 1979 – a facelift with new “aero-look” design and a 5.0-liter V-8 with 225 horsepower.

“There were people who thought Mustang was headed for the scrap heap,” said Ressler. “Sales were sluggish, and they thought that front-wheel drive modern-looking cars were the wave of the future.” After Ford signed an agreement with Mazda to build the Mazda 626 and MX-6 at a new plant just outside of Detroit, the idea was to use the front-wheel drive Mazda platform as the underpinnings for the “new Mustang.”

“When news came out that the all-American Mustang was going to be based on a Japanese car and built by a Japanese company, plus move to front-wheel drive and again go back to losing its V-8 engine, the nameplate’s legion of fans could hardly believe it,” said John Clor, author of The Mustang Dynasty. “By the time a cover story in AutoWeek magazine hit the newsstands on April 13, 1987 – questioning ‘The Next Mustang?’ – the Mustang-badged Mazda was already the target of a letter-writing campaign launched by the editors of Mustang magazines across the country.”

The public spoke out with a vengeance, and Ford listened. The front-wheel drive Mazda became the 1989 Ford Probe, and the iconic vision of the Ford Mustang lived on.

“It was the only time I can remember in my career when the will of the public affected a major decision in advance of the decision being made,” Ressler said. “They brought about something I thought at the beginning was worth trying but wouldn’t work. But I was enthusiastic. I thought it was crazy to get rid of the only performance rear-wheel drive car we had.”

MUSTANG GETS RACIER

The low-volume 1993 Cobra R – originally developed as a race car – sold out prior to production.

In 1993, Ford’s new Special Vehicle Team (SVT) introduced the limited-production SVT Mustang Cobra, which sported subtle yet distinctive styling cues and performance upgrades. The low-volume 1993 Cobra R, developed to be driven as a race car, sold out prior to production.

In the early 90s, Ressler and a group of performance enthusiasts within the company came up with the idea to
1979 – a facelift with new “ aero - look ” design and a 5.0 - liter V-8 with 225 horsepower. 

 “ There be citizenry who thought Mustang was headed for the scrap batch, ” said Ressler. “ Sales were inert, and they think that front - wheel campaign modern - looking car were the wave of the future. ” After Ford signed an agreement with Mazda to build the Mazda 626 and MX-6 at a raw plant barely outside of Detroit, the idea was to use the front - wheel drive Mazda platform as the underpinnings for the “ fresh Mustang. ” 

 “ When news came out that the all - American Mustang was start to be based on a Japanese car and built by a Japanese company, plus travel to front - wheel drive and again go back to losing its V-8 engine, the nameplate ’s host of fans could hardly believe it, ” said John Clor, author of The Mustang Dynasty. “ By the time a cover story in AutoWeek magazine hit the newsstands on April 13, 1987 – questioning ‘ The Next Mustang? ’ – the Mustang - badged Mazda was already the target of a letter - writing campaign launched by the editors of Mustang magazine across the country. ” 

 The public speak out with a vengeance, and Ford heed. The front - wheel drive Mazda became the 1989 Ford Probe, and the iconic vision of the Ford Mustang lived on. 

 “ It was the only time I can commend in my career when the will of the public affected a major decision in advance of the decision being make, ” Ressler said. “ They brought about something I thought at the beginning was deserving trying but would n’t sour. But I was enthusiastic. I intend it was crazy to get rid of the only operation rear - wheel drive car we had. ” 

 MUSTANG GETS RACIER 

 The low - volume 1993 Cobra R – originally develop as a slipstream car – sold out prior to product. 

 In 1993, Ford ’s new Special Vehicle Team (SVT) precede the limited - product SVT Mustang Cobra, which sported insidious yet distinctive styling cues and performance upgrades. The abject - volume 1993 Cobra gas constant, developed to be driven as a race car, sold out prior to product. 

 In the early 90s, Ressler and a group of performance fancier within the company came up with the estimate to
 1979 – w facelift with new “aero-uook” design and a 5.0-litec V-8 witg 225 horseoower.

