Evil_Capri

Mustang Pony was on the hood from 79-82 . . . .

watchdevil

They also used round pony or snake emblems on the interior door panels.

There is an important thing to remember about designs from decades ago. No one could have predicted that the original designs of the Mustang or for that matter a VW Beetle would be significant decades later. I remember these designs were considered tired back then and modern design was more than welcomed.

I guess one must have to live during 1979 when the Fox Mustang came out to experience the impact it had for the times. I do remember how tired, bloated and hodge podge the Mustang II and many other 1970's Fords seemed to look by the time 1979 came around and it was then considered a revolution for cars to have clean boxy functional euro shapes. All the Fox cars looked more aerodymamic compared to former Ford designs because everything back then had long horizontal power dome hoods, huge upright grilles and raised bladed fenders.

I have to agree with many that as time goes by I am finding the four eyed Foxes to be the best looking of the Fox Boxes, particularly the 1983-86 models with the softer more rounded bumper corners which still make them look fresh today. I do have a preference for the 1985-86 nose with the smaller slot grille opening. I also still appreciate the simple look of the rolled under rockers and fascias with no clunky chunky cladding and air dams... I also like the tight fender to wheel clearance.

Ballz

I just can't find any love for the above body style. Is it a Tempo? Is it an Escort? Maybe it's a Volvo. It's rare that I would even think this, but I think I like II's better than that Fox Box. No offense but it looks very far removed from anything Mustang.

zzcoop

Looking back, sure. But that wasn't the case at the time. And that's what counts.

Clino

It's true, car designs are always a product of the times. It's easy to criticize a design with the luxury of hindsight and the knowledge of where it has developed to since. I still look at my fox and think what a great, well balanced, clean design it is. I think the fact that it stayed around for so long with minor tweaks is a testament to this.

I know a lot of people disagree with me on this idea, but I still think the fox was the last Mustang that was true to the original. Feel free to argue, but it was the last time the Mustang was a pony car. Every Mustang since is just a sports car with superficial heritage inspired design cues. Not that I don't like them...but it's just a different idea that is right for the present times.

m05fastbackGT

So just where exactly are you able to see a lot of the fox body, in the SN-95's ? Other than the front grille, and front air dam. I don't see any resemblance at all, as the Fox and SN-95's, are completely 2 different body styles altogether !

Evil_Capri

And yet it is more Mustang (in terms of design/production years) than any other generation.

zzcoop

Excellent point.

Zoomie

One could also argue that it was the most NEGLECTED Mustang of all time. Remember, it came within a whisker of being replaced by the Probe.

The advent of the SN95 was considered by many (myself included) to be at least 10 years overdue.

I've said before, my hat is off to the Fox buyers for keeping the Mustang alive, if not well. But numerous, repeated efforts to make myself like it enough to buy one all failed. The styling was just not enough Mustang, for me, even after the performance returned...

Evil_Capri

You don't have to like the styling. I wasn't trying to make an argument that says Foxes needed to be liked from a style point of view. However, disregarding the 14 years (I will concur on the 'neglected' part) as "not enough Mustang" is a hard argument to swallow. In my opinion, the Foxes are every bit as "Mustang" as the early generations. (And we can agree to disagree. Nothing wrong with that. )

I suppose I am in the minority since I like EVERY Mustang generation.

zzcoop

Mainly because the styling had gotten old, not because it was any less "Mustang."

Zoomie

Negative. The "styling" was old in 1979. The greenhouse was too tall for the high cowl and beltline, ruining the proportions that even the reviled II's had properly maintained. To many, (and again, this is just opinion - does NOT invalidate others' opinions ) this made the STYLING less Mustang than the previous generations.

My hope at the time was that it would be as short-lived as the previous generations. But 1994 took a loooooong time to come...

zzcoop

I, on the other hand, look at a Fox and immediately think "Mustang." It's ingrained.

A lot of this comes from my age. I was three in 1979, and up until that point, the only Mustang I'd ever known was our '77 Mach 1. So that means, from the time I was a pre-schooler until I was a senior in high school, the Fox was it. Heck, it wasn't until I was in junior high that I started to learn of the Mustang's roots.

Point is, what makes a Mustang a "Mustang" is unique to each of us.

rhumb

I'd agree with your recollection to the appearance of the FoxStang after the Mustang II.

Whereas the Mustang II, with its baroque Disco-Dan overstyling, bordello interior, ungainly Pinto chassis and insipid drivetrain, had mid-70's malaise era written all over it, the FoxStang represented a return to serious engineering, clean and purposeful styling, real performance and possibilities for the future. The trim, taut FoxStang was a vast objective improvement over the wheezing II with a far more modern, if not exactly cutting edge, chassis, less weight, improved if not overwhelming performance and even an exhaust that had a bit of rumble to it (rare in those days of Hoover upright sound tracks). By 1982 and the introduction of the GT model, it was clear that Detroit was indeed moving out of the dark ages into a performance rennaisance that we are still enjoying today.

While it's easy to take the FoxStang for granted today, in the context of its day, it was an exciting renewal of a commitment to real performance vs. the cheesy and empty sticker, scoop and spoiler hack jobs that proceded it for years (and the root of my utter despising such things to this day).

TampaBear67

As I Said...

I Completely forgot about the Early Fox's, 79-82, having those Round Emblems on the Hoods.

roush235

Interesting how this thread evolved into a discussion of Fox Mustangs including the four-eyes. I for one find the four-eyes very attractive. In their day there was quite a bit of praise for their clean design. Of course I am biased, having bought one new which I still have.



Maybe you had to have lived the late 70's - early 80's to better appreciate this model.

I too like all the Mustang generations.... wish I could own an example of each.