1985 Ford Mustang

The third generation of the Ford Mustang, introduced in 1979 and produced through 1993, continued to abandon its performance heritage in response to economic conditions, new government safety regulations, and the oil embargo of the early 1970s. Economy and personal luxury were initially paramount, but performance enthusiasts did not have to wait long, as the Mustang GT returned in 1982 with a 302 cubic-inch V8 engine. Although the new 'H.O. 5.0 Liter V8' was factory-rated at 157 hp, it would be massaged by Ford engineers with progressively higher performance through the next several years, reaching a 12-year high with the 210 HP Mustang GT for 1985. The uprated Mustang GT was capable of accelerating from zero-to-sixty mph in the six-second range and could cover the quarter-mile in 15 seconds.

The 1983 Mustang received aerodynamic improvements courtesy of restyling to the nose and rear-end, and 1984 saw the introduction of the SVO developed by Ford's Special Vehicle Operations department (the first vehicle produced by Ford's new Special Vehicle Team). For 1985, Ford focused mainly on the front and the vehicle's mechanical components. In the front was a new front-end with a four-hole integral air dam located below the bumper. There were rectangular parking lamps, and GT models had integral fog lamps. Taillamps were full-width with the exception of the license plate opening. Above the right tail lamp was a Ford script oval. Most of the exterior trim and accents switched from black to a charcoal shade, and there were new charcoal front and rear bumper rub strips and body-side moldings.

Versions of the Mustang included the LX, GT, and SVO. The base engine was an overhead cam four-cylinder offering 88 horsepower. The SVO models had a turbocharger and electronic fuel injection which produced 175 horsepower. A V6 was available, displacing 3.8 liters and offering 120 horsepower. It had a cast-iron block, aluminum head, 8.7:1 compression, four main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, and electronic fuel injection. Additionally, there was a 5.0 liter V8 with overhead valves and electronic fuel injection that was rated at 180 horsepower. With a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, it produced 210 horsepower. A four-speed manual gearbox with floor shift controls was standard on the four-cylinder models. A SelectShift three-speed automatic was optional. In the front were disc brakes with drums in the rear.

Pricing began at $6,880 for the base Notchback LX model and rose to $13,580 for the GT Convertible.

The Mustang LX models were given power brakes and steering as standard equipment, along with a remote-control right-side mirror, dual-note horn, interval windshield wipers, and an AM/FM stereo radio. The two-door notchback with seating for four was priced at $6,885 with the base four-cylinder engine and $8,015 with the optional 232 CID (3.8 liter) V-6. The hatchback had a base price of $7,345 with the four and $8,475 with the six, and the convertible (not available with the four-cylinder engine) was priced at $11,985.

The Mustang GT received a boost in engine output to 210 hp thanks to its revised Holley four-barrel carburetor, a new and more aggressive roller camshaft (when equipped with manual transmissions), new E5AE cylinder heads, a dual exhaust (sort of), and less restrictive exhaust manifolds. The hatchback was priced at $9,885, and the convertible at $13,585.

The Ford Mustang SVO had discs at all four corners and a five-speed manual transmission with a Hurst shifter. Instead of employing Ford's usual formula of tire-shredding V-8 torque, the SVO took a different approach, relying on its nimble sport car characteristics and balanced handling. The 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine offered 175 horsepower and was assisted by a turbocharger and an air-to-air intercooler. They were one of the most versatile Mustangs to date and came equipped with modern suspension technology, including adjustable Koni struts and shocks that allowed switching between cross-country and competition settings. The new Quadra Shock rear suspension also added a pair of horizontally mounted shocks to control axle wind-up. Distinguishable styling elements of the SVO included a sleeker front fascia with flush-mounted headlights, fog lights, hood with a functional off-set scoop, spats at the rear wheel openings, revised tail lights and a unique bi-wing rear spoiler. Other Fox-body Mustangs had four lugs but the SVO had five lugs for its 16x7-inch aluminum wheels. The interiors of the SVO had charcoal leather seats with inflatable lumbar support, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, air conditioning, power windows and door locks, and an AM/FM stereo. There was a wider brake pedal to assist heel-and-toe shifting and a dead-pedal footrest for support in the turns. Priced at nearly $2,500 over the sticker price of a Mustang GT, Ford sold only 1,951 SVOs for 1985.

1985 marked the 15th anniversary of the 1970 Twister Mustangs launched at the Total Performance Day roadshow held there in November 1969. Kansas City-area Ford dealers once again joined forces for 1985, collectively agreeing to order 90 Mustang GTs for the Twister II promotion, including hatchback coupe and convertible body styles. Free of any active factory involvement this time, dealers were free to order any combination of Mustang GT colors, engines and options, with most painted Jalapeño Red, Oxford White, Medium Canyon Red Metallic and Silver Metallic. Unique styling elements included cartoon funnel-cloud insignias, 'TWISTER II' graphics and stripes along their lower panels, a bronze dash plaque, an alabaster coaster with a 'running horse' logo, and '1985 Limited Edition Twister II, Kansas City District, October 1984' lettering, plus a Ford press kit.

Hertz Rental Cars added 60 high-performance SVO Mustangs to its rental-car fleet in 1985, similar to what they had done with the Shelby GT350H from 1966. As SVO Mustangs, they came with the 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, 175 hp engine with the air-to-air intercooler which pulls its cooling air from the functional off-set hood scoop. Amenities included a charcoal interior with Lear Siegler bucket seats with inflatable lumbar support, leather-wrapped steering wheel, air conditioning, power windows and door locks, and an AM/FM stereo with cassette and Premium sound. They had a five-speed with a leather-covered Hurst shifter, wider brake pedal, and a dead pedal.

Ford built a total of 56,781 two-door Mustangs in 1985, 84,623 three-door hatchbacks, and 15,110 convertibles. The total of 156,514 units accounted for approximately 14 percent of the company's U.S. automobile production.

1985 was the final year that the Mustang was offered with a carbureted V8 engine.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2013