First "Mustang GT" since 1969!! "The Boss is Back!!"

Engine:

• First real "high output" version of the 5.0L - 157 HP (only available in 2V carbed version - Motorcraft 2150 series).

• Last time the 5.0L (or 302) engine was in a Mustang was 1979. A 255 V8 was the biggest Mustang engine available in 1980 and 1981.

• 4-speed SROD was only transmission available.

Interior:

• Only available in Red and Black.

• Decked out in special "black-out" trim.

Exterior:

• Only available in Medium Red, Bright Red (late in 1982), Black and Silver Metallic.

• Black-out treatment carried over to exterior (window trim, door handles, mirrors, etc.).

• Special front air dam, fog lights, hood scoop and rear spoiler were standard GT equipment.

Suspension:

• Larger front sway bar, rear sway bar, performance shocks/struts, springs and bushings.

• Traction-Lok 3.08:1 rear axle standard.

• 4-bar link/coil spring rear suspension with slapper bars.

Engine:

• 5.0L horsepower increased to 175 HP when 4V carb replaced 2V carb from 1982 (Holley 4180C series).

• Exhaust system was revised (less restrictive).

• 4-speed SROD was only transmission available until early December 1982. In December, new 5-speed T5 became standard GT transmission (4-speed remained on option list).

• Block and crank were revised to accomodate a 1-piece rear main seal in December 1982.

• The new "Turbo GT" with a turbo charged 4 cylinder engine was available beginning late in the model year - 145 HP and featured the same suspension and other features of the V8 Mustang GT.

Interior:

• No major interior changes.

Exterior:

• New GT colors available in 1983 - Polar White, Medium Charcoal Metallic.

• Fog lights not available on '83 GT's.

• Black hood stripe added.

• Taillights and front air dam changed.

• Hood scoop changed (reversed) - still non-functional.

• Convertible is brought back in late 1983 - first Mustang convertible since 1973.

Suspension:

• Tire size upgraded from '82's P185/75R 14 to P205/70VR 14.

• Rear sway bar size increased from .55 inches in diameter in 1982 to .67.

Engine:

• Revised choke design eliminated use of exhaust manifold heat tubes.

• 4-speed manual tranny no longer available.

• Automatic overdrive (AOD) transmission available for first time on Mustang GT (mid-year introduction) - only with electronic fuel injected version of 5.0L V8 (165 hp) and 3.27:1 rear axle.

Interior:

• Tan interior became available in addition to Red and Black.

• Split-fold rear bench seat became standard.

Exterior:

• Hood scoop eliminated (except on Turbo GT models).

• Front air dam with integrated fog lights reappeared as a running change in 12/83. (Fog lights not available in 1983 on GT's).

• Rear spoiler became more rounded (also a running change which occurred early in the model year at approximately the same time as the front air dam change).

• 1984 GT350 20th Anniversary model produced in March-June 1984 to celebrate the Mustang's 20th birthday (5,261 were built).

• New exterior colors - Oxford White replaced Polar White - new colors were Light Desert Tan, Medium Canyon Red Glow and Bright Copper Glow.

Suspension:

• Rear control arm pivot points were lowered 1/2 inch on upper end and 1/4 inch on lower end for improved suspension geometry (running change early in 1984).

• Rear sway bar diameter increased to .79 inches from .67 inches in 1983 (running change early in 1984).

• Quad shocks replaced old-style traction ("slapper" bars) (running change early in 1984).

Engine:

• 5.0L V8 was upgraded to 210 HP (from 175 in 1984) with addition of roller lifter camshaft, new roller block, new heads, stainless steel tubular exhaust manifolds and forged pistons.

• "Fake" dual exhaust - exhaust was split behind catalytic convertor and dual mufflers and tailpipes were added (with chrome extentions exiting behind the rear wheels).

• Turbo GT discontinued.

• 2.73:1 rear axle ratio now standard on 5-speed equipped cars.

• AOD / EFI V8 upgraded from 165 HP to 180 HP mid-year and was not available with the roller cam.

• 5-speed transmission ratios changed - 1st gear ratio changed from 2.95 to 3.35.

