10 Reasons the Fox Body is the Best Project Car Starting Block
Slideshow: We think the Fox Body Mustang is the best project car there is. Here's why.
It's a Mustang!
The Mustang is such an incredible car because it carved out its own path. The Mustang was the first car of its kind, it coined the term "Pony Car". Every 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!
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.
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 anything you're looking for online.
It was the Indy 500 Pace Car in '79
1979 was a great year for the fox body, so great that it was given the honor of being the official pace car at the Indy 500. An honor that would further add to the already great reputation of the Foxy Body Stang. This prompted Ford to create 10,478 limited edition "Indy 500" pace car model mustangs.
Power
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.
Body styles
The Fox Body Mustangs were very unique. They are 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 from 1978-1993. It was used across their Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln divisions. 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.
Turbo
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. These are the only Mustangs to ever feature turbo-charging. This adds to the rarity of these particular models of the Fox Body. This was an interesting time in the history of Mustangs. They sure are cool but be wary as some of these engines were known to have reliability issues.
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 outer appearance of their Mustang. After all, that boxy exterior is not for everyone.
Drifting
If you're into drifting your car, you may want to consider a Fox Body. These cars are known for relatively poor handling so naturally, they make great cars for drifting. The lightweight nature of these cars makes them excellent for whipping around turns. It is recommended to make a few updates to the chassis before getting into any serious drifting.
Nostalgia
Remember the 80's? The '80s were an interesting time in automotive history. Cars were much smaller than their 70's counterparts. 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. For many car enthusiasts, this car might bring back some fond memories of their first car.
And, for information on maintenance and repairs for your Mustang, head on over to our How-Tos at MustangForums.com!