Reasons Why Fox Body Mustangs are Perfect Project Cars

1. It's a Mustang!

The Mustang name has great heritage because it carved out its own path. The Mustang was the first car of its kind, it coined the term "Pony Car". Ever since the Mustang's inception in 1965, it has become one of the most iconic cars in the world. To own a piece of that storied history is surely something special. Not to mention, this particular generation was a very memorable and interesting one!

2. Wide Variety

The term "Fox Body" actually refers to a whole range of Mustangs. The Fox Body was manufactured from 1978 to 1993. Within these years, there are several sub-models, trim styles, and drivetrain combinations. 

>>Join the conversation about the Fox Body Mustang right here in The Mustang Source.

3. Abundance of Parts

Due to the popularity of the Fox Body as a project car, there are tons of aftermarket parts available. You can find just about any part you're looking for online. 

>>Join the conversation about the Fox Body Mustang right here in The Mustang Source.

4. Relatively Cheap

Since Fox Bodies are not the rarest kind of Mustang... or the most powerful... or the most desirable, they are not as difficult to find for lower prices than other generations of the pony car.

>>Join the conversation about the Fox Body Mustang right here in The Mustang Source.

5. Plenty of Torque

The 5.0 liter V8 that was offered on Fox Body Mustangs was known for tons of torque. We're talking 300 ft-lbs of torque. This car is fun to drive at all RPM's. The 5.0-liter V8 only kicked out 225 ponies but keep in mind that these are light cars. A few modifications to reduce the overall weight of the car will make this car even faster. 

>>Join the conversation about the Fox Body Mustang right here in The Mustang Source.

6. (Fox)Body Style

This generation of the muscle car is considered among car enthusiasts to transcend the Mustang name completely. You'll hear people call them "Fox Bodies" instead of "Fox Body Mustangs." This Fox platform was used by Ford across their sub-brands including Mercury and Lincoln as well. If you compare a Fox Body Mustang to other Mustangs from the second or fourth generation, you'll notice many differences. The signature segmented taillights with 3 columns are not present on the Fox Body. The front end is much different. The headlights are square for the first time in Mustang history. You'll also notice how compact they are compared to their predecessors and their successors. They were just fundamentally different and people like them for their quirkiness. 

>>Join the conversation about the Fox Body Mustang right here in The Mustang Source.

7. Turbo Version

From 1979-1986 you had the option of a turbocharged 4 cylinder engine in your Mustang. This was a time when people were going crazy for the turbo. They sure are cool, but be wary as some of these engines were known to have reliability issues. 

>>Join the conversation about the Fox Body Mustang right here in The Mustang Source.

8. Possibility of Body Kits

As stated earlier, these are popular project cars. Along with an array of parts, there are also many body kits available. This allows the owner of a Fox Body to fine-tune the exterior appearance of their Mustang. 

>>Join the conversation about the Fox Body Mustang right here in The Mustang Source.

9. Great for Drifting

If you're into drifting your car, you may want to consider a Fox Body. These cars are known for relatively poor handling but they make great cars for drifting. The lightweight nature of these Mustangs makes them excellent for whipping around turns. It is recommended to make a few updates to the chassis before getting into any serious drifting. 

>>Join the conversation about the Fox Body Mustang right here in The Mustang Source.

10. Nostalgia

Remember the 80's? The 80's were an interesting time in automotive history. Cars were much smaller than their 70's predecessors. Everything had a rigid and boxy look to it. The Fox Body is arguably one of the best cars to come out of this time period. And for many car enthusiasts, this car might bring back some fond memories of their first car. 

>>Join the conversation about the Fox Body Mustang right here in The Mustang Source.

For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit the How-To section of our sister site, Mustang Forums.