Fabulous Fords Forever

April 9, 2000

(Trip Report by Deano)

Part of the Bronco Area at Fabulous Fords

On Saturday, April 8th, a small caravan left Phoenix for the Fabulous Fords Forever car show at Knotts Berry Farm in Anaheim, California. Leading the trip was Todd Zuercher, driving his 5.0 SEFI equipped 1969 Bronco. Along with Todd as a passenger was Keith Jones, of Proto Fab. Next were my wife, Bonnie, and I in our Aerostar Van. I didn't have a registration to put my Bronco in the show, so why not cruise in air conditioned comfort? Next were Steve Altenroxel (Secretary of the Ford F-Series Club of Australia) and his buddy Tom Calvert (President of the Ford F-Series Club of Australia). Last, but not at all least, came our tailgunner, Winston "Brownie" Brown and his wife Margaret in their very trick, Chevy powered and injected, 1968 Bronco.

Winston stays out of trouble. Later on he retreated into the shade of his Bronco by laying under it for a spell.

The trip over was uneventful, but for a couple of times we stopped to fiddle with the Broncos. The Australians soon peeled off from the group and went on ahead in their rental car, not to be seen again until the middle of the next day. Arriving in Stanton we just had time to check into the motel and rest for a few minutes before heading up to the Destiny RV Park, just south of Knotts Berry Farm, to socialize with the EBR folks already there. This was a fun get-together, as we had food and drinks, shared photo albums and watched some Bronco videos on the big screen TV in the clubhouse.

Best of all though was when Joe Monroe asked us if we wanted to see the "Ultimate Bronco?" Of course we did, so he led us out to a 1966 Turquoise half-cab Bronco like no other. It was sitting on a trailer in the RV Park. This sanitary unit had a regular Bronco chrome bumper on the front, but it was nearly touching the floor of the trailer, while the beautifully rolled pan at the rear was up at a racy angle. Just inside the uncut rear fenders were giant meats that extended WAAAY under the tubbed body. Sticking out through a large cutout in the hood was a chromed breather, a pair of Edelbrock 850 cfm four barrel carbs, and a chromed 671 supercharger on top of a very expensive Chevy-based power plant. Joe fired the thing up for us and really made me wish I'd brought my video camera, just to document the SOUND!

Joe Monroe (in orange vest) shows off "The Ultimate Bronco"

(Want to see more? Click on pic above to see more of it. Then use BACK button.)

According to Joe this potent little rig drives really well and there is no doubt that the street-legal steed turns heads. It turned enough to win the Stroppe award for Best Truck at the show the following day.

After the evenings festivities I almost thought the show itself might be a let-down, but it was not to be. About 1600 Fords of all description were on display on Sunday, with over 500 having been turned away due to lack of space.

 

This Bronco was not in the show, but in the parking lot across the street,with many other rigs that did not get into the show.

Nearly half the entries were Mustangs, with the rest of the models divided into much, much smaller groups. In fact, the Broncos were second in number at 76.

 

Todd Zuercher's Bronco, with a new type of Proto Fab bumper displayed in front of it, sits next to Winston Brown's rig.

Ralph Schorbach (the guy w/35" tires on an uncut EB)

 

Lonnie Bright from Tom's Bronco Parts

A GREAT looking half cab with a very appropriate plate sports big tires and the uncut look

 

Todd Zuercher and Bonnie Hathaway show off their EBR loot!

Everything was there from Model T's and early T-birds, to Panteras, Cobras, a GT-40, large vintage trucks, late model SUV's converted into audio-video torture chambers, you name it! The prototype of the new Thunderbird was there, as well as a prototype for a new Cougar Eliminator.

Fabulous Fords Forever is the only place I've ever seen a GT-40.

 

Did this Big Job Ford F-800 Truck shine like this when it was new over 40 years ago? I seriously doubt it. It is magnificent now though.

 

Prototype of the next Thunderbird?

Would you believe this is also a Thunderbird? It's a 1995 with some trick cosmetic pieces added!

I even snapped a picture as Jay Leno was checking out a British Ford convertible I've never heard of before, called a Zodiac.

Jay Leno checks out the show

Speaking of celebs: Dennis Gage from the cable TV show, "My Classic Car" was also there, as was "Bionic" Ford spokesperson Lindsey Wagner, who looks better than any car ever will. Live music was provided by a great surf-music band called the Torquays.

The six dozen and then some Early Broncos at the show were really impressive. When Tom and Steve showed up, Tom was talking like he'd caught the Early Bronco bug badly and wanted to take one of them back to Australia with him.

Steve, looking dapper in orange, as does his "Mambasa" Bronco.

 

 

The Rocky Roads folks brought one of the rare pop-up Bronco campers!
The show was also a chance to talk to several of our vendors in person. Joe Monroe of Extreme Automotive, Sam Suhr of Wild Child, Lonnie Bright of Toms Bronco Parts, the Rocky Roads crew, Keith Jones from Proto Fab, Chuck from B.C. Broncos, and undoubtedly some I didn't know were also there. As we started back to Arizona it was great to be barreling down the freeway in the company of quite a few old Lincolns, Mercs, Edsels, Mustangs, Etc. as the show was breaking up.

From Right: Steve Sampson, Joe Monroe, Bruce Bolander, Betty Monroe, Jan Suhr.

Many thanks to Steve Sampson and the EBR people who put this thing together!

- deano