Hey all - thought about posting this in the 2015 section but I felt this was more geared to the whole world of the car in general.

Was thinking about the next mustang and what direction Ford is going to take and really how the whole hobby will ultimately react and grow with the new iteration. Especially with that video going around highlighting Mustang's entrance into the European market.

Thinking about the next car, a new platform, having to meeting international regulations for pedestrian/roof height, etc, independent rear, more than 2 engines to choose from, better mpg, smaller etc.

And i thought - I suppose this is it for the famous Ford 8.8 rear. I've tried researching over the internet and besides a sparse wiki article I didn't find much re: history about the part. Not that it matters anyway - it was just a component designed and engineered to meet a certain standard and width.

But really the 8.8 to me was always the beauty of this car. A lot of people ask me why I would prefer something like a Mustang rather than an Audi A5 or a high-end pseudo-poser-racer bicycle and I always go on about the inherent simplicity of the Mustang. The STANDARDIZATION of it and how Ford does business. How parts from 20 years back still interchange, yet still manages to keep up the best in the world - the car just happens to be a lot easier and CHEAPER to live with. I guess that's part of the historical appeal of the car and I'm glad to have owned 2 examples of this family of vehicles.

The 8.8 rear is really just a sufficient live axle assembly I agree - why start a thread? Cuz it's disappearance marks a milestone in Ford's history and our hobby. Can't wait for the new car - but reflecting on years back the end of the 8.8 in the Mustang really to me is the end of that old guard of American automobile manufacturing. Some may say that happened at the end of the crown vic or the caprice, but no I would say it's when the Mustang lost its live rear (for the better).

 

How I felt about the Ford 9" rear end.

 

The mustang has in my mind always been the best bang for the buck car anywhere based on any criteria. A true classic.

 

With exception to the 98-02 LS1 F bodies, The mustang couldn't hang with them until the Coyote. We were 10 years behind.