The rapidly improved fortunes of the Ford Mustang from 1982 through 1986 mirror those of Ford Motor Company itself . After teetering on the fiscal threshold , Ford not only roared back to gainfulness , it became the most profitable outfit in Detroit . By 1987 it was earning more money each class than giant General Motors – and on only half the sales volume . critic were baffled , stockholders salvage , the self-propelling printing press impressed .
There was no closed book to this . Like Chrysler under Lee Iaccoca , Ford under Don Petersen ( who moved up to chairwoman in 1985 ) became more efficient , close down old factories , modernizing others , jactitate overhead , and laying off actor ( only to rehire some later ) .
Though such steps were almost always atrocious , there was no choice in the face of unprecedented extraneous competition . But where Chrysler put all its chips on one basic platform , the adaptable K - car , Ford jog out a mickle of raw model with much broader sales appeal . Part of that appeal stemmed from a newfangled aerodynamic styling key signature instigate by Jack Telnack . It proved so popular that he was boost in mid-1987 to substitute Don Kopka as design vice - president for the full companionship . Telnack ’s passion for " aero " had a practical side . As he had show with the ' 79 Mustang , reducing air drag ameliorate fuel economy . And as CAFE standard were not going aside , that was still vital in the 1980s . But shapes stomach of the wind tunnel also leave Ford a way to stand apart from the ruck at a metre when design – ripe design – was again influencing sale more than EPA milage numbers . Sure enough , amidst a sea of mostly square - rigged Chrysler products and lookalike GM cars , emptor flocked to smooth , plain new Dearborn offerings like the 1983 Thunderbird and particularly the 1986 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable , low-priced midsize sedans that looked like pricey German Audis . But the keystone to Mustang ’s success in these age was functioning , not style . Of course , it help greatly that an economic recuperation took hold in 1982 , boosting personal income even as ostentatiousness , interest rate , unemployment , and especially gas prices all came down .
As we ’ve figure , Ford also helped Mustang ’s cause with the same sort of relentless purification that Porsche used to keep its Sixties - era 911 sports gondola so evergreen . This not only need more power almost every year but also unexampled feature and alternative , plus much improved workmanship . Yet the more thing detain the same , the harder they can be to change , to paraphrase an old saw . Even as it capture better and honest , Mustang increasingly seemed a relic of Ford ’s past – and ever more dated next to newer sporty cars . But sales were on the upswing , and nostalgia was a big factor , even for younger types who had missed " Mustang Mania " in the Sixties .
Still , Ford fretted over what would go on to sale should the market dead turn back again or if rival mounted a strong new challenge . With all this , Ford reasoned , a next - generation Mustang ought to come along by 1989 at the belated .
In an unthinkable move , Ford primitively sent the design duty outside of the state . On the next page , retrieve out how the Mazda - designed car that became the Ford Probe almost wear down a Mustang badge .
Ford Mustang Survives Probe
With Mustang sales once again strong in the mid-1980s , Ford EXEC want to ensure they stick forwards of any change in consumer tastes . To keep momentum going , they decide a redesign was in order for the recent ' 80s .
As it happened , bring toward that railway car had been underway since early 1982 , just as the converted GT and H.O. V-8 were starting to rekindle the honest-to-goodness Mustang inflammation . initiate as project SN8 – " gaudy car , North America , 8 " – this movement envisioned a smaller , lighter pony like the former Mustang II or European Capri , but with aero styling , front - steering wheel effort to optimise midland blank space , and high-pitched - efficiency four - cylinder locomotive engine instead of a thirsty humbled - technical school V-8 . Unfortunately , early proposal around this concept did not beseem conclusion - makers .
So just a yr into the platform , Ford turned to longtime Japanese partner Mazda , whose small - car expertness was at least equal to Ford ’s own .
Dearborn went calling at an opportune time . Mazda was then planning the next version of its front - thrust 626 series , which included a coupe , one of Mustang ’s new - wave rivals . Ford count on to save money and get a better novel Mustang by unite in . The result would be two models , each with its own styling individuality and sales agreement networks , but sharing basic bod , running power train , and some inner bodily structure .
The idea became even more attractive once Mazda decided to build a flora in Flat Rock , Michigan , near the historic River Rouge manufactory where Mustangs were made , and to make part of its output available to Ford .
It seemed a match made in heaven . Ford would get a new Mustang for far less money than by develop it alone . Mazda also like the economic science ( the yen was very impregnable against the dollar sign ) as well as the deal ’s " politically right " image . With " Japan Inc. " taking ever - bigger chunks out of Detroit ’s sales agreement hide , Congress was threaten protectionist legislation that the Japanese hop to forestall with " organ transplant " factories utilise U.S. worker .
Probe Shot Down
What Ford had n’t counted on was the near - universal scandalization among Mustang lover once word of the programme leak out . A new Mustang was a skillful thing , even overdue . But Nipponese engineering ? No way !
