“I had a ’76 and it was a rustang.”I had a 1980 & it was the same. I sold it & saw it a year later, nearly covered in a snow drift. I was still able to identify the rust pattern on the door.
“Have they finally replaced the leaf-springs in the back and the live-axle? As Jeremy Clarkson once said: “American cars are just one step away from covered wagons”.”Morty, I think you are a little biased…Ford does seem to be hanging on to the live axle, though they’ve finally got an up to date suspension. If you want to build an inexpensive car that goes really fast, the live axle still seems to be the way to do it. Mustang has always been the “regular guy’s” sports car.Everyone offers fancy options on their high end models. Do you get all that stuff on a VW Golf for 17,000€? Does it give you more features than a Ford Focus or a Mazda 3?The average car on the road in the U.S. is 11 years old. The average car in Germany is only 8 years old! Really, I think it’s silly to get all nationalistic about cars. Design & parts are done globally, while most assembly is local. The good news is just about everyone is making far better cars than they were in 70s & 80s.
Shelby played some good tricks with the Mustang. Of course on a windy road, or road course track, my ‘65 Corvair Corsa (140 hp 4 carb) could run away and hide from Mustangs, and even Porsches. It WAS that improvement in the rear suspension. The Corvair ’65 and after may have been the best handling car ever made in the U.S., safest, and most economical for it’s day. (They also could easily have solved the oil leak problem, but didn’t want to be bothered.)
The new Mustang has indeed ditched the live axle for independent rear suspension, to everyone’s acclaim, although no-one outside Ford has yet driven it..I had a ‘64 Airvair, I think that was the year they fixed the killer suspension. The oil leak problem was because they used water-cooled engine gaskets that couldn’t handle air-cooled temperatures. I bought recycled oil for $.17 a quart.
I really liked my 1972 Ford Mustang. 302 V8, light body, easy to handle, etc. Missing were some creature comforts like power windows & seats. Still good gas milage, and plenty of get up and go.
How long have they been around? American? They have a head start. However, we should be doing much better by now. Let’s dump all rwnjs asap, there’s our roadblock to progress.
It may have been the inspiration for my 1972 Datsun 240Z, which had the two problems of being a 4 speed, with a clutch and otherwise one of he best cars that I ever owned.
frodo1008 over 10 years ago
It is a car, not a horse!!
Zen-of-Zinfandel over 10 years ago
Mustang II 1974-78, only 88HP and a whole lot of ugly!!
Uncle Joe Premium Member over 10 years ago
“I had a ’76 and it was a rustang.”I had a 1980 & it was the same. I sold it & saw it a year later, nearly covered in a snow drift. I was still able to identify the rust pattern on the door.
Uncle Joe Premium Member over 10 years ago
“Have they finally replaced the leaf-springs in the back and the live-axle? As Jeremy Clarkson once said: “American cars are just one step away from covered wagons”.”Morty, I think you are a little biased…Ford does seem to be hanging on to the live axle, though they’ve finally got an up to date suspension. If you want to build an inexpensive car that goes really fast, the live axle still seems to be the way to do it. Mustang has always been the “regular guy’s” sports car.Everyone offers fancy options on their high end models. Do you get all that stuff on a VW Golf for 17,000€? Does it give you more features than a Ford Focus or a Mazda 3?The average car on the road in the U.S. is 11 years old. The average car in Germany is only 8 years old! Really, I think it’s silly to get all nationalistic about cars. Design & parts are done globally, while most assembly is local. The good news is just about everyone is making far better cars than they were in 70s & 80s.
Dtroutma over 10 years ago
Shelby played some good tricks with the Mustang. Of course on a windy road, or road course track, my ‘65 Corvair Corsa (140 hp 4 carb) could run away and hide from Mustangs, and even Porsches. It WAS that improvement in the rear suspension. The Corvair ’65 and after may have been the best handling car ever made in the U.S., safest, and most economical for it’s day. (They also could easily have solved the oil leak problem, but didn’t want to be bothered.)
kaffekup over 10 years ago
The new Mustang has indeed ditched the live axle for independent rear suspension, to everyone’s acclaim, although no-one outside Ford has yet driven it..I had a ‘64 Airvair, I think that was the year they fixed the killer suspension. The oil leak problem was because they used water-cooled engine gaskets that couldn’t handle air-cooled temperatures. I bought recycled oil for $.17 a quart.
cjr53 over 10 years ago
I really liked my 1972 Ford Mustang. 302 V8, light body, easy to handle, etc. Missing were some creature comforts like power windows & seats. Still good gas milage, and plenty of get up and go.
cjr53 over 10 years ago
How long have they been around? American? They have a head start. However, we should be doing much better by now. Let’s dump all rwnjs asap, there’s our roadblock to progress.
rockngolfer over 10 years ago
It may have been the inspiration for my 1972 Datsun 240Z, which had the two problems of being a 4 speed, with a clutch and otherwise one of he best cars that I ever owned.