Matt Farrah's 1988 Foxbody is Drool-Worthy
Slideshow: Let’s look at what made this 5.0 so special.
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Independent Rear Suspension
Older Mustangs get a bad rap for not being able to go through a corner which is completely false. Maybe from the factory, they may have had a hard time, but there’s nothing a little aftermarket TLC can’t fix. And fix this problem Matt did by swapping out Cobra's rear suspension to give this Foxbody a better chance at out gunning 911s and McLarens in the twisties. Bilstein shocks get custom internal valving with matched springs making for a vehicle that is likely to ride better and handle better than most cars on sale today. Custom valving is a hugely important modification so combining this with IRS really made this car super custom.
image courtesy of thedrive.com
Overall Balance
As a guy who drives insanely fast cars on the daily, Farrah knows enough about what makes a car balanced to not go overboard on things that don’t matter. Stuffing 700 wheel horsepower engine under the hood wasn’t his goal, and as such the 302 was left to a modest 268 ponies. This decision keeps the Fox about handling as opposed to bombing down the quarter mile in 8 seconds. Creating a 5.0 that can mash through the canyons upsetting the high brow supercars was the real purpose behind this car, and you don’t need NHRA levels of torque to get the job done. This car represents a very tuner approach to the Mustang. Which is straight up refreshing.
image courtesy of flickr.com
>>Join the conversation about Farrah's furious Foxbody right here in The Mustang Source forum.
Proper Interior Prep
Inside, the car is all business with a custom roll cage that integrates so seamlessly that you'll hardly notice it wasn't factory. This, in combination with Recaro seats and Sabelt harnesses, makes it track ready should you decide to get off the public road and explore the limitations on a track day. It’s a purpose built machine that has ergonomics considered just as much as the underpinnings of the suspension system. No point in all that grip if you’re constantly fighting to stay upright in your seat.
>>Join the conversation about Farrah's furious Foxbody right here in The Mustang Source forum.
Getting Everything Down
A Torsen rear differential was utilized at the back to ensure wheel spin is kept to a minimum when the inside rear isn’t loaded. This helps the 5.0 put all its torque down to the road on corner exit while helping to improve feedback to the driver via his or her right foot. Often overlooked this is a critical part of any build as it makes the delivery of your vehicle's horsepower more accessible. Putting power to the ground is more important than the outright number you make on a dyno any day of the week. Something he certainly learned after many seasons of /Tuned.
>>Join the conversation about Farrah's furious Foxbody right here in The Mustang Source forum.
Exterior Looks
If the modifications didn’t sell you then it’s pretty certain the exterior will. Dripping in glossy black paint the car looks sinister before the V8 ever breathes through one of its 625cc cylinders. The overall width of the car was increased with a tire choice of 295mm tires on all four corners. This is a definite autocross style modification as it helps the front end gain loads of mechanical traction on initial turn in. You could say it looks unassuming, but that would be a bald-faced lie. This thing looks about as docile as a bar fight.
>>Join the conversation about Farrah's furious Foxbody right here in The Mustang Source forum.
Auctioned for Charity
The final thing that makes this car so important is the fact that it ended up going to a good cause. In the last quarter of 2018, this car went up for auction on Bring a Trailer with 50% of the profit going to a charitable cause of the owner’s choice. When people can build amazing cars and manage to give back while putting a smile on someone else’s face, then, by all means, you might just have one of the best cars ever made. Cheers to Matt for doing something good and giving back to the world. Just another reason this is one of the coolest Foxbody Mustangs around. Thanks for reading.
image courtesy of thedrive.com
>>Join the conversation about Farrah's furious Foxbody right here in The Mustang Source forum.
And, for information on maintenance and repairs for your Mustang, head on over to our How-Tos at MustangForums.com!