Mustang was an all - American icon . How dare they put the name on a " badge - orchestrate " import . And looky here , Ford . Front - roulette wheel drive may be hunky-dory for little econoboxes , but real performance cars put power to the paving material with the back tire .
Dearborn got the message and released the " 626 Mustang " ( which Mazda trade as the MX-6 ) as the 1989 Probe ( key after Ford ’s recent series of flowing show cars ) . The decision was n’t made until the last bit , but it was both wise to and correct .
Though capable and bouncing in turbocharged GT phase , the Probe was too just " foreign " to pass as a pony machine – an American conception , after all – even if it was title in Dearborn .
Meanwhile , arise need had convinced Ford to restore the aging Mustang , something it could well afford amid phonograph recording net income . The heading was not just bringing the old warrior in line with the new design subject but to make it more competitory in an increasingly tough sporty - motorcar market , especially against the newer Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird .
The result was a thoroughly new automobile , inside and out . Find out all about the changes for 1987 on the next page .
The 1987 Ford Mustang
respond to public outrage , Ford sagely adjudicate not to base the next - generation Mustang on the front - roulette wheel campaign Mazda political program that eventually became the Ford Probe .
The determination conduce to the 1987 Ford Mustang , the most thoroughly changed Mustang since the Fox contemporaries ’s debut . The slow - selling SVO was live , but LX notchback , hatchback , and convertible returned along with the popular GT hatching and ragtop . Significantly , Ford planners also decide to ax Mercury ’s Mustang , the Fox - based Capri , after eight age of peculiarly dissatisfactory cut-rate sale .
Despite a familiar introductory shape , Mustang look slicker than ever for ' 87 . A fluent nozzle sandwich flush - mount headlamps between triangular inboard parking lights and wraparound turn - signal lamps . rearward side Methedrine on coupe was pull out moneyed with surrounding sheetmetal , with a spacious disgraceful stripe where the vertical slats had been .
Though the side windows looked larger , the " daylight openings " they covered were unchanged , so over - the - shoulder visibleness remained a bit constricted . Restyled taillamps were unmistakable , and most exterior moldings were polish off in fateful . Beside a more contemporaneous appearance , these changes lower puff coefficient : now 0.40 for notchbacks , 0.42 for convertibles , and 0.36 for the LX hatchback door ; the three - door GT try out at a slightly blockier 0.38 .
The restyle had little consequence on dimensions inside or out . Wheelbase stay on at 100.5 inches , while overall distance measured 179 inches , width 68.3 , and top about 52 inches . Track widths were 56.6 column inch forward , 57 aft . Curb weight unit did exchange , for the worse , adding about 100 pounds on average .
LXs remained more visually restrained than GTs . Their grille , for instance , was a childlike one-armed bandit with a horizontal bar contain a lowly Ford oval . Below was a body - color bumper with built-in spoiler and wide , black rubstrips that wrapped around as soundbox side protection moldings to a color - keyed rear bumper .
GTs wore sculpt rocker - jury skirt that looked like the add - ons they were , plus a dummy soap forwards of each bicycle , a strapping spoiler on the hatchback door , and officious " cheese - grater " taillamps instead of the LX ’s simple tri - color clusters .
At least the grille - less GT facial expression was sharply bounteous – rather like the SVO ’s , with a wide " mouth " intake in a ahead - jutting airdam with flank round foglamps . So you should n’t miss it , large " Mustang GT " lettering was molded into the rocker lengthiness and rearward bumper screen .
The 1987 Mustang Interior
Because instrument panels are among the costliest components for a carmaker to change , the brand - new ' 87 splasher imply the foxy Mustang might hang on for more than a few year ( as indeed it would ) .
The design could have make out from Mazda . The right side was cut aside on top to form a useful package ledge and lend a greater sensory faculty of midland spaciousness . Drivers faced an upright instrumental role pod with side - backing rocker switches for light , hazard exhibitionist , and rear - window defroster . pillar stalks again look after wiper and turn signal , while sail - ascendancy button stay handily in the steering wheel spokes .
spend down from sprint center was a liberal console housing rotary converter knob for temperature , fan speed , and air distribution , all lifted from the new Euro - style Taurus . A quartet of with child , straight vents marched across the middle of the sprint , BMW - fashion . Modernization was also evident in a Modern - design direction wheel , armrests , doorway panels , and prat adjusters .
There were improvement under the bonnet , too , which made quickening feel like it did in the good old days . Find out about the ' 87 Mustang engine offerings on the next varlet .
1987 Ford Mustang Engines and Acceleration
The most notable mechanical alterations to the 1987 Ford Mustang involve the venerable small - auction block V-8 , no surprise , as it was pull even with the 2.3 - cubic decimeter four in customer orientation .
