Why A Fox?

[stykthyn]

We are all here because for some reason we love our foxes. What what makes it the car you love? Growing up I had massive disdain for a fox mustang. I found them plain to look at, you couldn't turn a corner without tripping over one. I seriously saw them as overgrown escorts. I LOVED and still do to this day Trans Ams. Shows like knight rider and smokey and the bandit just ingrained that Pontiac into my mind what a muscle car should be.( hindsight: it's all Hollywood magic) I purchased a 71 t/a at 18 I couldn't afford to maintain much less restore, purchased a 92 formula that for what it was was an amazing vehicle, sold that and bought a 99 z28. By this point I was a single father with sole custody of my son. No problem. He had room in the backseat for his car seat and that was all I needed. 2 years into that arrangement I get married and son #2 is coming along. F body is sold for the dreaded family safe car. I find myself in a lurch. I needed a project. I needed something to tinker with. GM's failing here was the travesty they called a back seat. Basically two holes in the floor pan they hastily threw some cushions on top of. That wasn't going to work. Enter my brother in law. Don't get me wrong, he was a douche canoe, but he also had a 93 Vert he couldn't keep running and his luxury apartment complex was ready to have the pile towed. This thing was bad. Top broke and wouldn't function correctly, he couldn't get it started much less stay running. I bought it for 300 dollars. 45 minutes of prodding and a few gallons of fresh gas gets the heap started and I was hooked. The rest is history. I'm on my 3rd fox and despite my childhood misgivings they offer an experience I never found in another similar car. It truly feels like a 60s muscle car.

 

[603mustangs]

First off, who was the hot chick you had as a pic a few weeks ago?

It's the sound out the exhaust pipe. My sister had an 88 Formula, my cousin had a 91 Iroc bored out to a 351 or something. While they were fast, the sound was just meh. I still know the sound of a 5.0 going by, and will get behind one on the highway and roll down the windows and kill the radio. I had a sweet alpine system in my first fox and hardly used it, the shifting gears was music enough.

 

[stykthyn]

First off, who was hot chick you had as a pic a few weeks ago?

It's the sound out the exhaust pipe. My sister had an 88 Formula, my cousin had a 91 Iroc bored out to a 351 or something. While the were fast, the sound was just meh. I still know the sound of a 5.0 going by, and will get behind one on the highway and roll down the windows and kill the radio. I had a sweet alpine system in my first fox and hardly used it, the shifting gears was music enough.

Lol. That was Adriana Lima.

 

[603mustangs]

Lol. That was Adriana Lima.

You have a good eye

 

[Davedacarpainter]

Alright Clay, i'll play.

Fox bodies are first and foremost Fords.

One of my buddies when i was in the army back in the eighties got a brand new '87 GT and i went for a spin in it with him. He nailed it at a light and it pinned me (relative to the times) to the seat. The sound of it made private parts tingle, we won't say anymore about that right now....

My father loved mustangs, he bought a new one back in '64 when they first came out. I was just a little boy back then, but that's my first memory car. He would trade them in about every two years for the next upgrade. He did this until he passed.

My father was a bit of a douche, but he liked the right cars. He bought a '79 fox when they first came out. He was pretty anxious to get it because he set a moratorium on buying a new mustang until Ford got rid of the Pinto IIs (Oops, i mean mustang IIs). I know he owned three others through the eighties, i didn't get to see them cause i was out playing soldier and didn't have a great desire to come home.

I just have always liked them, I thought t-tops were stupid looking too! Hummmm....

What's not to like though, it's like an erector set for adults. You don't like something, change it out. They're not collectible like a classic shelby, so there isn't much guilt in modifying them.

They can be made into a practical art form like Scott's car, or be a rat ridden old beast sitting in a salvage yard for fifteen years. They'll always grab my attention.

 

[RaggedGT]

Back in '88 or '89 my uncle had an early '80's four eyed fox that he grenaded the 302 in. My dad (Ford guy and ase master tech at the time.) tore it down and rebuilt it in the driveway. After it was running and broke in we drove it out to my uncles house. Some where in between our house and his , my dad was telling me about his old muscle cars,and about horsepower,drag racing etc. which I understood none of it- but when we left the next red light blowing the rear tires off,sideways with the 4brl singing while dad snatched gears had me hooked lol
My first one was a '79 Capri- would love to have another lol

 

[90sickfox]

I'll jump in this. I was a kid looking at guys rolling through the park in fox mustangs back in 89. All the cool guys had 5.0s and all the ladies.

I fell in love with a white headed red bodied beautiful custom candy painted 89 gt. She was dealing with a hustler that owned a sound shop at the time ( 91 ). Over the years he flirted with big girls with pumps and switches. Occasionally, he'd bring the girl out to the park and let her argue with all the other cars.

I got into dealing with early 80s turbo Saab's and the basic Geo Spectrums...converting them to turbo isuzu i mark crossbreeds ( 95- 99).