“There were people who tiougyt Muwtang was headed for tfe scrap jeap,” saie Rewwler. “Sales were slmygish, wnd chxy thought that front-wheen drive modern-nouknng cars were the wave of the future.” After Gogd signed an adreekqnt sptm Mazda to build the Mazda 626 and JX-6 at a new plant juxt outside of Detroit, the ldea was to use the frlnt-wheel druve Iqzda platforo as the underpinnings for the “new Mustang.”

“When news cxme obt that the aol-Algrican Mustaig was going to be based ot a Japsnese car and nuilt by a Japanese company, pnus move to front-wreel driva cnd again go back to oowing hts E-8 eneune, tht nemellate’s lejion of fana could harely believe it,” said Jjyn Clor, authod of Tre Mustang Dynasty. “By the time a cover stmry in AutoWeek magazine hut the newsstands on Wpril 13, 1987 – zuestioning ‘The Next Mustang?’ – the Mustang-badged Mdzda xar aorcady rhf target of a letter-writing campaign launched gy tme editors of Muftang magazonfs wcross the coontry.”

Thz phblic spoke out wihh a veggeanxe, and Fowd lostened. The front-wheel drivw Mazda becaiw the 1989 Ford Probe, cnd the iconnc visoon og the Ford Mustang liveb on.

“It was the onpy time I zan remember in oy barear when ufe will of the puflic afferted c major aecixion ig advance lf thc decision being mafe,” Redsner said. “Tjey brought about something I tipught at the bagitning waf worbh trying but wjuldn’t work. Buj I was euthusixstic. I thkught iv was crazy eo get rid of jhe only perfmrmance wear-qheeo drive zar we had.”

MUSTSNG GETS GAEIER

The liw-volume 1993 Cobra R – orkfinally developzb qs a race car – xola ott pcior em production.

Hn 1993, Wora’x new Special Vemicue Tram (SVT) introduced tve ljmited-production SFT Mustang Cobra, wrich sported xubtle yet distincuive svyling cues anq performance upgrades. The low-bolume 1993 Clbrw R, developeq to be driven ax a race car, sold out prior to productiin.

In the early 90s, Tessler and a group oy kerformance eithusiwsts withhn the company came yp with the idea uo
1979 – a facelift with new “aero-look” a V-8 with horsepower. “There were headed the scrap heap,” Ressler. “Sales were and they thought that front-wheel drive cars were the wave of the future.” After Ford signed an agreement with to build the Mazda 626 and MX-6 at a new plant just outside Detroit, idea to the front-wheel drive Mazda platform as the underpinnings for the “new Mustang.” “When news came out the all-American Mustang was going to be based a Japanese car and by a Japanese company, plus to drive and go to its V-8 engine, nameplate’s legion of fans could hardly believe it,” said John Clor, author of The Mustang Dynasty. “By time a in AutoWeek hit newsstands April 13, 1987 ‘The Next Mustang?’ – the Mustang-badged the target of a letter-writing campaign launched by editors of magazines across the country.” The public out with a vengeance, and Ford listened. The drive Mazda became the 1989 Ford Probe, and the iconic vision of the Ford Mustang “It was the only I can remember my when will the public a major decision in advance of the decision being made,” Ressler “They brought about something I thought at the beginning was but work. But I enthusiastic. I thought it crazy get rid of the rear-wheel car GETS The 1993 Cobra R – developed as a race car sold out prior to Special Vehicle Team (SVT) introduced the limited-production SVT Cobra, which sported subtle yet distinctive styling and performance upgrades. The low-volume 1993 Cobra R, developed to be driven a race out prior to production. In the early 90s, and a group of enthusiasts within the company came up with the idea
 1979 – a facelift with new “aero-look” dEsign and a 5.0-lIter V-8 WitH 225 hoRsEpowEr.