A restoration to freer - breathing , pre-1986 cylinder heads and other induction alteration add 25 horse for a total of 225 , thus matching the top Chevy Camaro / Pontiac Firebird choice , a 5.7 - l Corvette mill . Torque also better , swelling to a hardy 300 pound - feet . The 302 continue standard on GTs . Ford called this the " 5.0 - liter , " but its real displacement was close to 4.9 litre . GT also received larger front - magnetic disk brakes ( 10.9 inch versus 10.1 ) and recalibrated pause .
The four - cylinder engine was n’t overlooked for ' 87 , substitute a dull one - barrel carburettor for state - of - the - nontextual matter multipoint electronic fuel injectant . Though the railway locomotive was little more potent at 90 horsepower and 130 pound - groundwork of torque , it now teamed with the V-8 ’s five - speed manual of arms and optional four - speed robotlike transmissions . That was compare to the former genesis ’s four - velocity stick and three - speed automatic . The unexampled gearboxes help maximise what grunt the four - piston chamber had .
A big surprisal was excision of the 3.8 - liter V-6 , leaving a immense power and performance col between the four and V-8 . With that , Consumer Guide ® ’s Auto 1987 predicted , " Ford plan on sell mostly V-8 - powered Mustangs this yr . "
Ford did , only a caboodle of them were LXs with an $ 1885 V-8 package that also included the GT ’s uprated chassis and tires . In fact , need for 5.0 - liter 60 prove so strong that Ford ran short of engines during the ' 87 time of year . Buyers were evidence that if they wanted a V-8 Mustang , it would have to be a GT .
There were understanding for this . Many multitude thought the new GT either too atrocious , too outlandish , or both , which must have horrify Jack Telnack . Others only preferred their V-8 in the quieter - looking LX because it was less probable to be noticed by the natural law . Besides , it be less that manner .
1987 Mustang Acceleration
LX or GT , the fortified little - cylinder block give birth true - line of credit performance reminiscent of the good old days . Ford claimed 0 - 60 miles per hour took 6.1 seconds with manual shift , and most magazine exam got close to that .
AutoWeek , for good example , time 6.5 seconds , " well into Corvette , Porsche 928S and Lotus Turbo Esprit territory . Two years ago it was about a second slower . Top speed of the young Mustang GT has also risen from the mid 130s to just under 150 mph . Not only is that faster than the high-pitched - tech coupes from Toyota , Nissan and Mazda , it beats Ferrari ’s [ V-8 ] Mondial and closes in on the [ six - cylinder BMW ] 328 . This is the cheapest auto in America that will even come close to the idolise one - five - oh . "
apparently , unexampled engineering was allowing Ford ( and others ) to deliver the kind of performance that had antecedently been achieved only through big shift . For example , to get around 225 final sawbuck in , say , a ' 72 Mustang , you had to order an optional 351 V-8 rated at 168 - 275 last horsepower . Yet the ' 87 small - block was thriftier and smooth run , needed less upkeep , and was more reliable – pure , everlasting advance .
The Mustang had plenty of show and go , but there was more . On the next page , read some of the raves from referee about the ' 87 ’s handling prowress .
1987 Ford Mustang GT Handling
The redesign that result in the 1987 Ford Mustang was n’t all about styling and king . For such a familiar and relatively simple chassis , the ' 87 GT earned unusual congratulations for its driver - pleasing road - carve power .
" The Mustang is a pagan ’s elevator car , " declared AutoWeek ’s Phil Berg , " one that makes you require to go somewhere – anywhere – alone . Somewhere out in the tules with fiddling road - hog dealings …. You expect forward to cornering with a passionate traction on the steering wheel . You bulge out to believe the only reason for the ready [ V-8 ] is to keep you from wasting valuable time on straights so you could find more rewarding division of two - lane . It ’s a very personal thing . "
Britisher Mel Nichols , testing a new GT for Automobile magazine , thought " the SVO did not come and go in vain … . At the front , castor change subjugate camber loss in the corners , and [ there are SVO ] charge card ball joints , retuned bushings , and better mounts for the antiroll bar … . The Special Vehicle Operations development of a young crossmember let unlike front suspension getaway point , which in turn permit the fitting of decently large P225/60VR15 Goodyear Gatorbacks go 35 psi for shrink rolled opposition . "
Nichols described GT manipulation as " predictable and reformist , so effortless and gratifying … . The railway car turned into the turn cleanly , with understeer never passing the point of pleasing constancy , then nudged through a longsighted period of neutrality into progressive oversteer , talking all the room . A nudge of opposite lock adjudge the tail . A touch more power pushed it out farther , with a little more lock chamber reconciliation that , too .
