair of 427R Mustangs, this coupe and a convertible, gave showgoers an idea of the latest offerings from Roush Performance. |  | 
Each year at Silver Springs, a featured vehicle is selected for display on the mansion porch. This year, it was the '07 Shelby GT500. Ten examples in various colors overlooked the main show field. |