'Stangs, cartoons and lol's

The dawn of a new era

When taking a good look in the two fox body models of the Mustang, it’s easy to comprehend how much the Mustang changed and improved during the fox body era. The original fox bodies, from 1979-1993, played an important role in the continuing success of the Mustang. hen introduced, the ‘79 platform replaced the Mustang II platform with a more European looking body style. Although its four cylinders and otherwise small displacement powerplants (140hp 5 liter was the top option) failed t impress, the lightweight and inexpensive fox body would prove to be the perfect platform for later models, such as the GT and LX versions with the 5.0L HO engine. The turbocharged 4 cylinder option however, managed to stay popular in sales.

For the second time since its introduction, the Mustang was named the official pace car of the Indianapolis 500. The Cobra model was carried over from the Mustang II. Like all 1979 Mustangs, it featured an egg-crate style grille. The lower body of the Cobra was painted black, a non-functional hood scoop gave the Cobra an aggressive look, and the rear-window louvers were painted the body color. The ‘79 Cobra was only available as a hatchback. 1981 would mark the first year in Mustang history that hatchback models outsold coupes. The trend continued through the end of the Mustang’s third generation in 1993.

The big news for 1983 was the availability of the convertible for the first time since 1973. More big news was the return of horsepower. A 5.0L V8 was an option, and it produced 175 hp (the most available since 1973). Several options first appeared in 1983: the 5-speed T-5 as a midyear change, the four-barrel Holley carburetor, and 3.27:1 gears in all V8 Mustangs. The taillights were revised, and the Ford blue oval would grace the Mustang for the first time ever, and was placed in the grille and on the deck lid. The GTs had a black stripe on the hood reminiscent of Mach 1s and Bosses from the 1970s.

The Mustang received a a cleaner front fascia in 1985. The egg-crate front grille was replaced by a nose that more closely resembled the clean look of the Mustang SVO. The headlights of the SVOs were changed mid-year in 1985 from being recessed to being flush with the corner lights. Horsepower in the SVO was also changed mid-year, from 175 to 205 horsepower. The SVO was a turbocharged four-cylinder meant to perform and handle well to compete against European cars.

The Fox Mustang got an update for 1987. Taking cues from the SVO, all Mustangs got aerodynamic headlights. The GT ground effects kit include air scoops just in front of each wheel. GTs also had taillight covers known as “cheese graters”. It remained largely unchanged all throughout its run. 1991 saw the base Mustang cross the $10,000 mark for the first time, though a V-8 convertible could be had for less than $20,000. Ford formed a Special Vehicle Team (SVT) in 1991 to create high-performance cars. SVT’s first offering was the 1993 Mustang SVT Cobra. Their modifications resulted in 10 more horsepower and better handling. Later in the year they offered a race-ready Cobra R. The R had no rear seat, air conditioner, or sound deadening material to make it lighter. The wheels were black with chrome hubcaps. Only 107 were made.

The most widely forgotten pony

For my original timeline article: http://stangscartoonsandlols.tumblr.com/post/3028098854/some-mustang-history-from-the-glorious-1965-to-present

The fuel crisis in the 70’s was a destructive blow to the American auto industry. Everyone had become accustomed to big block V8’s strapped onto a huge, heavy body that produced a lot of noise and smoke on the tarmac. Oil was abundant and fuel was cheap, so the word economic was something only seen in the dictionaries.

Business is much like a jungle. So naturally, with prices in gasoline increasing and the people demanding better fuel consumption, companies had to adapt or die. And that is when smaller bodied cars became more popular, more aerodynamic, and sadly, much, much more feeble. The muscle car era had met its asteroid.

The 1974 Mustang marked the beginning of the “Mustang II” generation. These smaller cars had weak engines due to the fuel crisis (2.3L, 88hp 4cyl and 2.8L 105hp V6). However, they managed to be a hit with buyers. Even with slower cars and higher prices, sales nearly tripled the 1973 numbers, and the Mustang II was named Motor Trend’s Car of the Year. Mustang IIs featured rack-and-pinion steering, which made driving easier and more comfortable. The switch to rack-and-pinion became a popular modification for first-generation owners. They went virtually unchanged for 1975, though steel-belted radial tires became standard, and the Ghia received a restyled half-vinyl roof, with a rectangular “opera window.”

Four-cylinder Mustangs were dubbed “MPGs” to emphasize their great fuel economy, and a Mustang II Stallion special edition wore a stallion badge on the front fender. It was available on both the coupe and hatchback. The lovely Farrah Fawcett sported a 1976 Cobra II in the television show “Charlie’s Angels.” The 1976 Cobra featured a 140hp 5.0L V8, Shelby-inspired side stripes, hood scoop, and Cobra emblems. The ‘76 snake also had quarter-window louvers similar to those on 1965-68 fastbacks. Color choices were white with blue, red, or green stripes, and black with gold stripes. Some cosmetic changes were added to Mustang II in 1977 to make the car look more sporty. One of those changes was the addition of new bright colors. A T-roof was available, which allowed two pieces of the roof to be removed for a more open feel, since convertibles were still banned by the government. The same 1976 engines were available in 1977, but with a six-horsepower decrease from the 1976 302. The grille on 1977 Mach 1s was changed to featured more pronounced horizontal bars, and a front spoiler was added under the bumper. The Mach also got new four-way adjustable front seats. The Cobra II continued in 1977, but with few changes from 1976. The major change for 1978 was the division of the rear seat cushion, which had been a single cushion in previous years. A fashion accessory package offered only on coupes consisted of “Fresno cloth” seat inserts, illuminated driver visor vanity mirrors, pockets in the door panels, pin stripes, and other fashion features thought to appeal to female buyers. Seven new colours were also added for 1978. The Cobra II’s graphics got louder in 1978, with “Cobra” in large letters on the door.