" From the outset , the Mustang felt like a car that could driven fast and safely and gratifyingly . It had all the right sporting property , yet there was also something quite gracious about its character . It came down to one word : forgiving … . Even on the narrow-minded stretchability and where the crook were visibly off - cant , there was nothing restrain about driving it hard and immobile . "
Motor Trend ’s Rick Titus did take Ford to job over brakes , at least for racing intent . " Ford ’s designers chose to enlarge the front vented discs , but keep to employ remnant Pinto drum on the rear … . It seems [ rear disc brakes ] died with the SVO . This is appalling , count the Ford flies the magniloquent flagstone of performance over the Mustang , yet doles its best brake out to whiney little four - bangers and their luxo line of credit . "
Nichols also decry the small rear metal drum brake but approved a stronger axle , retuned rearward suspension bushes , rearward antiroll ginmill , and premium accelerator - supercharge shock absorbers all around .
The reviewers also felt the terms was average . interpret what they had to say on the next page .
1987 Ford Mustang GT Prices and Sales
While progress often claim a cost , the 1987 Ford Mustang stay an exception .
Motor Trend ’s Rick Titus took banker’s bill of the " ample exertion [ made ] to amend the level-headed constipation … . Corrugated firewall dialog box and well-grounded - deadening adhesives give the ' 87 Mustang a rock - firm feel . It is , in fact , one of the first things you discover when you close down the door . Road noise and locomotive vibration are shorten virtually in one-half , and yet you still get the welfare of race - engender Ford small - block , as the Mustang ’s exhaust note puts that sure little illusion in the air . "
Consumer Guide also discover value beyond the car ’s price . " Though far from perfect – or hone – the Mustang GT is put together well enough and extend a ton of go for your dough , " said Consumer Guide ® ’s Auto Test 1987 . " Despite a full option consignment – air , premium sound organization , sail control , and power windows , door locks , and mirrors – our [ hatchback ] come to $ 14,352 , which is an surpassing value when IROC - Z Camaros , Toyota Supras , and Nissan 300ZXs can go for $ 5000 more . "
It ’s striking how often reviewers advert Mustang ’s high " bang for the buck " note value , as indeed they still do . Even General Motors did n’t argue with that .
As a Chevy locomotive engineer told AutoWeek ’s Christopher A. Sawyer in early 1988 : " We ’re stick now in ( the estrus ) that the Camaro costs more from a product standpoint … . If you need a T - roof IROC that ’s pretty closely to loaded , you ’re going to be over twenty grand . An equivalent Mustang is about $ 3500 cheaper . "
But that ’s the beauty of hang on to a basic innovation . Once tooling and development are pay off , and assuming no costly changes later , you could usually keep the lid on price and still make good money with every sales event .
But a honorable car and " good steal " status do n’t needs vouch better sale . Despite the extensive ' 87 remodeling , Mustang mass crumbled by over 65,000 units . Still , 159,000 full gross revenue was good go , all things consider . ( One problem was tax reform , which took event on January 1 , 1987 , and eliminated the time - honored discount for interest on railcar loans . ) The facelift was n’t cheap at some $ 200 million , but it included upgrading the Dearborn forum industrial plant and would be shortly ante up off .
And sales promptly recovered . Indeed , Mustang widen its lead-in over GM ’s pony cars despite only token changes through decade ’s end .
As pop as the 1987 redesign was , it was no surprise that there were few changes in store for 1988 . Check out the next couple of model year on the next page .
The 1988 and 1989 Ford Mustang
As Dearborn prepared to unveil the 1988 Ford Mustang , it was evident the Fox was getting on in years . But it was also clean-cut that Ford ’s makeover artist were blot out its gray tomentum well , and Mustang ’s combination of low price and eminent execution was more resistless than ever .
" Mustang was born a legend , but it is time value for the performance dollar that really draws the customer through the room access , " said AutoWeek ’s Christopher A. Sawyer . " Grudgingly or not , there is something that folk at both Ford and GM can tally on , the Mustang is the best value for the money in its market section . "
Other magazines also recognized this . In 1988 the GT was call one of Road & Track ’s " Ten Best Cars in the World " and made Car and Driver ’s " Ten undecomposed " motorcar list . The undermentioned year , Motor Trend name the GT a " Top Ten Performance Car . "
There were just two changes for ' 88 : a higher - capacity battery for LXs and cut of the T - measure cap from the options list . The latter really was n’t needed anymore , as convertible sales continue strong .
theoretical account - year sale jumped to 211,225 for ' 88 . The ' 89s did almost as well with 209,769 . These totals were all the more impressive in light of price that were bounding up , by some $ 900 for ' 87 , another $ 700-$1100 for ' 88 , then $ 300-$400 more .
Looking for the Silver
For 1989 , Ford receipt recent purchasing practice by making the LX V-8 package into a decided model three called LX 5.0L Sport , and throwing in the GT ’s multi - adjustable sports seats . The only other tidings of consequence that yr was stock power window for convertibles .
By 1989 , only the four - piston chamber LX notchback and hatchback still started below the psychologically important $ 10,000 mark . GTs were up to $ 13,272 for the hatch and $ 17,512 for the ragtop , so the new V-8 LX Sports looked like very beneficial buys at $ 13,000-$17,000 . The ' 89s did almost as well with 209,769 .
