The 1993 Ford Mustang Marked The Last Hurrah For The Fox Body

To say that Ford’s Fox platform had served its useful life by model year 1993 would be an understatement. The company’s “one-size-fits-all” platform was first used in 1979 and underpinned over a dozen different models over its lifespan, some of which included Fairmont, Thunderbird, Granada, and even several Lincolns.

I came across a very clean Fox Body Mustang at an Arizona-based show recently. The third-generation Mustang (1979-93) was designed by Jack Telnack, who later served as Ford’s Vice President of Design. Telnack’s team was also known for its work on the 1986 Taurus — a car that indisputably put Ford on a path toward success with its aerodynamic design. The Fox Body Mustang was available in coupe/notchback, hatchback, and convertible body styles.

An ad for the Mustang GT said, “225 horses are bound to kick something. Gas pressurized struts up front. Quadra-Shock system in the rear. And four patches of extra fat rubber on the pavement. Mustang GT. Grab onto the five-speed and make your move.”

A decal on the Mustang was for the Instagram handle CarZmedics, a paint correction and detailing business with locations in Phoenix and Cincinnati. No wonder the exterior looked so flawless. Exterior features included a cowl-induction hood, black window trim, color-keyed side mirrors and moldings, smoked headlights and taillights, and dual exhaust outlets.

The interior featured charcoal cloth upholstery, bucket seats with power lumbar support, center console, power windows, air conditioning, and a Sony touchscreen head unit. The brochure for 1993 outlines standard features including dual visor mirrors, leather-wrapped steering wheel for GT and LX 5.0 models, tinted glass, and variable windshield wipers.

Standard on GT models and optional for the LX was a 5.0-liter High Output V-8 that was down 20 horsepower for 205 horses and 275 lb-ft of torque (a Cobra variant with 235 horsepower was available). A five-speed manual transmission sent power to the rear wheels.

The final third-generation Fox Body Mustang rolled off the assembly line on August 26, 1993. Today, they continue to be known for being lightweight, nimble pony cars with huge aftermarket support. Accordingly, prices for well-maintained or low-mileage examples have been on the rise.

No doubt, whoever owns this example is well aware of its value. And now they’re making me feel like I need to contact a professional detailer because my car’s paint has never looked so shiny.