That was over when I met a dirty trashy girl from my neighbor. She was an 87 hatch 4 banger 5 speed. She was so rough but my baby had potential. Gave her a heart transplant...knee surgery...and a boob lift. Wow, she was amazing but once she started going she got Forest Gump syndrome....she wouldn't stop for $#%t...lol. I treated her so bad...real bad.....and she loved it. Guess I found my type...dealt with a lot of her type.

Then one day I hear this guy yelling....and the sound of metal doors slamming. This guy was huge and pissed off at this beautiful white headed custom painted 89 5.0 gt convertible. He was treating her bad. Her glasses were foggy....he made her wear cheap chrome cobra shoes.....so i made an offer....like any respectable pimp...2 grand and he'll never have to deal with her ish...or 2500 if you get her acting right. Needles to say he couldn't make her act right at all....so mine she became.

Staring at her the first day I realized she was the one....the same one from the park. Still with her Kenwood tape deck and EQ....the same pioneer 12 was bolted in her spare tire well. I loved her...my little vert.

I gutted her out repeatedly and loved it all. She was so fun. Eventually, she got a Lil nitrous, stroked motor, IRS, and a 10 point cage. Her red was aged so I gave her a new coat of svo blue pearl. She was awseome !!! No one could touch her.

The years took their toll. Strut tower rust and stress cracks caused her body to fail her...but she fought to the last second. Even the car crusher struggled to crush her cage still welded in her stripped body.

At that point I told myself I'd never have another girl like her. Now I just have my buddy, Dusty. We'll chill and talk about her all day. This car is a guy. Dented and dusty as hell. He's my home boy....my buddy, Dusty. He's a jack@&& but I know he's got my back...and I've got his.

 

[stykthyn]

WTF did I just read?

 

[Jersey Joe]

I subscribed to Hot Rod magazine since I was a total Camaro guy, my wife who I was dating at the time wanted a new car. I remembered reading the issue where the 1988 Mustang was picked best performance new car and had a msrp of 13,000 bucks. We took a ride over to the local Ford dealer and the rest is history

 

[RaggedGT]

I'll jump in this. I was a kid looking at guys rolling through the park in fox mustangs back in 89. All the cool guys had 5.0s and all the ladies.

I fell in love with a white headed red bodied beautiful custom candy painted 89 gt. She was dealing with a hustler that owned a sound shop at the time ( 91 ). Over the years he flirted with big girls with pumps and switches. Occasionally, he'd bring the girl out to the park and let her argue with all the other cars.

I got into dealing with early 80s turbo Saab's and the basic Geo Spectrums...converting them to turbo isuzu i mark crossbreeds ( 95- 99).

That was over when I met a dirty trashy girl from my neighbor. She was an 87 hatch 4 banger 5 speed. She was so rough but my baby had potential. Gave her a heart transplant...knee surgery...and a boob lift. Wow, she was amazing but once she started going she got Forest Gump syndrome....she wouldn't stop for $#%t...lol. I treated her so bad...real bad.....and she loved it. Guess I found my type...dealt with a lot of her type.

Then one day I hear this guy yelling....and the sound of metal doors slamming. This guy was huge and ****ed off at this beautiful white headed custom painted 89 5.0 gt convertible. He was treating her bad. Her glasses were foggy....he made her wear cheap chrome cobra shoes.....so i made an offer....like any respectable pimp...2 grand and he'll never have to deal with her ish...or 2500 if you get her acting right. Needles to say he couldn't make her act right at all....so mine she became.

Staring at her the first day I realized she was the one....the same one from the park. Still with her Kenwood tape deck and EQ....the same pioneer 12 was bolted in her spare tire well. I loved her...my little vert.

I gutted her out repeatedly and loved it all. She was so fun. Eventually, she got a Lil nitrous, stroked motor, IRS, and a 10 point cage. Her red was aged so I gave her a new coat of svo blue pearl. She was awseome !!! No one could touch her.

The years took their toll. Strut tower rust and stress cracks caused her body to fail her...but she fought to the last second. Even the car crusher struggled to crush her cage still welded in her stripped body.

At that point I told myself I'd never have another girl like her. Now I just have my buddy, Dusty. We'll chill and talk about her all day. This car is a guy. Dented and dusty as hell. He's my home boy....my buddy, Dusty. He's a jack@&& but I know he's got my back...and I've got his.

Hilarious

I subscribed to Hot Rod magazine since I was a total Camaro guy, my wife who I was dating at the time wanted a new car. I remembered reading the issue where the 1988 Mustang was picked best performance new car and had a msrp of 13,000 bucks. We took a ride over to the local Ford dealer and the rest is history.

Still the same car right? lol

 

[Jersey Joe]

Yep, and the Camaro....sold it in 93 and haven't owned a Chevy since. Woops forgot I had a 87 S 10 blazer for her to drive in the winter......I should of said no more Camaro's. Haha

 

[Mustang5L5]

16 years old around 1996/1997. Buddy got an 86 GT. I thought it was an ugly hatchback. He took me for a ride. I was wrong.