Most everyone expected a very exceptional Mustang during 1989 . After all , the original pony railroad car had been around for 25 years , and Ford had publish a twentieth anniversary package for ' 84 .
Yet no silver - anniversary special appeared right away , which only fuel hypothesis that Ford was working up something really spectacular . hearsay circulated through most of ' 88 about a play tricks - out GT with extra - laborious - duty interruption to palm a 351 V-8 , borrow from the Ford truck line and fortified with twin turbochargers for a Ferrari - baiting 400 H.P. .
At least one paradigm was engineered and build up by longtime Ford declarer Jack Roush , but the projection ran afoul of development delays , fuel - economy concern , and inordinate costs for the design 2000 - unit run .
There was also talk of a less radical blistering one with 260 - 275 horsepower , temporary removal upgrades , distinct bolt - on consistency pieces , and possibly four - wheel saucer brakes left over from the SVO . Also whisper was a transplant of the supercharged 3.8 - liter V-6 from the ' 89 Thunderbird Super Coupe . But none of this came to make it .
Ford did strike off the day of remembrance , but with events rather than a model . Find out what they did on the next page .
The Ford Mustang 25th Anniversary Celebration
With the ikon in the middle of a popular run , many devotee expected Ford to come up out with a gamy - carrying into action Mustang on its 25th day of remembrance in 1989 . But news of such exemplar turn out to be nothing more than rumors .
Shortly before the actual April 1989 day of remembrance of the launch of the original 1965 Mustang , a Ford spokesman tell AutoWeek why there was n’t a ash grey - day of remembrance Mustang example for Mustang ’s silvery anniversary .
" First , we wanted to do more than a paint and stripe line . If we could n’t do a right vehicle , we were n’t going to do one at all . Second , the fellowship does n’t palpate that it would be honest to put its name on someone else ’s piece of work " – intend the red-hot - rod Mustang suggest by longtime Ford contractor Jack Roush .
" We never really considered that car , " the Ford valet de chambre sound out , " because we feel that it was overkill . " In fact , AutoWeek noted , " Ford never study go outdoors for [ any ] help with the day of remembrance Mustang . "
Still , it ’s fair to ask , was a gilded marketing opportunity squandered through poor preparation ? Was it really better to do nothing if a " proper vehicle " was n’t potential ?
Mustangers still argue the answers , but they were for sure disappointed at the time . Ford ’s only motion at a 25th Anniversary Mustang was little indeed : a passenger - side dashboard allegory with galloping - horse logotype affixed to all models built between March 27 , 1989 , and the end of model - year 1990 .
Party Time
Of of course , a milestone Mustang natal day was too important for Ford marketers to ignore , and they did n’t . highlight the celebration was the American Pony Car Drive , a six - week , 7000 - Swedish mile seashore - to - coast trek involving over 100 European Mustang owner and their motorcar .
Convening at the porthole of Jacksonville , Florida , participants headed west to Southern California for a big all - Dearborn classic - car show , " Fabulous Fords everlastingly . " This was stag on Sunday , April 16 , just a twenty-four hours shy of 25 long time from the original New York World ’s Fair debut .
The group then headed back east toward Dearborn for a duty tour of the Mustang plant life and other festivities . From there it was on to Baltimore and a boat back home . Along the way , the Pony Car Drive stopped in some 25 cities , where local Mustangers undulate out the red carpeting . Some somebody even joined the exchange , which had been suggested by a Mustang partisan in Switzerland .
Sorry, Lee
That same April Sunday , Ford threw a big natal day brawl at the Dearborn industrial plant , which had recently build the six - one-millionth Mustang . The political party bring forth panoptic media coverage , including a Wall Street Journal piece on the rather touchy matter of inviting the Mustang ’s " father , " who by then was chairman of Chrysler .
The story quote a Ford official read the company came very close to ask Lee Iaccoca , " but we just could n’t bring ourselves to do it . " alternatively , the Journal reported , " Ford relied on foster fathers . The master was one Jack Telnack [ who said ] ' I ’d care to stand here and distinguish you I was the father ' of the original Mustang , ' but my big part was plan the wheel covers . ' So , he was asked , who was the father ? ' Well , there were several … Joe Oros and Dave Ash , who maneuver its design . There was a squad of six or seven product contriver , including Don Petersen …. And then there was Lee Iacocca . ' "
Ford Chairman Petersen himself gave Iacocca a " more generous reference " in Southern California , the Journal quoting him as saying , " Fortunately , Lee Iacocca keep our spirits up " betimes in the programme .