• Shifter is revised resulting in shorter throws.

Interior:

• New standard cloth articulated sports seats with "halo" headrests, adjustable side bolsters and under-thigh support.

• Interior colors were Grey or Beige with Red seat piping. Red with Grey seat piping became available in late '85.

Exterior:

• Charcoal trim (instead of black) including wide hood stripe.

• Revised nosepiece (more aerodynamic) and new "GT" embossed side moldings.

• "Glow" colors from 1984 were eliminated and Light Regatta Blue was new paint color.

• "10-hole" cast aluminum wheels were only wheels available on GT (15x7").

Suspension:

• Front sway bar thickness increased to 1.3 inches from 1.125 inches.

• Rear sway bar increased to .83 inches from .79 inches.

Engine:

• Carburetor replaced with electronic fuel injection on both manual and automatic tranny GT's.

• Horsepower decreased by 10 HP to 200, but torque increased by 15 ft.-lbs. to 285 ft.-lbs.

• New block (increased bore wall and deck material thickness, siamese bores in water jackets).

• New heads (same as 5.0L passenger cars - high swirl, shrouded valve). First and only year for these heads - design restricted volumetric flow and performance suffered.

• Dished pistons were replaced by flat top pistons increasing compression from 8.4:1 to 9.2:1.

• New viscous (fluid-filled) motor mounts.

• Clutch size increased from 10 inch to 10.5 inch.

• True dual exhaust with h-pipe replaced "fake" dual system from 1985.

Interior:

• No major interior changes.

Exterior:

• Third brake light integrated into rear spoiler on hatchbacks and into luggage rack on convertibles.

• Luggage rack became standard on convertible.

• Dark Sage was added to available paint choices.

Suspension:

• Weak 7.5 rear axle replaced with stronger 8.8 unit.

For 1987, the Mustang was extensively restyled (inside and out).

Engine:

• Throttle body and intake bore increased from 58mm to 60mm for 1987.

• 1986 high-swirl heads were ditched in favor of the truck E7TE castings with 9.0:1 compression.

• 1986-only flat top pistons were replaced by TRW forged pistons with valve reliefs.

• A larger battery rated at 540 amps became standard.

Interior:

• The interior (including dash and seats) was completely redesigned in 1987 for better "ergonomics".

• GT front seats featured new power adjustable lumbar support plus an adjustable under-thigh support and side bolsters.

Exterior:

• An extended rear quarter window replaced the false louvered trim.

• Front end was smoothed out with more aerodynamic headlights and grill.

• GT received controversial 'louvered' taillights.

• GT had standard aluminum 15"x7" "turbine" wheels.

• LX and GT models became easier to tell apart with the addition of the GT's new standard ground effects.

• Exterior paint changes: eliminated Light Regatta Blue, Medium Canyon Red and Bright Red - added Light Grey, Scarlet Red, Medium Cabernet Red, Medium Shadow Blue Metallic and Dark Shadow Blue Metallic.

• Lower Titanium paint accent added to option list (with either Blue or Red insert stripe).

Suspension:

• Front end geometry was refined with new strut housings and spindles.

• Strut travel was increased and more caster and negative camber to increase stability during cornering.

• Sway bars remained at 1.3" (front) and 0.83" (rear).

• Larger 10.84-inch front brakes.

1987 & 1988 Mustangs were so successful that plans for the Mazda-based "Probe" which was to be the "Mustang IV" was scrapped.

Engine:

• California cars received a mass air metering system to replace the speed density computer system.

Interior:

• New optional leather articulated sport seats featuring white and red, white and blue, or white and grey leather (convertibles only).

Exterior:

• T-top production was discontinued early in the 1988 Mustang model year.

• New exterior paint color - Bright Regatta Blue Metallic.

Suspension:

• No major suspension changes.

Engine:

• All 5.0 Mustangs were switched over to mass air from speed density with a small reduction in HP (not yet reflected in the HP rating).

• A small camshaft profile change to reduce valvetrain noise with an additional small reduction of about three horsepower (also not yet reflected in the horsepower rating).

