56 Ford Mustangs cruise through Morris

CHESTER TOWNSHIP - Gathering in Mount Arlington and riding south, 56 Mustangs turned heads Sunday morning as they made their way, single-file, down roads through Morris and Hunterdon counties to the scenic horse boarding and training facilities at Tranquility Farm.

The mounts saddled there are known by breed, but the Mustangs represented a brand — Ford — and an iconic American sports car celebrating the anniversary of its public debut at the New York World's Fair on April 17, 1964.

"It's a beautiful day at Tranquility Farms, we've got horses, we've got Mustangs, what more could you ask for?" said Mount Olive resident Bill Chernack, president of the Garden State Regional Mustang Club, which organized the ride that began in the parking lot of a Cracker Barrel restaurant just north of Route 80 on Howard Boulevard.

The route from Mount Arlington worked its way through Flanders, Long Valley and the Chesters in Morris County, veering into the Hunterdon County towns of Califon and Tewksbury before returning to Chester Township, where the cars parked on a manicured field at Tranquility Farm for group photos as horses pranced in the background.

"It was a nice look through Morris County, Tewksbury, we hit everything, and we couldn't ask for a more gorgeous day," said club board member Dale Favia of Parsippany, who was with her husband, John, in their fully restored, top-down yellow 1971 Mustang convertible.

Their current ride was purchased as a nostalgic nod to John Favia's first new car, a 1978 Mustang Cobra, since-sold but fondly remembered.

"I enjoyed driving it and had some good times back then," he said. "It's not a trailer car. We drive it. We take it to Wildwood every year. They have a great show there, about 600 cars, and we park all along the boardwalk."

The Wildwood show is for older classic cars, but the Mustang club caravan included cars from every phase of the Pony Car era.

"This is my first Mustang," said Andre Traverson of Dover, pointing to his red 2015 fastback Mustang. " I just bought it and I wanted to join a club. I found this on the Internet and I joined. It was a great ride. A great day."

"It was a beautiful cruise day," Chernack said. "From here we're taking another short cruise to Mount Olive and Frank's Pizza for a little lunch."

The nonprofit Garden State Region Mustang Club sponsors several member events and appears in many public events. For more information, visit http://www.gsrmc.org.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-917-9242; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.