Typical of the man , Iacocca got in a little jibe at his sure-enough outfit . As the Journal report : " Ford feared that [ he ] might have stolen the spotlight and hawked Chrysler products . In fact , that ’s exactly what he did in a short prepared statement on the day of remembrance . ' Just like our minivan , ' Mr. Iacocca read , ' the Mustang pushed all the correct buttons for the customer . ' " The story conclude on an amusing note . " One Ford official put the reason for not invite Mr. Iacocca this way : ' Hell , he might have come . ' "
But fans still longed for an day of remembrance model , and many adopted a heavily customized Saleen as the unofficial one . encounter out about the 1989 Saleen SSC Mustang on the next Sir Frederick Handley Page .
The 1989 Saleen SSC Ford Mustang
Though Ford itself did n’t do a twenty-fifth - birthday Mustang , Steve Saleen did , introducing his SSC on April 17 , 1989 . Based in California , Saleen was a oldtimer SCCA Trans - Am and Formula Atlantic racer . He also had a business - schooltime degree – and several Shelby Mustangs .
advance by the H.O. V-8 ’s 1982 resurgence , he adjudicate to keep an eye on in Shelby ’s footstep and make stock Mustangs into personal high - operation cars . For the first five days he focused on everything but the powertrain to avoid cost involved with discharge certification for a tuned engine .
Saleen develop suspension upgrade under the Racecraft marque and instal special steering wheel , tires , aerodynamic add - ons , racy cosmetics , and cockpit feature of speech like extra gauges and better derriere .
He oversee three cars in 1984 , all GT hatchbacks , but then worked with Ford to provide him conversion - ready hatchbacks and convertibles . These cars got a special mill order code because Dearborn determine to sell Saleen Mustangs through choice Ford dealers and to maintain the factory warranty on unmodified element . Saleen guarantee its modifications and components . Saleen Autosport turned out 132 cars in calendar ' 85 , 201 the next year , and 280 in 1987 .
Few Saleens were built on the dot the same way , which made prices highly variable , but 1985 - 86 Saleen simulation started the $ 17,000-$20,000 mountain range for coupes , $ 25,000 for a ' 88 Saleen sofa bed . Sales strike 708 units in 1988 .
Saleen Super Car
Up to 1989 , Saleen ’s cars were simply Saleen Mustangs with basically unchanged powertrains , but that changed with the ' 89 SSC : " Saleen Super Car . "
Starting with a V-8 LX hatchback or convertible , Steve flesh out the ports and tot up a larger gun dead body , a new intake plenum , different rocker weapons system , untarnished - brand tubular cope , Walker Dynomax mufflers , and heavy - responsibility chilling arrangement . The result : 292 horsepower . And it was street - legal in all 50 states , noteworthy for a " tuner " David against a Goliath EPA .
Other SSC feature included heavy - responsibility Borg - Warner five - speed with Hurst linkage , all - saucer Pteridium aquilinum from the late SVO , three - way electronically adjustable Monroe Formula GA shock absorber absorbers with cockpit switch , and fat 245/50R16 tires on five - spoke eight - in - wide DP cycle .
Inside were pad FloFit leather seats and matching room access panels , a 200 - mph speedometer , and a palmy candle stereophonic system or else of a back seat . According to Mustang chronicler Brad Bowling , " the asking price for this ' unofficial ' twenty-fifth anniversary model was $ 36,500 . "
Tony Assenza tested an SSC for the May 1989 Car and Driver . After noting the suspension " develop from Steve Saleen ’s year of rush along Showroom Stock Mustangs " in SCCA , Assenza explain how " the physique is subjected to considerable stiffening by what Saleen calls a ' Chassis Support System . ' This includes a triangulate tube transcription that ties the front swagger towers to the firewall , a rearward physical body support in the hachure area that looks like half of a cast coop , and a K - member under the front box plane section … . The material body and suspension change make the Saleen SSC a stiff piece that never stops reminding you that it ’s very much a single - intention car . That intention being to carve up twisty roads and terrorize fellow motorists at red lights . "
That it could do , with an observed 0 - 60 of 5.9 seconds and a standing quarter - mile of 14.2 at 98 mph . certain , the SCC was cockeyed horseback riding , noisy , and not much sport in traffic .
But as Assenza summed - up : " If you could live with some of this railcar ’s less elegant timber and can justify the big asking price , you ’ll be able to make the biggest noise on your block since Carroll Shelby ’s GT350 come to town . " Few got the chance . Saleen build only 161 of the ' 89 SSCs , plus 734 " received " models .
Ford failed to ride the high note produced by the day of remembrance , as a sputtering thriftiness battered sales in 1990 and 1991 . Learn what was bid in those model years on the next page .
The 1990 and 1991 Ford Mustang
Ford marked its Mustang ’s 25th birthday with special event , and fans distinguish it with a high - performance model from customizer Steve Saleen . But the good prison term were not designate to last long .
With its natal day party over , Mustang carried on for the next three years without major change – except on the sale chart , where the numbers plunged alarmingly . The two were not unrelated , but the tangible perpetrator was the onset of a sharp recession .
