You wouldn't think that foxes and ponies would go together so well, but the Fox-platform Mustang is that marque's longest-lived edition. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe '82 GT puts more horse in the corral, but does its price mean the seller is also crazy like a fox?
Not even a personal endorsement from the one and only Hardibro, nor a previous appearance on these hallowed pages — that I had totally zoned on due to a nog and wassail-induced stupor — were enough to save yesterday's classic custom 1977 Mark V Coloma pickup from a Crack Pipe loss. Its 65% dunning proved that ‘70s kitsch has not yet reached sufficiently iconic, or ironic, status.
Today's custom 1982 Mustang GT differs from yesterday's half decade older gentleman hauler in two major ways. The first of those is that it is the result of a lone individual's passion and vision, while the hefty Lincoln was constructed by what would best be described as a coachbuilder. The other difference is that while the Mark was interesting, you might really want this ‘Stang.
As you will recall, the Fox platform Mustang was just the second major reimagining of Ford's pony car since its mid-sixties introduction. Moving from the Pinto to the Fairmont as a donor of parts meant that the new car provided a reasonably sound basis for performance, even though at its ‘78 introduction it had very little to offer. That all changed in ‘82 with the return of the V8 GT, a car built to eke out as much performance as the then current emissions and fuel economy demands would allow.
This GT not only rocks the 302 that was reborn under that hot model's hood, but also a fully functioning hood scoop feeding the Edelbrock 4BBL and a nitrous system that, while installed, has apparently never been used in anger. The builder of this mane to tail revamped Mustang claims to have wanted to construct a "Cannonball style" rally car, but instead of cross country trips, it's said to have but 500 miles under its retro-styled belt.
About that styling. The Fox Mustang took Ford's pony car into previously uncharted design territory, a clean break from the traditionally styled and much maligned Mustang II that preceded it. This car's builder has attempted - to a lesser degree - to do to his Fox ‘Stang what Ford did in the styling of the evolutionary SN95, giving it more of the Mustang's original iconic design cues.
Here in the rear, the wide lights have given way to a pair of ‘70-looking lamp caps while the full figured 5-mph bumper has been replaced by a tidy curve-cornered blade supported by an exhaust-perforated valance. It all looks. . . um. . . pretty damn cool. Up front the changes are not as extensive but no less severe, the pair of round headlamps flanked by finned faux scoops again mimicking the ‘70 ‘Stang. The body under these mods is claimed to be free of rust or other damage, and the matte black over red paint looks perfectly serviceable. Holding everything up are a set of 4-lug 10 holes.
On the inside, things are no less different, but the outcome is a little less successful. There's a 4-point roll bar to butch things up, and a couple of red and black high wing sport seats that are a little like lemon juice in the eye visually. The driver's seat faces an old school wood-rimmed steering wheel and sadly only two pedals. That's right, backing up the ram-aired and NOS'd 302 is an AOD. Sorry haters.
The rest of the interior is a sea of ancillary switches and gauges set into the dash and center console that I can attest from experience was made from the same plastic as 99 Cent Store shopping bags. Perhaps to draw your attention away, the builder of this car has mounted the spare tire where the back seat used to be and has fitted behind that an 8-gallon reserve fuel cell. Road Trip!
Foxstangs are literally a dime a dozen. Ford's roll of the dice with the most un-Mustang like Mustang proved a winner, and the car lived for far longer than any other edition before or since. Today it probably represents the biggest bang for your buck of any used car marque, and it's now time to determine if that buck banging includes this remarkably unique custom ‘82 and its $9,500 price tag.
What do you think, is this ‘Stang worth that sort of cash? Or, does that price retro this Mustang all the way back to the gelded age?
You decide!
eBay or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to OccupyShelbyCobras Movement for the hookup!
Help me out with NPOCP. Click here to send a me a fixed-price tip, and remember to include your commenter handle.