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1981 Mustang |
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The 1981 Ford Mustang
represented a transitional year for the iconic pony car. While it
retained the familiar name and styling cues that had defined the
Mustang for over 15 years, it also reflected the changing automotive
landscape of the early 1980s, particularly in response to increasing
concerns about fuel efficiency and emissions regulations.
Here are some key points about the 1981 Ford Mustang:
Design: The 1981 Mustang continued with the third generation of
Mustangs, which had been introduced in 1979. This generation
featured a more aerodynamic and angular design compared to its
predecessors. However, by 1981, the Mustang had undergone some minor
cosmetic changes to freshen its appearance.
Models: The 1981 Mustang was available in several different models,
including the base model, the Cobra, and the Ghia. Each model
offered different levels of features and performance options.
Engine Options: One of the significant changes for the 1981 model
year was the elimination of the V8 engine option. Instead, Ford
offered two inline-four engine choices: a 2.3-liter four-cylinder
engine and a turbocharged version of the same engine. These engines
were chosen to improve fuel economy and meet tightening emissions
standards.
Performance: While the elimination of the V8 engine might have
disappointed some enthusiasts, the turbocharged four-cylinder engine
provided respectable performance for the time. It offered a balance
between power and fuel efficiency, although it couldn't match the
raw performance of the larger V8 engines from previous years.
Features: The 1981 Mustang came equipped with various features
typical of cars from that era, including power steering, power
brakes, and air conditioning. However, the level of equipment varied
depending on the trim level and options chosen.
Sales and Reception: Sales of the 1981 Mustang were somewhat
lackluster compared to previous years. This was likely due to a
combination of factors, including the lack of a V8 engine option and
increasing competition from foreign and domestic manufacturers
offering smaller, more fuel-efficient cars.
Legacy: Despite its mixed reception at the time, the 1981 Mustang
remains an interesting chapter in the car's history. It reflects
Ford's efforts to adapt to changing market conditions while still
retaining the Mustang's identity as an affordable and fun-to-drive
sports car.
Overall, while the 1981 Ford Mustang may not be remembered as a high
point in the car's history in terms of performance or sales, it
nonetheless represents an important evolution of the Mustang brand
during a period of significant change in the automotive industry.
The McLaren Mustang
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It’s arguably the rarest Ford
Mustang of all and it paved the way for the birth of Ford’s in-house
performance arm, Special Vehicle Operations, known the world over as
SVO.
Meet the M81 McLaren Mustang, a crazy collaboration between McLaren,
of Formula One and Can-Am racing fame, and Ford.
The story goes that when Ford wanted to create a lighter, more
powerful and altogether sharper version of its four-cylinder Fox
Body Mustang, it enlisted the help of McLaren Engines, the U.S. arm
of the famed F1 constructor.
The third-gen Mustang was available from dealerships with a choice
of a 2.3-litre inline four, a 2.8-litre V6 and a 4.9-litre V8. There
was also the option of a turbocharged version of the 2.3-litre
‘Lima’ inline-four, that was almost, but not quite, as powerful as
the 4.9L V8, 97kW against 103kW.
Ford needed to make the four-cylinder Mustang more desirable, and
not just an economical version of its fabled muscle car. Enter
McLaren which had, in the 1960s and ’70s, built a solid reputation
in the US thanks to its all-conquering exploits in the wild Can-Am
racing series.
Starting life as a regular Fox Body Mustang, Ford’s newly-minted SVO
department added ludicrously wide IMSA-style wheel arches, a
menacingly large bonnet bulge, period hot BBS alloys, larger brakes,
adjustable Koni shock absorbers, and heavy-duty sway bars front and
rear.
You could buy the body panels and build your own McLaren Mustang
SVO stripped out the interior, replacing the
standard fit bucket seats with racy Recaros, added Stewart-Warner
instruments and gauges, and a bolt-in roll cage. Finished in a
striking coat of Bittersweet Orange paint (a close match for
McLaren’s famous Papaya Orange), the Mustang certainly looked the
part.
Enter McLaren Engines, which took the factory-fitted 2.3-litre turbo
and tore it apart. The team at McLaren then balanced and blueprinted
the engine, ported and polished the head, and added a new variable
turbocharger that could pump out from 5 to 11PSI, adjustable from
the cabin.
McLaren’s engine workover saw power increase from 97kW to 130kW
while torque, even with turbo boost dialed right down to 5PSI was
rated at 210Nm.
The end result, the striking orange car was one helluva tough
four-cylinder Mustang.
With the prototype finalized, Ford planned to build 250 cars of
which 249 would go on sale to the public at the then astronomical
$US25,000. That translates to around $US92,000 in today’s money.
And that was the McLaren Mustang’s downfall. With a list price
almost five times more than the donor car (a new three-door Mustang
sold for $US5616 in 1980), buyers weren’t exactly knocking down the
doors of Ford dealerships.
Just 10 cars were produced, including the original prototype. It’s
the car in the accompanying photos.
1981 Miller Beer Sponsored
Mustang Race Car
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The 1981 Miller Mustang race car was a
high-performance vehicle developed for motorsport competitions,
particularly in the Trans-Am series. This car was a collaboration
between the American automotive engineer and designer, Robert Riley,
and the Miller Brewing Company. The Miller Mustang was designed to
compete in the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) Trans-Am series,
which featured races primarily for American-made cars.
The Miller Mustang was based on the
third-generation Ford Mustang platform, which was introduced in
1979. However, it underwent extensive modifications to enhance its
performance on the racetrack. These modifications included
aerodynamic enhancements, engine upgrades, and chassis
modifications. Under
the hood, the Miller Mustang was equipped with a potent powertrain
to provide competitive performance on the track. The engine was
typically a highly modified V8, possibly sourced from Ford's lineup,
but significantly tuned for racing purposes. The exact
specifications of the engine would have varied depending on the
specific regulations and requirements of the Trans-Am series during
that time. The
chassis of the Miller Mustang would have been reinforced and
optimized for racing, with suspension upgrades to improve handling
and stability at high speeds. Additionally, aerodynamic
modifications such as front spoilers, rear wings, and diffusers
would have been added to increase downforce and reduce drag,
improving overall performance on the racetrack.
Throughout its racing career, the Miller
Mustang would have competed against other high-performance vehicles
in the Trans-Am series, showcasing its speed, agility, and
durability on various circuits across the United States.
While specific details about individual cars
and their racing achievements may vary, the 1981 Miller Mustang
remains an iconic representation of American muscle cars adapted for
competitive motorsport during the early 1980s.
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