Model - year 1990 show in federally want " passive restraints . " Mustang complied with a driver ’s airbag bestride in the steering wheel , which eliminate the joust - bicycle option , unfortunately . doorway map pockets and clearcoat rouge were also stock across the board , while selection expanded with the addition of leather interior trim .
Announced in mid - January was a limited " Limited Edition " LX 5.0L sofa bed , of which 3600 - 3800 were built . al-Qaida - priced at $ 18,949 , this featured " deep emerald green " clearcoat metallic rouge , color - key bodyside molding , GT aluminum wheels , white convertible top , and a white leather interior with the GT ’s " articulated " sport buckets . An uncommitted " special time value package " added air conditioning , cruise control , premium AM / FM / cassette stereo , and a clock .
To its credit , Ford did n’t attempt to reach this off as a belated birthday present , though a fellowship insistency release did attempt to make a connexion , say the " entire Mustang batting order , which celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary in 1989 , continues a tradition of value leadership in the 1990 - fashion model year . "
Actually , prices were still conk up but stay on private-enterprise : under $ 9500 for a four - cylinder LX notchback , less than $ 19,000 for the top - line GT convertible . Even so , exemplary - year volume plunged nearly 50 percent to 128,189 .
Sales dropped again for ' 91 , skidding to 98,737 . More detail update fall out . The anemic four now claimed 105 H.P. via a young eight - plug cylinder head , but only rental - car fleet manager cared . Convertibles sported a great power top that fold up closer to the body for a neater appearance , and automatic - transmission car met yet another new Union edict by adding an mesh that required pushing the brake foot pedal before the shifter would move out of Park .
V-8 model got moderately unexampled five - spoke alloy wheel of 16 - inch diameter , an inch larger than before . LX 5.0s switched from bad - looking but approximate - riding Goodyear Eagle GT+4 tire to more compliant 225/55ZR16 all - season Michelins . GTs retain the unidirectional Goodyears in that same sizing but offered the Michelins as a no - price alternative .
price arise a number more , the alkali LX notchback going just above $ 10,000 , but V-8 convertible still set out below $ 20,000 .
Plummetting sales bottomed out in 1992 – and then had nowhere to go but up . get hold out how Mustang start its rebound on the next Thomas Nelson Page .
The 1992 Ford Mustang
As it had been since the 1988 model year , the pace of change was slow for the 1992 Ford Mustang . In the only news of billet , color - keyed bodyside moldings and bumper rubstrips enhanced LX coming into court . And wonder of wonder , those sometime optional favorites , whitewall tires and wire - wheel book binding , vanished from the list .
But gross sales now really tank , hitting an all - time low of just 79,280 units for the exemplar twelvemonth . The only comfort for Ford was that the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird had been sinking even faster , allowing Mustang to stretch out its sale star . More singing is the fact that even in a falloff , Mustang was consistently outselling the Probe , its one - clock time renewal .
Though you might cogitate otherwise , Mustang ’s " vintage " character had in reality become a sale asset . emptor were commence to recede interest in high - tech sporty imports , perhaps because they were all so much alike . But Mustang remained unique : crowing , bluff , and brash , sometime - fashioned and flawed certainly , but mighty appeal for precisely those reasons .
By stand still , as it were , Mustang now stood alone . This unequaled character came through clearly in two 1989 " buff Word of God " tests .
lean a new five - upper LX 5.0 hatchback , Motor Trend praise " its measureless provision of rich , creamy torque at any rpm , and all the terrific things that it made potential . "
That input come in a " Bang for the Buck ! " showdown of 16 dissident , including the Plymouth Laser RS Turbo , Nissan 300ZX , Ford ’s own supercharged Thunderbird , and even a 245 - horsepower Chevrolet Corvette .
In acceleration , braking , and manipulation , the Mustang finished as in high spirits as fourth only in quarter - mile carrying out , with an ET of 15.38 seconds at 91.5 mph ( a twentieth Anniversary Pontiac Trans Am turbo was quick with 14.18 at 98.8 mph ) . Mustang was mid - pack or lower in the skidpad , slalom , and road - course competition , and all in last in braking , taking 159 foot to break from 60 mph ( the 300ZX was poor , 120 feet ) .
But with a base price of only $ 12,765 , nothing could match its all - round performance for the money , and MT declared it the winner . " Mustang truly defines the concept of Bang for the Buck . It ’s probably the most playfulness for the money in America today . "
In a similar vein , the July 1989 Car and Driver meet up eight sporty coupes to do the question , " What ’s the most fun you could have for $ 20,000 ? "
All the car were Japanese ramp up or designed hold open a five - speed LX 5.0 , which finished fourthly in cumulative ranking of functioning , ergonomics , styling , utility , and drive sport . Though not the most svelte contender , the LX was the most low-priced – and the quickest , execute 0 - 60 mph in 6.2 seconds and the stern - land mile in 14.8 at 95 miles per hour .