Credit to: MustangSource

First generation Mustangs front end styles (64-73)

Some Mustang history: the glorious first 1960’s ponies

For the timeline I previously made,
http://stangscartoonsandlols.tumblr.com/post/3028098854/some-mustang-history-from-the-glorious-1965-to-present

The Mustang is by far one of the world’s most recognizable cars. On the time of its launch in April 17, 1964, it completely shattered previous automotive sales records.

The Mustang was the original Pony car, whose concept was to be an affordable sporty/muscle car. Characterized by long hoods and short rear decks, it gave rise to competitors such as GM’s Chevrolet Camaro, AMC’s Javelin, and Chrysler’s revamped Plymouth Barracuda, and so on, aiding in the evolving of the muscle car era. It also inspired coupés such as the Toyota Celica and Ford Capri, which were exported to the United States.

Although losing its status overtime, the Mustang was the only car to survive the muscle car era to the present uninterrupted. Some of its achievements throughout its lifespan included,

In 1965, The Tiffany Gold Medal for excellence in American design, the first automobile ever to do so.
Car and Driver Ten Best list in 1983, 1987, 1988, 2005, 2006, and 2011. It won the Motor Trend Car of the Year award in 1974 and 1994.
In 2005 it was runner-up to the Chrysler 300 for the North American Car of the Year award and was named Canadian Car of the Year.

The Mustang made its first public appearance on a racetrack little more than a month after its April 17 introduction, as pace car for the 1964 Indianapolis 500. The same year, Mustangs achieved the first of many notable competition successes, winning first and second in class in the Tour de France international rally. The car’s American competition debut, also in 1964, was in drag racing, where private individuals and dealer-sponsored teams campaigned Mustangs powered by 427 cu. in. V8s.

The first Mustang GT was introduced in April of 1965 in all three body styles (coupe, fastback and convertible). Two optional V-8 engines were offered with the GT with either 225 or 271 hp and a choice of a three- or four-speed manual, or a Cruise-O-Matic transmission. The ‘65 GT also included a special dashboard instrument cluster that became standard in 1966. The GT had stripes on the lower body sides, fog lamps in the grille, dual exhaust tips, and GT badges on the front fenders. The GT upgrade was an extra $165.03. Meanwhile, first Shelby Mustangs were all fastbacks with no rear seat and the spare tire mounted under the rear windshield. The 271hp 289cid (cubic inch displacement) was hopped up to 306 hp. They were all Wimbledon White fastbacks with black interior and Guardsman Blue stripes. The fuel door wore the pony & tribar Mustang emblem. Only six Shelby G.T. 350 Convertibles were produced in 1966, all different colors, making them the rarest of Mustang convertibles. Shelby also produced 11 supercharged 1966 G.T.350S that produced 390hp.

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I hope you have all enjoyed some more Mustang history. I promise to produce another article such as this eventually, but I cannot tell when that will be.

Some Mustang history, from the glorious 1965 to present

Something I put together for your reading enjoyment, and my cure to boredom.

One of the world’s most popular cars was introduced to the public on April 17, 1964, at the New York’s World Fair. More than four million people visited showrooms, and more than 22,000 cars were ordered on the first day. First-year sales totaled more than 417,000, shattering previous sales records of any one model in the history of the automobile.

1964 1/2 to 1966 - Introducing the Mustang, and Shelby in ‘66. Available in 6 (standard), 8 cylinders (GT) and Shelby GT 350. Came in coupe, convertible and fastback.

Pics: 1964 (coupe, standard), 1965 (fastback GT), 1966 (Shelby GT 350)

1967 to 1968 - Available in standard 6cyl, Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT500. Fastbacks.

1967 (GT350), 1968 (GT500)

1969 to 1970 - Available in standard v6, v8 Mach 1 and the Boss 429. Shelby’s in GT350 and 500.

1969 Mach 1, 1970 Boss 429

1971 to 1973 - The original Eleanor. Available in convertible/coupe/fastback standard, fastback Mach 1 and Boss 351.

1971 Boss 351, 1972 fastback, 1973 convertible

1974 to 1978 - Introducing fuel economy and the dying of muscle car era. Available in standard coupe (4cyl), standard hatchback (6cyl) and Cobra hatchback (8cyl)

1974 (standard coupe), 1976 (standard hatchback), 1978 Cobra

1979 to 1986 - Introducing the fox body. Available in coupe, convertible and hatchback, 4cyl, 6cyl and 8cyl 5.0L

1979 coupe, 1983 5.0L, 1986 coupe

1987 to 1993 - Celebrating its 25th anniversary. Available in 4cyl or 5.0L 8cyl, coupe, convertible and hatchback.

1988 coupe, 1989 convertible, 1991 GT hatchback

1994 to 1998 - The grille pony returns after 16 year absence. Available in standard 3.8L 6cyl, 5.0L GT and 5.0L Cobra, convertible and coupe.

1994 Cobra convertible, 1995 Cobra coupe, 1997 GT convertible

1999 to 2004 - The “smooth lined fox body.” Available in coupe or convertible, 3.8L V6, 4.6L V8GT, 4.6 V8 Bullitt, and 4.6V8 Cobra.

1999 35th Anniversary GT convertible, 2000 Cobra, 2001 Bullitt

2005 to 2009 - Bringing back the retro design. Available in Coupe and convertible, 4.0L V6, 4.6L V8 GT and reintroducing the Shelby GT500. Coupe and convertible.