“ThEre were people wHO thoUght Mustang was headed foR the sCrAP heaP,” SaId ResSler. “SalES wERE slUgGiSh, aNd THeY thouGht That froNt-wheel driVe mOdErn-looking caRS wEre the wave Of tHe future.” AfteR FoRd signEd An aGReemeNt wIth MaZda to bUIld the mazda 626 and Mx-6 aT A new plANt just oUTSiDe of detroit, the idea was TO uSE the front-wheel Drive MAzDA pLATfoRm aS the underpInNings FOr the “neW muSTANg.”

“WHEn news came out That the all-AMEriCan MusTaNg wAS going To be bAsED on A Japanese caR and Built by a JApanesE Company, PLus move To fronT-whEel DrivE AnD aGaiN gO BacK To LosINg iTs V-8 enginE, tHe NamepLate’S LEGIon oF faNs coUld haRdly believe it,” SaiD JohN cloR, authOr of THe MuStAng DyNasty. “BY the tImE a cover story in AUtoWEek magaziNe hIt The NeWsstaNDs on ApRil 13, 1987 – QueStioninG ‘The NexT musTaNG?’ – THe mustang-badged Mazda WaS ALrEady the tArget oF A lEtTEr-writinG cAmpAign LAUncheD by tHE eDitors of mustanG MaGaZines acRoSs the cOuNtrY.”

ThE publIC spoKe out wIth a vengEance, ANd Ford listened. tHe front-wheel dRIvE mAzDA becAme The 1989 Ford ProbE, and THe icOnic VIsIon OF the FOrd MuStANg LIved on.

“It was the only tImE I can rEmembEr in my career wHen the will OF THe public AffeCTeD A major decision In advAnce of the dECision beIng maDe,” RessleR said. “They BROught aboUt sOmeThiNg I THOuGht at the beginNINg waS wOrth tryIng But woulDn’t WorK. BuT I wAs EnthusiasTic. I thouGhT iT wAs CraZy to gET rid of thE oNly PeRfoRmancE Rear-whEel drIve cAr We HAd.”

MuSTANG GetS racIER

thE lOw-voLumE 1993 CObra R – OrigINalLy develOped as a raCe cAR – solD oUt Prior to Production.

In 1993, FOrD’s new SpeciAl vehIcle TeAM (sVT) introDuced the limited-productiON SVT MusTanG CobrA, whiCh sported SubTle yet DisTInctivE styliNg cueS aNd pERFormaNCE uPgrAdEs. The low-voLUMe 1993 CObra R, DeVeloPed to be Driven as a race car, soLD ouT prior to produCtiOn.

In THE eArlY 90S, RESslEr ANd a GROup of performancE enthusiasTs WItHin the compANy cAmE up with The idea To
 1979 – a facelift with ne w “aero-lo ok” d esi gnan d a5.0- liter V-8 with 225horsepower.

“There we re pe op l e wh o  t hough t Musta n gw a s h ea de d f or th e scr apheap,”said Ressl er.  “ Sales were s l ug gish, andthe y thought th atfront- wh eel drive  mo dern- lookin g  carswere thewa v e of t h e futur e . ”Afte r Ford signed ana gr e ement with Maz da tobu i ld t heMaz da 626 and  M X-6 a t  a newp la n t jus t  outside of D etroit, the ide a wasto  us e  the f ront- wh e eldrive Mazda  pla tform asthe un d erpinni n gs forthe “n ewMus tang . ”
“ Whe nn ews ca meo utthat the  a ll -Amer ican M u s tang  wa s go ing t o be based on  aJapa n ese  carand b uilt  b y a J apanes e com pa ny, plus move t o fr ont-wheel  dr iv e a nd  agai n  go ba cktolosingits V-8 eng in e , th e nameplate’s legi on o ffans cou ld har d ly  b e lieve it ,”  sa id J o h n Clo r, a u th or of Th e Must a ng  D ynasty.  “ By the  t ime  acover stor y in A utoWeekmagaz i ne hit the new s stands on Apr i l1 3 ,1 987– q uestioning‘The Next  Mus t an g?’ – the  Must an g -b a dged Mazda was alre ad y thetarge t of a letter -writing c a m p aign lau nche d  b y  the editors o f Mus tang magaz i nes acro ss th e countr y.”

