What coulda been...

[Fred_Garvin]

There was such an uproar because Ford was going to turn the Mustang into a front wheel drive car with only a 4 and 6 cylinder engine option. I'm glad the protestors won out on that one because the Probe was not the direction Mustang needed to go. I suspect if it had, we would not have a Mustang today. Nothing against the Probe mind you, it was a good car. It just wasn't a Mustang.

This. I still remember the wag who wrote the letter to Car & Driver that simply stated (presumably to the tune of the '80s song by The Vapors), "The Mustang's turning Japanese, the Mustang's turning Japanese, I really think so..."

I love this stuff -- just like the Fox concepts that were published a few weeks ago. I found it fascinating that the iconic fender engine logo ornament I've always associated with my '89 GT 5.0 appeared as early as 1976 as 2.8 in the same font! I know the 2.8 logo appeared in production form on the Mustang later, but what was the very first appearance of the classic 5.0 logo?

What's still missing are any internal Ford concepts, drawings, etc. relating to the original FWD Mustang plan from the mid-'80s that became the first generation Probe. Whoever leaked that story probably should be hailed as a national hero, but probably got fired by Ford for it.

I simply cannot believe the braintrust was considering the FWD Mustang as late as August 1989, long after I thought the idea had died mercifully, the furor had died down, and Ford had skillfully avoided their "New Coke". But here it is...

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[amk91]

This. I still remember the wag who wrote the letter to Car & Driver that simply stated (presumably to the tune of the '80s song by The Vapors), "The Mustang's turning Japanese, the Mustang's turning Japanese, I really think so..."

I love this stuff -- just like the Fox concepts that were published a few weeks ago. I found it fascinating that the iconic fender engine logo ornament I've always associated with my '89 GT 5.0 appeared as early as 1976 as 2.8 in the same font! I know the 2.8 logo appeared in production form on the Mustang later, but what was the very first appearance of the classic 5.0 logo?

What's still missing are any internal Ford concepts, drawings, etc. relating to the original FWD Mustang plan from the mid-'80s that became the first generation Probe. Whoever leaked that story probably should be hailed as a national hero, but probably got fired by Ford for it.

I simply cannot believe the braintrust was considering the FWD Mustang as late as August 1989, long after I thought the idea had died mercifully, the furor had died down, and Ford had skillfully avoided their "New Coke". But here it is...

Here they are. BTW, the ST16 Mustang was frozen by early 1984 and the design by Toshi Saito, chosen in September 1983.

Summer 1982 early sketches

October 6, 1982 SN8 Mustang proposal by Toshio Saito

November 12, 1982 SN8 Mustang proposal

January 20, 1983 SN8 Mustang proposal

1983 sketches

1984 1:1 fiberglass ST16 Mustang model by Toshi Saito

 

[TampaBear67]

Well now we know where the idea for the "Louvered" Tail Lights came from on the S550...

 

[Fred_Garvin]

:shocked: Nice; thanks so much amk91! Those 1984 ST16 photos are the smoking gun I've been looking for literally for decades -- the first-generation 1989 Probe with Mustang logos. Makes sense that the Autos of Interest article came out about a year ago; I've not researched this subject that recently.

As a fan of '80s Fords (mainly Mustangs of course but also the other Fox bodies, EXP, and even the lowly Escort), it's so interesting to see the cross-pollination of influences between these designs. The SN8 (the N standing for Ford North America, so Mazda was not directly involved yet) seems to be designed with all Ford NA parts: the early '80s Escort/EXP platform, dash, and wheels with the corporate 2.3L turbo planned for the Mustang GT (in the classic fender logo font no less). By the way, for those complaining about the high beltline on the S197, you've not truly experienced this until you've sat in an old EXP; it was quite uncomfortable driving with your arm on the window sill.

Of course the convertible in the first sketch is essentially the Mazda 323-based 1991 Mercury Capri, so if there had been a coupe, the yellow car would've been it. Interesting that this design was rejected in 1982 for being "already-dated" but was still put into production in 1990.

The 10/6/1982, 11/12/1982, and 1/20/1983 (is that the sole running pony on any of these designs on that B-pillar?) Mazda-influenced designs still use the Ford NA stuff, after which the designs were handed off to Mazda, transitioned to the 323 platform (with Mazda wheels), and then we have the ST16 (the T standing for Mazda) "Probestang" -- now postponed from the 1986 to the 1989 model year when gas was cheap (ahhhhhh, sub-$1/gallon...), CAFE be damned, and the V8 was safe for at least another decade or so.

Well now we know where the idea for the "Louvered" Tail Lights came from on the S550...

Uncanny, yes! Was it a direct inspiration 30 years later? Probably not, but still very interesting!

 

[zerot]

amk91, where do you find all these things? Wherever you do it's interesting stuff, thanks for sharing.

That is interesting to see some louvered tails on the concept..... now how about that hatchback hmm Ford? I think with the S550's sleekness it could work real well.

 

[Topnotch]

http://www.roadandtrack.com/go/automotive-design/photos-s197-5th-generation-mustang#slide-13

 

[TampaBear67]

I always loved this one.

 

[TampaBear67]

I thought this was an interesting sketch I saw in the Fox development pictures.

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