_{THIRD GENERATION: 1979–1983​ - Fox Body}

As the US market emerged from the fuel crisis of the mid ‘70’s, Mustang went through its third major redesign with the release of the new 1979 Mustang, based on the “Fox” platform of the US Fairmont. Styling was all new, with no trace of the previously distinctive Mustang styling cues. Some of this may be due to the simultaneous internal changes within Ford, and the firing of the previous “father” of the Mustang, Lee Iacocca. The “Fox body” era kicked of with the great, “in your face” styling success of the 1979 Indianapolis Pace Car in 1979, and continued through successive power-train and styling upgrades through 1993, including SVO editions in the mid 1980’s. The base engines throughout the Fox body era were the 2.3 OHC and the 302 V8, latterly known as the 5.0L HO with fuel injected rating of 225 hp.

(The Fox body Mustangs were also a special of NZ motorsport, with Touring Car Group A versions in the hands of Dick Johnson, and Bruce Anderson of Pinepac fame).