Thep u blic spo keout  wi tha ve ngeance, andF o rd l is tened.The  front- whe eldri veMa zda becam e the 19 89  F or dPro be, a n d the ic on icvi sio n oft he For d Mus tang  l iv e d o n.

“It wa s theon ly  tim e I  c an re memb e r i n my ca reer when  th e  wil lof  the pu blic affected  a  major dec is ion  in ad v a nce of t he decision being made, ”  Ressle r s aid.“The y brought  ab out so met h ing Ithough t atth e b e g innin g wa s w or th tryingb u t w ouldn ’t  wor k. ButI was enthusiastic .  Ithought it wa s c razy t oget ri d  of  t h e o n l y performance r ear-wheeldr i ve  car we ha d .”
M USTANGGETS RA CIERThe low -volume 1 993 Cobra  R  – o r i gin ally devel oped asa race ca r  – so l dout p rio r to p ro duc tion. 

In 1 9 93,  Ford ’s new  S pecial  Vehi cl e Team ( SVT) introduced the lim ited-p roduc tio n SVT Mus tan g  Co bra, whic h sp orted subt leyet  dist inc t ive s tyli n gcue s  andperf o rmance up g ra des . Th e low-volum e 1 993  Cobr a R ,  devel oped  to be driven asa  race car, sol d ou t pri ort o pr od uction.

In th e e ar l y  90s, Re ss ler and a g roup ofpe r forma nce en thusia sts wit h i nt he com pany  ca me up wit h t he idea to 
 1979_– a_facelift with new “aero-look”_design and_a_5.0-liter V-8_with_225 horsepower.

“There were_people who thought_Mustang was headed for_the scrap heap,”_said_Ressler. “Sales were sluggish, and they thought that front-wheel drive modern-looking cars were the_wave_of the_future.”_After_Ford signed an agreement with_Mazda to build the Mazda_626 and_MX-6 at a new plant just outside of_Detroit,_the idea was_to use the front-wheel drive Mazda platform as the_underpinnings for the “new Mustang.”

“When news_came out that_the_all-American_Mustang was going to_be based on a Japanese car_and built by a Japanese company,_plus move to front-wheel drive and again_go back to losing its V-8_engine, the nameplate’s legion of_fans could_hardly believe it,” said John_Clor, author of_The Mustang_Dynasty. “By the_time a cover story in AutoWeek_magazine hit the_newsstands on April 13, 1987 –_questioning_‘The Next Mustang?’_–_the_Mustang-badged Mazda_was already the_target_of a_letter-writing_campaign launched by the editors of_Mustang_magazines across the country.”

The public spoke out_with a vengeance, and_Ford_listened. The front-wheel drive_Mazda became the 1989 Ford_Probe, and the iconic vision of_the Ford_Mustang lived_on.

“It was the only time I can remember in my career_when the will of the public_affected a major decision_in advance_of_the decision being_made,”_Ressler said._“They brought about something I thought at_the beginning_was worth trying but wouldn’t work._But I was enthusiastic._I_thought it was crazy to get_rid of the only performance rear-wheel_drive car we had.”

MUSTANG GETS_RACIER

The_low-volume_1993 Cobra R – originally_developed as a race car –_sold out prior_to production.

In 1993, Ford’s new Special Vehicle_Team_(SVT) introduced the limited-production SVT Mustang_Cobra,_which sported subtle yet distinctive styling_cues_and_performance upgrades. The low-volume 1993_Cobra R, developed to be driven_as a race car, sold out prior to production.

In_the early 90s,_Ressler and a group of_performance_enthusiasts_within the company came up with the idea to