The end-product of Ford's...
The end-product of Ford's call for something new-the SN-95/Fox-4 MustangGT. It's still front-engined and 5.0-powered-with 215 hp-and,thankfully, it's still rear-wheel-drive. During the development stage,rumors circulated that Mustang would be going to front-wheel motivationwith the SN-95. This new 'Stang was a lot more aerodynamic than priorones, and its reinforced Fox-chassis underpinnings-with more gussets andadditional bracing-made it a big hit with road racers andperformance-driving enthusiasts. The first-gen SN-95s also featured reardisc brakes as standard equipment and strut-tower bracing forengine-compartment rigidity.
Horse Sense: The '94 debut of the SN-95 (aka Fox-4) Mustang represented a pretty radical change to our favoriteride's interior/exterior appearance-especially the exterior, as therewas a light-years' difference between the new design and the '87-'93'Stangs we had come to love. It also brought us a year closer to the endof the pushrod 5.0's 16-year run, which, to some diehard 'Stangbangers,was one of the most devastating tragedies in the modern-era Mustang'shistory.
When it comes to positioning in the Mustang family's food chain, the'94-'95 'Stang, without question, can today be considered the red-headedstepchild. While they don't absolutely suck, they're still consideredthe Mustang IIs of their time by some 'Stangologists we know.
In theory, we're sure Ford had enthusiasts' best interests in mind whenit decided to make the big changes to our favorite ponycar. But thereality is that the first-gen SN-95 ('94-'95) was definitely better interms of drivetrain and chassis, with 215 hp for the GT and 240 hp forCobra models, a stiffer chassis with longer and stronger rocker panelsand roof rails on each side. Plus it was quieter and had improvedhandling characteristics, but it seemed to fall a bit short in otherareas.
The '94-'95 cars were 200 pounds heavier than Fox 'Stangs-a quality thatwas frowned upon by many enthusiasts, especially in the drag-racingsector. One of the more dramatic shortcomings was the unforgivingprogramming in the EEC IV engine-management system. Enthusiasts quicklydiscovered that this deja-vu step backward opened the floodgates forfrustration, as simple bolt-on engine upgrades were almost impossible orexpensive because the aftermarket produced few '94-'95-specific 5.0parts or the critical electronics necessary for getting around thethen-newer EEC IV electronics (read more below in "Computer Science"). In asense, the cars were somewhat doomed in terms of additional performance.
As we all know, time goes on. Nothing stays the same and enthusiasts'love/hate feelings for the '94-'95 'Stangs are now leaning more towardthe "love" side, probably because of the cars' unique position inMustang history; the last Mustang GT with a pushrod 5.0engine-regardless of its electronic nuances. We saw this same trend afew years ago, when out of nowhere the carburetor-equipped '85 'Stangsexperienced a popularity boom. Maybe it's the "last of a particularfeature" novelty that causes these spikes in popularity, but the reasonthis phenomenon occurs is anyone's guess. The cars are definitely outthere in surprising abundance, and can be purchased at fairly decentprices. In some instances, first-gen SN-95s are being sold for less than'87-'93 Fox 'Stangs.
So while the SN-95 spotlight is bright, we're going to take a closerlook at the short history of '94 and '95 Mustangs and offer a fewinsights on how to make yours better.
We found these two '95s, a...
We found these two '95s, a convertible GT...
...and a Cobra coupe, at the...
...and a Cobra coupe, at the sameHappy Jack-style used-car lot in Southern California, and we're willingto bet that '94-'95 Mustangs are popping up at similar small dealershipsall over the country.
...The photos are a good example...
...The photos are a good example of how a little TLCcan bring back the bling to pretty much any used car. We caught theCobra in its raw, pre-detail form. It was all there and true SVT Snake,but it definitely looked as if it had seen better days-inside and out...
...The convertible was a detailed,...
...The convertible was a detailed, front-line vehicle, bone stock andsurprisingly anatomically correct on the interior and exterior. Note thestrut-tower brace on the 'vert? It was standard equipment when the new'Stangs came on the scene, but we didn't think it would be there beforewe popped the hood. Final-edition 5.0s like this are not hard to findthese days. And they're affordable-sometimes selling for less than'87-'93 Foxes-which makes them a plausible choice for anyone consideringbuying a 5.0 Mustang.
What is it with Mustang taillights?...
What is it with Mustang taillights? During the '87-'93 Fox years, theinfamous GT taillights were the love-to-hate lenses that 'Stangbangerswere quick to change to the cleaner-looking LX lenses. Things weren'tmuch different when the SN-95 debuted, as these Mustangs featured thehorizontal tri-bar taillights.
The horizontal taillights...
The horizontal taillights never really scored high on enthusiasts' approval meters. One of the more popular exterior upgrades is replacing the OG taillights with vertical tri-bar tails from '96-'98 'Stangs
Take a close look at this...
Take a close look at this one. Yes, the body scoop just behind the door,which also has those darned horizontal, tri-bar taillights, is thetelltale sign that this unique whip is a first-gen SN-95 GT disguised asan '03 Cobra. We saw this '95 'Stangbra at the NMRA World Finals lastyear and there's no doubt it represents the extreme side of mods that'94-'95 Mustang owners can throw at their cars-total customization. Incase you're wondering-yes, the faux New-Edge Snake does have a Cobrainterior and a Vortech-blown, Four-Valve powerplant between those frontfenders. There's a major width difference between the SN-95 'Stang andthe '99-'04 New Edge cars, so there's no doubt that front-fender-fusionlike this required a lot of time and patience.
While it didn't happen from...
While it didn't happen from the outset-Fox-loyal, drag-race-minded'Stangbangers were slow to embrace the new cars, mainly because of theadditional 200 pounds the SN-95s carried over earlier Mustangs-'94-'95'Stangs have made a name for themselves on the dragstrip and now areprevalent in many heads-up racing sanctions. This is the PSCA's '05 TrueStreet champion Manny Figueroa's nitrous-inhaling '95 GT in one ofManny's trademark, tire-blazing burnouts.