Interior:

• A new 140 mph speedometer now standard on all 5.0L models replacing the wimpy 85 mph speedo in earlier models.

• 25th Anniversary dash emblems were installed starting in April 1989 and continued through the end of the 1990 model year.

Exterior:

• Bright Red added to exterior paint options, Scarlet Red discontinued.

Suspension:

• No major suspension changes.

Engine:

• Another minor camshaft change, but without compromising power output.

Interior:

• Black replaced Beige as interior color choice.

• All Mustangs receive a drivers side air bag as standard equipment.

• GT's lost their dash mounted warning light module (with low fuel and low washer fluid lights) because of new air bag.

• Tilt steering column no longer available because of new air bag.

• Rear seat shoulder belts added.

• New front seat headrests (smaller and non-tilting).

• New door trim map pockets (accordian style).

• New seat upholstery.

• Slightly revised ventilation system controls.

• Locking fuel door no longer available.

• Center armrest was dropped for 1990 but returned mid-year due to buyer demand.

• A new long throw shifter replaced the short throw introduced in 1985.

Exterior:

• Exterior paint changes: eliminated Dark Grey Metallic, Light Grey, Cabernet Red, Medium Shadow Blue Metallic, Bright Regatta Blue Metallic, Deep Shadow Blue Metallic - added Deep Titanium Metallic, Light Titanium Metallic, Wild Strawberry Metallic, Twilight Blue Metallic and Ultra Blue Metallic.

• Blue or Red tape insert stripe was discontinued on beltline.

Suspension:

• New tie rod ends with a longer shank to improve bumpsteer characteristics.

• Last year for 15"x7" turbine wheels.

Engine:

• No major engine changes.

Interior:

• White and blue leather seat option for the convertible GT was discontinued.

• Elimination of under-column key release button by use of a shifter lock-out on automatic models (requires a foot on the brake to shift from Park).

• New optional cargo tie-down net for the rear hatch area.

• 7 band graphic equalizer is back (after 2 year absence).

• Non-25th anniversary dash emblems.

Engine:

• All Ford's use new smaller gear driven starter.

Interior:

• Deletion of the rear power window switches in the back seat area.

• New optional 4-way power driver's seat.

• Adjustable under-thigh support no longer a part of articulated sport seats (power lumbar and adjustable side bolsters remain).

• New dome light with dual map lights replaced the single lamp dome light and the swiveling map light.

Exterior:

• Medium Red now available with Titanium lower accent treatment.

Suspension:

• No major suspension changes.

Engine:

• Hypereutectic pistons replace the forged aluminum pistons.

• Horsepower and torque ratings dropped for ‘93.

  • The reduced ratings were influenced by a stack-up of minor mechanical changes and by changes to Ford’s engine evaluation processes.

  • The changes made were mainly due to emissions, fuel economy, customer satisfaction requirements, a series of mechanical revisions.

  • Mechanical revisions include:

    • air intake silencer -- 5-7 hp loss

    • small camshaft profile change in 1989 -- 3 hp loss

    • addition of restrictive 55mm mass air flow meter in 1989 -- 4-5 hp loss

    • also some small exhaust system revisions between 1987-1993

    • new rating system used in 1993 involving changes in the processes of selecting engines to be tested and also the engine’s state of dress (power steering, alternator, water pump, smog pump)

Interior:

• Slight (but noticable) interior color changes - Opal Grey replaces Titanium, Ruby Red replaces Scarlet and Black replaces Ebony.

• New sound system items offered - new 80 watt electronic AM/FM stereo radio with cassette player, integral digital clock and premium sound and new optional 80 watt compact disc player with electronic AM/FM stereo radio.

• Convertibles now received an inner lining for the top.`

Exterior:

• New paint colors - Electric Red, Bright Blue, Royal Blue, Reef Blue, Silver Metallic (all with Titanium lower accent) and solid colors Vibrant Red and Vibrant White .

• Discontinued paint colors - Wild Strawberry, Ultra Blue, Medium Red, Medium Titanium, Twilight Blue, Deep Emerald Green, Oxford White, Titanium Frost.

Suspension:

• No major suspension changes.