How the 90s Saved the Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang owes a significant part of its success to its devoted fans, who supported the sports car for eons. Mustang enthusiasts have played a crucial role in preserving the vehicle’s legacy and the icon’s evolution. With Mustang fans’ unwavering passion and commitment, the sports car may have survived some of its most challenging tribulations. From classic models to modern incarnations, the Mustang has always had a loyal fanbase stretching beyond generations.

In 1990, Berlin reunited after a long period of division. Meanwhile, Soviet citizens in Moscow were eagerly queuing up for the communist bloc’s very first Big Macs. In America, Vanilla Ice traversed around in his white-on-white “5.0” Mustang, rapping “Ice Ice Baby.” Although the Ford Mustang was popular, sales encountered a decline in 1986. The Fox-platform Mustang, which had been around since 1979, was losing steam. In two years, sales would plateau at 79,280 units sold. To make matters worse, the Chevrolet Camaro was about to outsell the Ford Pony for the first time in six years, which was a tough pill for the Blue Oval to swallow.

In the Summer of 1986, Ford and Mazda formed a partnership that conjured a lot of controversy. The car manufacturers developed the next-generation Mustang, which would have launched in 1989. The new Mustang would have replaced its classic pushrod 4.9-liter V-8 engine and rear-drive platform with the Mazda 626’s front-drive architecture and I-4 and V-6 engines. However, this collaboration received outrage from Mustang fans and Ford dealers. Talk about a closeted romance. 

“As much as I try to rationalize the whole deal. I just can’t force myself to accept Ford’s intended future for the Mustang. Call me old-fashioned or sentimental or just plain stubborn, but a Japanese car, even one built in America, is a Japanese car, and I’m not prepared to see a Mazda with the Mustang name and running-horse emblems affixed to its fenders. After the Mustang has clawed its way to the top of the pony car heap once again, Ford plans to turn it into a front-wheel-drive copy of a Japanese car. Un-American, I say.” 

-Editor for Mustang Monthly, Donald Farr

Afterward, Ford yielded to pressure and issued a written letter. Later that Summer, the American automaker revealed that the sports car based on the Mazda platform would be called the Probe. 

However, one question remained: what will Ford do with the Mustang? Despite significant modifications to the aging Fox platform, the Mustang did not feature the automaker’s new modular V8 that debuted on the 1991 Lincoln Town Car. Instead, it will rely on the 4.9-liter V8 with a minor power increase from 205 to 215 horsepower for a few more years. The base Ford Mustang, the Taurus, delivered 145 horsepower through a 3.8-liter V6, 40 more horsepower than the old 2.3-liter I-4 it replaced. Drivers chose between a carryover five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The Mustang’s modifications created a more comfortable ride than the third-gen model.

After that, the automaker shifted focus onto the vehicle’s exterior. The SN95 Mustang underwent several design trials that enthusiasts tested. The first design, “The Bruce Jenner,” was considered too modern and akin to the Probe. The second design, aka “the Rambo,” was deemed too stealthy with sharp edges and chimes that even Elon Musk would avoid. At the same time, the third design combined the positive aspects of the first two designs and was ultimately chosen. Mustang fans even applauded the final plan when it was revealed. After a few minor revisions and enhancements, it became the 1994 Ford Mustang.

By 1996, the Mustang introduced its “modular” V8s, a big step towards embracing new technology. These engines were known for their versatility, as they could be adjusted to fit different vehicles. The new 4.6-liter overhead-cam V8s initially produced 215 horsepower and 285 lb-ft of torque for the Mustang GT, but these numbers later increased to 260 horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque by the time the “New Edge” face-lift came out in 1999. A significant moment in the Mustang’s history, as it helped keep the sports car competitive in an ever-changing market.

After introducing new engines and a New Edge face-lift, sales for the Ford Mustang soared. Unfortunately, the Camaro saw a decline in sales and was discontinued by Chevrolet in 2002.

Back to the future, we’re at the Detroit Auto Show in 2023, and we arrive at Ford’s station. There’s a 1993 Fox Body Mustang Cobra, a 1996 Mustang GT convertible, and a brand-new S650 2024 Mustang Dark Horse – the first new Mustang trim since 2001’s Bullitt. Despite the age differences between these models, it’s interesting to observe how the same ideas introduced during the Fox Body-SN95 transition are still evident today. The Ford Mustang inspires passion and admiration for its unique style and performance, regardless of the era. This iconic American muscle car has undoubtedly left a lasting legacy.

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Photo Source/Credit: Ford Authority