SOME shiny new cars roll off a big boat ready to be sold in Australia. Big deal, right?

Well, for a decent sized chunk of the population it certainly is, as few imported cars in living memory have been quite so anticipated - and significant - as the new right-hand drive Ford Mustangs.

This week the first customer Mustangs landed at Melbourne's Appleton Dock, and three further Pony car-carrying ships are expected imminently.

And all the cars will have homes to go to.

The order bank for the Mustang Fastbacks and Convertibles sits at around 4000 vehicles, with more than 80% of customers having paid deposits.

These orders account for the first full year of vehicles to be sold in Australia through 2016, so you procrastinators are going to have to wait until at least 2017 if you fancy one.

It's the purists who have jumped the queues. Ford Australia said down under shoppers had overwhelmingly opted for the V8 GT model over the more economical (but let's face it, less "proper" Mustangy) four-cylinder Ecoboost variant: 86% going for the 306kW 5.0-litre bent-eight. Well done Australia.

We want the one with the roof, too. Convertibles have scored just 12% of Australian sales, the Fastback model overwhelmingly the favoured model.

"We are simply overwhelmed and humbled by the reception to Mustang thus far, which is probably our closest equivalent to the Beatles' first trip to Australia," Ford president and CEO Graeme Whickman said.

Not that you'll be able to buy one anytime soon such is the waiting list, but prices start at $44,990 for the six-speed manual transmission Fastback with 2.3-litre Ecoboost engine, while the range tops out at $63,990 for the GT 5.0 V8 Convertible with six-speed automatic.

Vital statistics

Models: Ford Mustang Fastback and Convertible.

Engines: 2.3-litre four-cylinder Ecoboost with 233kW/432Nm or 5.0-litre V8 with 306kW/530Nm.

Transmissions: Six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic.

Economy: 9.4-litres/100km (2.3-litre); 12.3-litres/100km (5.0-litre).

Price: From $44,990 (Fastback 2.3-litre manual) to $63,990 (GT 5.0-litre Convertible auto).