By Olivia O’Keeffe
The age-old saying, “you’re either Holden or your Ford”, rings true for Frank Adornato, who, after more than five decades of choosing and owning Fords, has ended up with two very different, albeit equally iconic, models produced by the American car company.
Frank’s 1959 Ford Fairlane, known as the “Tank” back in the day, remains on the move, fuelling memories from the past while continuing to create new ones today. From driving him to school in the early seventies to seeing his sons and now, his grandson, enjoy the excitement of seasonal car shows from the back seat, the open-air model is undoubtedly a machine still built for making the good times roll.
Over the years, and with the help of one of his sons, the car has undergone various modifications and updates, including a new Ford Cleveland motor, a right-hand-drive conversion and a colour change, from its original red to a canary yellow.
In contrast, Frank’s newest Ford addition, the 2020 Mustang GT Tickford, has been tuned entirely by Tickford, ensuring any modifications are as sleek and refined as the car itself.
Venturing to as many car shows as he can, with the next scheduled for October in Euroa, Frank says each car attracts attention from different demographics.
“As far as looks go, you get as many looks in the Mustang as you do in the Fairlane. Different category of people though.”
Frank says those closest to his generation are often the ones asking about the history of the Fairlane, while younger generations are more likely to admire the Mustang, noticing its Tickford details given it is a relatively rare model. But regardless of how old you are or which time you’re living in, Frank says that if you’re interested in cars, “later in life, you’re going to have a story to tell.”
