Not at all Phil, thanks!

 

I wouldn't go that far - the non-parallel 4 link rear and the hybrid mac strut front suspensions didn't really do the fox cars any favors.

 

Tru'dat - Jack Telnak was head of Fod styling from 1980 to 1997 and this blurb sums things up nicely

"Telnack and his team of designers were responsible for ushering a new era of aerodynamic design to America's mainstream marketplace. Cars like the 1979 Ford Mustang 1983 Ford Thunderbird, 1984 Ford Tempo and Lincoln Mark VII were moderate successes that showed Ford's intention to change their traditional design language for a more contemporary, European style."

 

The 1979 Mustang was paramount for being designed with aerodynamics in mind which resulted in the nice slanted back nose and steeply raked hood.

The 1983 Thunderbird pulled off full aero perfectly with rounded forms yet it retained the thick C-pillars with the bird emblems that the Tbird was noted for since 1958. The tail lamps were separate slim wraparound pods with bird emblems applied as hallmarks as well. The first aero front end had a bold chrome egg crate grille design and power dome hood that evolved from the 1972-82 models but had the nose panel curved back in aero fashion. The 1987 redesign picked up the 1958-60 smooth grill-less nose and browed headlamp lines. Non-turbo models got the 1960 heavy chrome grill bars. All 1987 models got the the 1960 inspired triple round tail lamps, but modernized being contained in the wraparound smoked lens pods...

Same can be said for the Mark VII combining it's classic Mark visual cues into the new aero design...

My only criticism about the Fox Mustang is that it could have gone a little further with an update that followed the Tbird by softening more than the just front and rear fascias and adapting the nice aircraft style doors.


In those days I did numerous drawings of Mustangs with a much sleeker look. I wanted it to compete with the Camaro and Firebird in the looks department. The roofline was influenced by a Ferrari using a T-top and louvered triangular rear quarter windows. Believe it or not I did not get into bringing back the bodyside "C"-scoop as I retained the full wraparound perimeter bodyside moldings Ford was using at the time. The front end was sleek with a grill-less nose, centered tri-bar Mustang pony emblem and aerodynamic headlamps with wraparound side marker lamps. I also retained the turn signal lamps in the bumper moldings. The grille opening was set below the bumper molding like a wide air intake but in the classic shape of the original Mustang grille openings. It was flanked on either side with round fog lamps intended to mimick the round turn/park lamps of 1967-68 Mustangs. At the rear I tried several different treatments. One was wraparound lamps similar to what the 1979 Mustangs had, but using only three vertical sections. I later evolved that into a look which was similar to the 1971-73 Mustang taillamps but with wraparound corners. I also tried a look with non-wraparound taillamps which ended up looking very similar to the eventual Firedbird GTA specific tailamps with three squared sections on each side. The center panel was blacked out with horizontal grooves and a tri-bar pony in the center with the license plate pocket low in the rear bumper.

I should really draw these out again from my memory and post them...

 

The '79 Stang was a very refreshing change from the Baroque Mustang II, which was more a plushed out disco cruiser than anything with a hint of actual performance. Even the, eventually, optional V8 was anemic with something like around 140hp.

The Fox Stang, in stark contrast, was taut, tight, sleek and modern and far more capable even if the motors at the time were hardly barn burners. At least the 302's exhaust had a nice bark which, back in those dark days of the anti-performance mid/late '70's was something of a revelation. The handling was sharp, swapping out a multilink coil spring rear axle from the leaf spring Neanderthal-class of the II, even if still a live axle with all its attendent unsprung weight (imagine keeping such archaic technology even in the mid '70's).

All wasn't perfect of course, it was rather nose heavy, the improved multi-linkrear suspension was a bit more compromised for packaging than performance and the motors were, well, they ran and didn't stink up the earth as much as before.

The '79 was the beginning of a long Ford performance renaissance that we still enjoy today, a fact too often taken for granted for those who experienced the 1970s performance nadir.