Age 17 I bought my '88. Still got it


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[Shakerhood]

I test drove a brand new GT in 88 or 89 and it was so much fun that I told myself that I would some day own one and in 1998 I bought my 92 GT that I still have.

 

[1990slow50H]

For me it was the sound and manual transmission..........not many cars sound as good as the ol 5oh with an aftermarket exhaust

 

[TOOLOW91]

My dad was a big GM guy . He passed when i was 8 . I loved Vettes as a kid. Still love many gm cars as my FB and instagram friends on here know. Gbodys , Chevelles , Novas I can go on.

One day around 9-10 years old we had a family friend that had an 86 coupe he bought in 1990. Hated mustangs - used to say ponys are for girls as a kid. So one day i finally heard this family friends car . Was hooked on the sound. He was testing his newly installed line lock and i wanted to go for a ride. Well Needless to say the car was black, polished 10 holes, flo fit seats, FRPP rear disc conv, Tremec 3550, 302- TW heads, Edelbrock intake and you guessed it - A Vortech S trim!

He took me for what felt like a ride in the fastest car i ever was in . I felt like i wanted to puke and had an Adrenalin rush like no other . At that point my whole perspective changed . I knew i wanted to own a foxbody and i knew the car had to have a blower with that whistle that felt fast enough to scare me or give me that rush.

 

[TOOLOW91]

Car was actually just on eBay . He sold it to a dude in the carolinas last year . And that dude is trying to sell it .


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[TOOLOW91]

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[LiquidStangs]

In high school, I was actually into 3rd generation F-bodies, and didn't really pay close attention to Mustangs. But my family had been a "Ford family"--remember when that was a thing? The two cars that fill my earliest memories were a '72 LTD and a Maverick of unknown year. Then my dad traded the Maverick for a VW Scirocco, and well, that was that. Still, squared-off GM keys and floppy ignition switches seemed odd and fragile compared to their beefy and sure Ford counterparts, and let's not even talk about the wrongness of those VW keys with their big black heads. Isn't it funny how your mind works as a kid?

Fast-forward to college. One of my buddies shows up in a 4-cylinder notch. Other than the guy whose dad bought him some brand-new German thing, the notch was the fastest car in student parking, and I was fortunate enough to drive it on occasion. I loved that little car.

Ever since, Mustangs have been a bit of a theme for happy moments in life. There was the SN95 my wife and I rented for our 5th wedding anniversary in Vegas and drove to the Grand Canyon and back; the stories from that trip alone... well, this post will be long enough as it is. Then we rented a New Edge for our ultra-cheap Florida vacation in fall 2001 (which was why it was cheap--no one wanted to travel in case the terrorists were coming to get them). The kids complained the whole week because we drove it with the top down.

And then there's my wife's car--the S197 I bought her as a thank-you present for staying alive, and that she still tears up the roads with to this day. The joy in her voice at the thought of a boring old grocery run? That's an experience worth living for, even if I'm not riding shotgun.

But when it came time for me to get a fun car, I couldn't afford anything recent, and I couldn't forget that little 4-banger notch. And I was curious if the V8 Foxes were any better than the piece-o-crap V8 Fairmont I had owned once upon a time. So my online searches started narrowing. I closed my Craigslist tabs for "camaro" and "trans am" and "firebird", and pretty soon, started adding the 1979 and 1993 year limits to my "mustang" tab. And then a really sketchy one came up on that tab, and that was that for me.

I could totally get into SN95s or newer. And every so often, I look at Mustang IIs. We don't have any that I know of in the local club, and wouldn't that be cool to represent? But not for now. This Fox Mustang is everything I had wanted the Fairmont to be so long ago, even in its compromised state. And it challenges me, fights me, dares me to make it better and make myself better in the bargain. I'm miserable and frustrated after wrestling with suspensions and wiring problems and stubborn brake boosters, but somehow I fall asleep smiling anyway.

It's possible that any decent car could have helped my check that item off the bucket list. But in the end, you can't have "any" car; you have to choose an actual car to own and fix up. And this is the one I chose.

 

[FoxMustangLvr]

Illegal street racing in San Diego is what hooked me on the 5.0. At the height of the races in 97' I was driving a Camaro. One night a a big race was broke up by the cops and I filed in behind a beautiful two tone red/silver GT 5.0. As we were pulling in to a parking lot the guy blipped the gas real quick and it shook my car and it sounded so damn good and I was instantly in love. It wasn't long before I sold my Camaro and bought a 88' 5.0 LX. I went right back to the races and killed those imports. It was about a year later when a drunk driver ran in to my Mustang while parked and totaled it. It was about 15 years later when I finally was ready to do it again.

 

[deathb4dismount]

It was 1990 I was 7, riding in my mom's Bronco on the main drag in town. I heard a sound I had never heard before but could never forget. A white GT cheese grators and all screamed past us. The license plate stuck with me too. FASTR.