Ford called the 1979 Mustang “a whole new breed,” and the Fox-body pony car really was a game changer.
The 1974-78 Mustang II was a powerful seller for the Ford Motor Company and probably saved the Mustang brand. But for serious Mustang enthusiasts, the third-generation Mustang introduced in 1979 was a more than welcome change. Based on Ford’s Fox platform introduced the year before on the Fairmont, the Mustang now featured vastly improved suspension, with modified MacPherson struts at the front and a coil-sprung Quadra-Link setup at the rear. “Ford, with a Katy-bar-the-door enthusiasm and a commitment too long missing in Dearborn, has built the best Ford yet,” Car and Driver magazine gushed.
The Mustang was now far more comfortable as well, with a four-inch longer wheelbase and improved interior packaging. The two body styles, Two-Door coupe and Three-Door hatchback, could accommodate a variety of trim and powertrain options—for ’79, the engines included a 2.3-liter turbocharged four with 140 hp and a 5.0-liter Windsor V8, also rated at 140 hp. A versatile package with loads of potential, the Fox Mustang remained in production through 1993 and created a bonanza for the aftermarket performance industry. See where it all began in the video below.
I hope Steve Miller was paid for that lift of the “Swing Town” riff.
My cousin had a ’79 turbo four Mustang. Nice car, even if it was the loudest car I’ve ever ridden in…
In this time period Ford was supplying videos like this to their dealers either on 3/4″ U-matic video tape (professional grade equipment) or possibly on a Sony Interactive Laser Disc player. It took until 1982-1983 for laser discs to become reliable. The dealers forked out quite a lot of $$$ for this.
I worked at a Lincoln Mercury dealership across the street from a Ford point. When the Capri received the 302 with a manual behind it the fun returned big time. Prior to that they were both simply appliances.