 

The 1979 Mustang on the new Fox platform was more state of the art in aerodynamics, packaging and handling but every single engine carried over from the Mustang II.

Many of us loved the plush Disco Cruisers back in the 1970's... Seriously! Having lived in the times of gas shortages and emissions regulations, no one ever thought we would see convertibles or high performance engines again, so car designers sought ways for people to express individuality through style and fashion. Affordable luxury was a big factor with mid to late 1970's car sales. People stopped buying the big 1976 and earlier Thunderbirds when they learned you could get a similarly looking trimmer car with the Ford Elite for $2000 less. That prompted Ford to restyle the Elite into a Thunderbird for 1977 and do away with the large 76 Tbird all together.

I loved my friend's then new 1978 Thunderbird in Midnight Blue with Chamois colored split vinyl roof and matching all vinyl interior.

I do have a soft spot for the Mustang II Silver Ghia with the cranberry velour interior! Most people have no idea how significant it was for Silver to show up as a color choice on so many cars in the mid 1970's. Before it rarely existed as a choice, then suddenly it became the most popular color ever.

I also liked the 1978-80 Pinto Cruising wagons with the filled in quarter panels with porthole windows and bold graphics. I don't know why but since I was a kid in the early 70's, I had a Pinto Wagon fetish. Probably because before that I liked riding in the dual facing rear seats of Country Squire Wagons. I thought it was neat that such a small wagon like the Pinto was made. They way you perceive things as a kid is always quite interesting.

My Cobra II was quite tasteful with the standard vinyl interior in blue. The aluminum dash and interior door trim was real too. Care was given to the Mustang II interior to make sure quality and style matched Ford's larger cars exactly.

I am very fond of Ford's vinyl interiors of those days. My former 1978 LTD II 2dr HT with comfort weave vinyl bucket seats, auto floor shifter, full length center console and engine turned aluminum dash appliques were and still are paramount to me in design and quality. The LTD II carried over the same exact interior as Torinos had since 1972 with only minor variations in color, patterns and minor trim. These vinyl interiors designs were very consistent with what was offered in the 1960's which are of course what late model Mustang interior designs have purposely impersonated.







People may find the Cobra II and King Cobra's a joke but they were important responses to the revived interest in the Camaro Z28 and Pontiac Trans Ams which were both cars that were on life support and endangered in becoming discontinued for good. These high profile cars were restyled with attention grabbing looks which paved the way for actual performance to come back in 1982. These were the only new cars for people who did not subscribe to the posh baroque luxury look or the austere boring simplicity of a cheap compact car.

 

I guess all this fox body love proves that many Ford buyers will be receptive to a new, modern mustang as long as it looks and performes well for the right price. Those worried about losing the retro look I say hang on to your 2005-14 mustang or get a nice used one. I for one am all for a new direction in the mustang

 

I prefer the retro look of the current 2011-13

 

From the side, this depiction looks very much like the 09' Infiniti G37S Coupe I just sold. It's nice looking, but I don't want that look again.

 

Beautiful to look at, but that is why I sold my stang for a Challenger!
FORD gotta make it more RETRO.

Safe ride,
brazeagle

 

Again, beautiful car, but it is more like a Jaguar to me.
I want little more retro. (IMO)

Thanks for sharing,
brazeagle

 

I think the motortrend Photoshop is still Retro it still has the same basic profile as the current car, if you want Retro there are still plenty of low mile used 05-13s floating around for years to come. Just my. 02 I love the Challenger too BTW but its not the all out performer that the mustang or camaro is.

 

Here`s a sketch I did a while ago.

 

That is actually pretty cool looking and actually realistic compared to some of the ultra futuristic sketches out there. It still maintains some of the Retro without being a full on Retro car like the 05-09 car or the current Challenger

 

That sketch looks fantastic!

 

I agree ! Nicely done.

 

NO INLINE 4 CYLINDER!!!!!!!!

 

That sketch is better than the start of the thread, imo.

 

Very Professional Sketch!

 

That's awesome! It's very well done.