Last week over on Jalopnik I featured a Saleen SSC with just 661 miles on its Fox Body clock. Now, I’ve never driven one of these tuner ‘Stangs, but I’ve heard tell that they were a pretty good drive back in their day, and that makes me wonder how anyone could have successfully fought the temptation to add to that odo count.
Saleen was just one of the tuner names that saw the Foxstang as a blank canvas for their art and proceeded to make a special edition in their own image. The questions for today are, which one of those do you think was the best, and why?
Image: AutoGuide
Hooniverse Asks: What's the Most Desirable Tuner Fox Body Mustang?
By Robert Emslie
May 3, 2016
Jeff Glucker
Although the ASC McLaren convertibles were basically mechanically stock, I’d still like one.
Capri?
https://autopolis.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/85asc.jpg?w=547
If I ever built my own custom fox body, I would start with a Capri for the slightly box flared fenders and upright grill.
Yep.
http://www.sportscardigest.com/wp-content/uploads/1341.jpg
I agree. The changes are not drastic, but they do give the Capri a little extra sump’m-sump’m.
http://momentcar.com/images/mercury-capri-1986-3.jpg
Especially in that color scheme, that actually looks more than a little Ur-Quattro-ish to me. Not a bad thing.
It has blister flares… very UrQ.
Plus then you can claim that you drive a McLaren!
If we’re just talking about Mustangs (and not the Capri), I’d start with one of the later ones that don’t have the four eyes and I’d use a notch, not a hatch. I think the hatchbacks are ugly, although I could go for a four-eyed hatch.
I came across a low-mile LX 5.0 hatch… had it been a notch, I would have really considered it.
When I was 17 I had a guy offer to trade me a really clean 351-swapped notch with a 5 speed for my ’88 Camaro and I think like a grand. I should’ve taken him up on it.
I sold my 1989 LX 5.0 notchback back in 1996 and it still stings. It drove like an out of control shopping cart because I upgraded the motor and nothing else.
None of them. For me, the most attractive aspect of Fox bodies is their affordability, huge number of aftermarket mods, and widespread availability. A high-end, period tuner edition pretty much runs counter to all of those.
In the 1980s and 90s a Canadian engineer named Derek Hanson developed his own suspension and brake upgrades for Fox-body and SN95s, and named the package DECH Mustang. They were sold from Ford dealers and came with a full warranty like a stock factory car. He bought some body kits from Saleen, which made people think the cars were Saleen knockoffs, but that was not the case. By all accounts they were superb to drive and they did well in SCCA events across North America. DECH’s team also served as pit crew for Saleen when he came racing at Mosport in Ontario. I’d give the proverbial left one for a nicely-maintained DECH but they seem to have vanished. http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/4/567/769/38915384001_large.jpg
Was the suspension particularly forgiving? (Sorry)
No need to apologize – it’s my fault for being Canadian and not writing as follows:
Also: golf clap
I swear you still see the occasional one around, but it’s only on the odd nice weekend. Most are probably in perpetual hibernation at this point.
Not a tuner, but may be one of the most desirable Fox Mustangs…
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5257/5531684220_a56bc78905_b.jpg
I will take the Dominator, thankyouverymuch. http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/01/ebay-find-of-the-day-1989-mustang-dominator-straight-off-the-c/
That was my second choice.
Dude.
Assymmetic box-flare NACA duct?
hnnnnng
Steeda for the pulleys and flows.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/2002SteedaGT.jpg
Ford Mustang Maxum GTP. It is based on a production Mustang (sort of), and built by Roush. http://www.racingsportscars.com/tn/photo/1987/TN_Daytona-1987-02-01-004.jpg
I’m not seeing a lot of low hanging fruit here so I’ll go with the in house tuner SVT. While advertised horsepower wasn’t especially impressive, it was a thorough massage of almost every part that made it go.
http://www.themotoringenthusiastjournal.com/photo_gallery/images/mustang_50/1993_cobra_05.jpg
Fox body Mustang Cobra.
A lot of animals in there.
Are we counting the Mullet behind the wheel?
I’ll second your factory tuned vote, but I’ll make my nomination an SVO.
Offset hood scoop, biplane spoiler, and non-traditional Mustang engine FTW!
https://image.adam.automotive.com/f/27253814/mmfp-1005-01-o+1986-ford-mustang-svo+burning-rubber.jpg
I kind of wish I test drove an SVO back in the day before I bought my 1985 GT. Previous test drives on 79-83 cars with the 2.3 or 2.3 turbo took it off my radar completely. Well, that and the incremental $4,000 in MSRP.
Matt Farah’s notchback
http://www.racingjunk.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/7342148b-2358-4873-b7f4-7f7f500e46a7.large_.jpg
Hey look, it’s LTDScott in your first shot.
The early 80s ones where my favorite, if only because they were really dedicated to pointing out that malaise was on the way out:
http://assets.blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2015/08/HH15_r0003_01-700×290.jpg
Via
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2015/10/12/the-trickle-down-effect-a-fox-body-imsa-racer-for-the-street/
http://www.thelincolnarchive.com/photogallery/83lc-silver/b7_3.jpg
Oh, you said Fox body not platform.
My bad.
I’m not sure who copied who, but that Saleen tape package is remarkably reminiscent of the Opel Manta 400:
http://bright-cars.com/uploads/opel/opel-manta-400/opel-manta-400-01.jpg
I love those wheels.