Mechanics Corner - Nov 09

Mechanics Corner - Nov 09

“Significant Mustangs”

By Mike Godwin

 

Seems that every Mustang enthusiast that ever put pen to paper, set in front of a keyboard of any type has at some point found it necessary to compile a list of cars. Normally the title has a number thrown in. such as The 10 Most Sought After Mustangs, The 25 Most Significant Mustangs or even The Only 10 Mustangs Worth Owning.


My approach is a little different NO NUMBER involved. I though why limit myself to a given quantity when every Mustang is important to the current owner. In some cases future owners will place significant importance on who owned a car in the past. My car is one of those as I hope my grandson Sean will show the car with great pride and proclaim that his Great Grandpa Herb was the original owner of the car. That would be a treat not a requirement but a pleasant reward for keeping up the car in the tradition that it was passed to me.


So let us start with what to me are three very significant years. For me the 19641/2 to 1966 Mustangs are one and all significant. Why? Those are the cars that set the sales records of One Million Mustangs. Wham Mr. General! GM was still trying to figure out what a Mustang was and the dust was already causing them to choke.


In fact look at the year that the Mustang was introduced. Pontiac had introduced the GTO, the boys over at Plymouth introduced the Barracuda and Rambler was tearing up the streets in a machine called the Rebel. Ford of course on 17 April threw their hat in the ring with a future legend called the Mustang. Talk about success it is noteworthy to me at least that every performance car from that initial introduction period is today referred to as a Pony Car.


So what to you do to top the sales of one million? Make it bigger and stuff enough horse power between the frame rails to hold off the competition. So from 1967 to about 1971 you could choose anyone of several Mustangs with various options. Even the Shelby cars made a transition in these years. Then the two year limited production BOSS 302 and 429 Mustangs could be considered as a favorite. Mine is the 1969 and 1970 models decked out with the MACH 1 option and one of the big block motors for a motivation factor. This combination also took the competition by surprise. In fact old records show that it was Rambler with a shortened little fastback that gave the Mach I the best run for the money. The Fire Bird and Camaro were competitive but lacking in stop light to stop light victories. In fact even Plymouth and Dodge were having trouble despite packing some of the biggest cubic inch motors ever mass produced into some very light bodies. The Road Runner could catch old Willie but not the Mustangs.


The next leap is a full generation to 1974 and a fine piece of automotive recovery. The Mustang had returned to the smaller more nimble car that had swept the nation a decade before. Some people dislike all 1974 to 1978 Mustang but they did keep the name alive and they are a rear wheel drive piece of automotive history. Don’t forget that 1975 ranks as the second highest year for Mustang sales. So before you beat on the little “Deuce” so hard be grateful that it was a part of Mustang history. Without that four year production run the fifty anniversary edition of the Mustang would be far off into the future.


Now onto the Fox Body or Fox Platform cars that many people are very fond of while others detest them. Some are called Four Eyed cars because of the four headlamps. Owners of these cars often bemoan the lack of parts and demand respect and a separate class at shows. My favorite in this long run of Fox Bodied cars is the 1984 SVO. A turbo charged car with some super handling stuffed under it. Sure just a four banger but with the turbo spun up it would move right along. For all 25 years that this Mustang was produced the best feature to me was the return of a potent V 8 under the hood. Called out as a five liter (5.0) the sound from a decent exhaust system is distinctive. This period also witnessed the passing of the GM camps head to head competition for the Mustang.


The big news for many was the return of a drop top Mustang. Although the “T” roof glass top was offered for several years the return of the open air convertible was a welcome addition to the Mustang option list.


The Fox Body years ushered in the after market manufactures of specialty Mustangs. ASC McClaren, Saleen, Roush and the return of Shelby just to drop a few names. Not the only specialist teams by any means but the most significant players and survivors of the down turn in demand for performance machinery.


In 2005 Ford set the trend once again with an all new Mustang body style. Draped in styling hints from the ever popular 1967 and 68 models the new Mustang took the press and automotive enthusiast by storm. The new Mustang started an entire industry on a trend to design cars that draw on the success of previous designs. Every manufacture has introduced a model that at least in name harkens back to the glory days of off the showroom floor performance. The best news is that GM is able to bring the Camaro back to the showroom. Competition will make for a better Mustang and keep the design and engine teams burning the candles late at night. In 2007 and 2008 we saw the return of the fabled California Special. The Bullet option proved to be popular and cars sporting that option always draw a crowd on the show field.

 

The 2010 Mustang brought new design concepts and sweeping changes to the front fascia and rear panels.  For me the most impressive part of the new Mustangs is the horse power being pulled out of the V 6 engines. Think about it in 1965 a 289 V 8 with a two barrel carburetor could deliver 210 horse power. Today a fuel sipping  V 6 that burns cleaner and pulls maximum torque at fewer RPMS than the old 289 produces 210 horse power. If you simply must have a V 8 then step up to the GT model and settle into a car that in show room trim places 300 horse power at your command. Not bad as in 1965 the only way to get 271 HP was to order up the optional 289 HiPo engine. If you wanted 300 plus horse power one had to pony up for a Shelby GT 350 in order to receive a 306 HP ride.

 

Technology is great and today besides just giving us more go under control of the right foot we have the advantage of decent four wheel disc brakes. Nothing like running at a corner lifting your foot off the accelerator and as you start to apply pressure to the brakes realizing that four wheel drum brakes are just a little twitchy.

 

Looking back over nearly 50 years of Mustangs there are just so many great cars. Some are legends others are less loveable but for one and all they bore the Mustang name plate. From the stable of Mustangs several other horse related names have sprung but none have lasted like the legendary Mustang. Many people today if asked to name a great American car will without hesitation say “Mustang”. Enjoy your Mustang and take pride in owning a recognized icon of America.