1993 Ford Mustang

1993 was the final year for the styling that was introduced in 1979 and represented its third major revision since its introduction in 1965. It received the larger Fox platform and had a longer wheelbase which resulted in more interior space for four passengers, particularly for those in the rear. In 1992, at the Chicago Auto Show, Ford brought an element of sophistication and exclusivity to the Mustang brand with the introduction of the Cobra, wearing unique body styling, unique tail light treatments, 17-inch wheels, specialized suspension tuning, and an increase in horsepower. The 5.0-liter V8 engine produced 235 horsepower and endowed the cobra with a zero-to-sixty mph time of just under six seconds, about a half-second better than a standard GT. Available in only black, red and teal it was a remarkably limited offering, just 4,993 examples were built in 1993. For those who wanted to go racing, Ford built 107 examples of the Cobra R, equipped with larger vented brakes, Koni shocks and struts, an engine oil cooler, a power steering cooler and unique 17-inch gloss-black wheels. They were built without a back seat, radio, or air conditioning system. Ford also offered no warranty, and to ensure they'd be used as intended, all the cars had to be sold to racers holding valid racing licenses. Priced about $5,000 above a standard Cobra, each Cobra R was painted Vibrant Red.

The Cobra R, built by the SVT (Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT)) department, had approximately 450 pounds of excess weight removed including sound deadening material, air conditioning, electric windows, and the stereo (including all wiring and speakers) and electric rear view mirrors. They were given lightweight 'crank' windows, manually adjusted rear view mirrors, and manually adjusted seats. The rear seat and seatbelts were removed entirely; countless other smaller items were deleted. The largest brakes that could fit inside the wheels were installed (Heavy-duty 13-inch Kelsey-Hayes vented rotors were installed in front with 10.5-inch vented rotors in the rear), and the 5.0-liter Windsor V8 offered 235 horsepower at 4,600 RPM and 280 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 RPM. 0-60 MPH took 5.7 seconds and 60-0 MPH braking required 140 feet. The 1/4 mile time was recorded by Road & Track in a period test as 14.3 seconds at 99 MPH, and the top speed was 140 MPH.

The 1993 Mustang was available as a coupe, convertible, and hatchback. The base engine was an overhead cam four-cylinder unit that displaced 2.3 liters and offered just over 100 horsepower. GT models - and optional on the LX - was an overhead valve V8 displacing 5 liters and offering 205 horsepower. Cobra models came with a 5-liter V8 delivering 230 horsepower. The base Mustang Coupe sold for $10,715 while the Mustang GT Convertible cost $20,850. The Cobra hatchback had a base price of $18,250.

The LX models came as a coupe, convertible, or hatchback. GT models were available as either a hatchback or convertible. They rode on cast-aluminum 16-inch wheels and performance tires.

For 1993, the Mustang received a higher wattage radio with an easier-to-read display. Several new exterior colors became available and the convertible body styles had a new headliner. New options for 1993 included an electronic premium cassette radio and a compact disc player.

Ford built a total of 114,335 examples of its Mustang in 1993 including 23,579 coupes, 60,227 hatchbacks, 26,560 convertibles, 4,993 of the Cobra hatchback, and 107 of the Cobra R racecar.

1993 was the final year for the third generation Mustang; a new design was introduced in November of 1993 for the 1994 model year. This was the first major redesign in fifteen years and was code-named 'SN-95.' A new version was initially being developed during the mid-1980s and was to be a variation of the Mazda MX-6. Ford enthusiasts objected to the front-wheel-drive configuration and the lack of a V-8 engine option, prompting Ford executives to delay its release. Instead, the Ford version of MX-6 became the Probe and was introduced as a 1989 model.

Listening to the Mustang faithful, the 1994 Mustang was based on an updated version of the rear-wheel-drive Fox platform called 'Fox-4.' It wore styling by Patrick Schiavone who added several design cues from previous Mustangs. The list of body styles included a notchback coupe, the first time this was available since it's introduction in 1964. The base engine was an overhead valve V6 with a 3.8-liter displacement and developed 145 horsepower. A five-speed manual was standard or optional four-speed automatic.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2014