A Mitsubishi Eclipse GS Turbo come through this showdown , but it be $ 16,000 and was only two miles per hour faster than the LX all - out . " If the Mustang sold for $ 20,000 , we would probably be put off by its age and accompanying disadvantages , " C / D concluded . " But at $ 13,671 , including a generous consignment of creature consolation , the LX 5.0 is an incredible performance - car buy . "
Mustang was sell on execution more than ever . Among ' 91s , for example , V-8s outpolled four - piston chamber framework by two - to - one , with LXs account for almost half . Moreover , full 49 percentage of V-8 purchaser chose five - speed manual transmittal , a very gamey charge per unit for an American car . By line , manual transmission accounted for just 13 per centum of ' 91 Camaro sales and only 30 percentage of Corvette ’s .
By 1992 , the current Mustang multiplication was make a little old for a pony . The running ended on a high billet in 1993 with the Cobra , detailed on the next page .
The 1993 Ford Mustang Cobra
Ford Mustang sales strike an all - prison term low in 1992 , and the current generation was go to get long in the tooth . But the economy started to perk up up by good example - twelvemonth 1993 , and Mustang sales rebounded to 114,228 . In a way , this should n’t have happened .
Mustang was almost unaltered , yet now confront a swoopy all - new Camaro / Firebird offer a 275 - HP version of the previous 5.7 - liter Corvette V-8 . Worse , having allow in to literally overestimate the Mustang V-8 , Ford adjusted outputs down to 205 HP from 225 . Torque decreased , too .
But a hot new Cobra hatchback more than made up for that . Road & Track called it the " effective of an age breed , " and by most any measure it was .
Developed by Dearborn ’s new Special Vehicle Team ( SVT , the successor to SVO ) , it packed a new higher - output Cobra 302 grow 235 HP via extra cock-a-hoop - port " GT40 " head , tuned - runner intake manifold , revised cam , and other muscle - building step . Torque , a stout 285 pound - feet , was channeled through a beefier five - speed manual gearbox – the sole transmission choice –and corralled in corners by sticky 245/45ZR17 Goodyear Eagle functioning radials .
Also on hand , or rather under foot , were rearward disc pasture brake or else of drums , the first manufactory Mustang since the SVO to have them . Ford also touted " balanced " break tuning that went against ceremonious spicy - railcar soundness by using softer spring , shock , and bushings and a smaller front stabilizer streak versus the GT .
home furnishings were basically GT lineage , while the outside was almost LX modest . Spotter ’s point admit SVO taillamps , handsome seven - sword alloy steering wheel – and specific nose with a small running - horse emblem . An hefty rear freebooter was the one arguably jarring note to this quick , advanced package .
Did we say speedy ? Try 5.9 seconds 0 - 60 miles per hour , agree to R&T , whose test Cobra also clocked 14.5 seconds at 98 miles per hour in the standing quarter - mile and less than 16 second gear from 0 to 100 mph .
As for advanced , Car and Driver ’s Don Schroeder termed this " a nicer - riding , more supple car [ than the GT ] . Although it can finger less button down … the Cobra makes better use of its tire and reinforcement coordinated hands and metrical foot with clearly higher limits and cornering speeds …. "
Nevertheless , a few cynic thought this Cobra just a ploy to keep Ford ’s old pony car from being entirely eclipsed by GM ’s newer Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird . Motor Trend , in fact , predict it a " stir - and - bake bridge to ' 94 . " Still , it was eloquent testimony to the Fox platform ’s toughness and versatility . And with only some 5000 built , the ' 93 Cobra will be a prized example of this long - lived breed .
The 1993 Ford Mustang Cobra R
More collectible still is the Cobra R , which see only 107 copies . Of naturally , the " roentgen " stood for racing , which mean cart track use only . Alterations to the street - legal Cobra included much larger front pasture brake , competition - caliber cooling system and suspension tuning , appropriately wider wheels and tire , and added geomorphologic reinforcements .
In yet another replication of Carroll Shelby , Ford omitted the back seat , air conditioning , and most power accessories to trim down curb weight by some 60 pounds . not much on the road but crucial for the course . Ford sold every R - mannequin for the full $ 25,692 gummed label Mary Leontyne Price vs. about $ 20,000 for a even Cobra , itself a bona fide bargain .
At Long Last, Time to Move On
Either way , the ' 93 Cobra was a well-chosen surprise for the Ford Mustang , a car that had stayed so much the same for so long . Life at Ford had been anything but static . Another historical changing of the sentry duty occurred in 1990 when Donald Petersen took early retreat , ushering in Harold A. " Red " pole as chairwoman and Philip E. Benton , Jr. as president .
By the end of 1993 , however , Alex Trotman had taken over both positions , outlining a bluff novel vision for Ford ’s future . Part of that future tense would soon go far in the car everyone had been waiting for : the next young Mustang .
