An appeal to owners nationwide prompted a flood of Ford exhibits that span 100 years, and total about 65 vehicles, airshow event manager Mandy Deans said.
Allied Press managing director Julian Smith owns the oldest vehicle, a 1912 Model T Ford, which he bought about 15 years ago from a Timaru-based motoring enthusiast.
The car was nicknamed the mother-in-law roadster, as it had a single seat at the back for depositing that particular relative, Mr Smith said.
His Ford is road-registered and musters around 22hp from its four-cylinder 2.8-litre engine, to reach a top speed of about 75kmh on its jaunts around the South Island.
The chronological display beside the Wanaka Airport's main gate - featuring highlights such as a 1963 Ford Thunderbird once owned by Princess Grace of Monaco; a 1971 Zephyr Mk IV with only 22,000 miles (35,400km) on the clock and one of only 18 1972 Ford Falcon GT Coupes - will run through to a 2012 Ford, providing "a century for us", Ms Deans said.
She was "amazed" by the enthusiasm of the exhibitors, who have provided cars from each decade.
Some are extremely rare while others are essentially mainstream.
