Given its image as America’s cheap and fun V8 performance car, it’s easy to forget that the Fox Body Mustang once fostered a vaguely European aura; in its first model year of 1979 you could get metric Michelins and a turbocharged four cylinder. This more nuanced approach culminated with the short-lived and slow-selling SVO. The SVO even used a rear spoiler that looked like it was straight out of Ford of Europe’s sales brochures. Although it hasn’t been sold in almost 40 years, you now have an opportunity to buy an ’84 SVO on eBay that looks as if it is on the used car lot of your local Ford dealer, circa 1986.
Let’s start with this picture of the undercarriage. It clearly has not seen humidity in its 40 years and 54,000 miles, so it’s no surprise that it’s from the dry state of Arizona (although it’s being sold by a dealer in South Dakota). Even the exhaust fasteners look as if they’d come apart with a box wrench, and that just doesn’t happen in the northern half of the country. It’s not fair, I say.
There’s almost no sign that anyone has even started its 175-horsepower 2.3-liter four. The engine itself might be the only thing keeping the SVO from being a truly European experience (although some will point back to its live axle); it’s powerful but a little rough and noisy. But you use what you can when you’re building a labor of love, as Ford’s engineers clearly were, and it made more sense in this car than the 5.0 would have.
The dashboard looks like it came out of any Fox Ford, but the SVO got a special steering wheel along with a turbo boost gauge and a speedometer that “stopped at 85 mph.” (Wink, wink.) The five-speed shifter looks inviting enough, and it’s connected to the usual Borg Warner T-5.
The selling dealer says that the Mustang has had “one professional repaint” in its original (and beautiful) Medium Canyon Red color. The SVO’s 16-inch wheels, special hood, and the aforementioned spoiler let even the casual car fan in on the fact that this was a special pony car. With four-wheel disc brakes, revised suspension, and turbo engine, this car was clearly inspired by all those cool Mustang road-racing cars of the 1980s. But a Mustang is a Mustang, and most owners wanted the “American” version, with its prodigious torque and rumbly sound. Plus, it was cheaper. These days, the SVO is rare enough that you’ll have a hit on your hands if any Generation X car person wanders by. This one isn’t cheap at $17,995, but it has to be one of the nicest SVOs left.
Looks like a clean and very well-maintained SVO. Fitting comment Aaron, it does look like something you would have seen on the Ford dealer’s used car lot in 1986. In the context of their day and considering what Ford was trying to accomplish, these are interesting cars.
This is one clean SVO. The underside looks like new. To add to the new things I’ve learned on Barnfinds for today list. I never knew about the speedometer in these. The “numbers” stop at the government mandated 85 MPH. But look at how the needle can still keep right on going!!! You just need to squint and figure out how fast you’re going.
You’re right! Those needles would wrap right around to zero, if you kept your foot into it. I don’t recall if the gub’ment required those ridiculous speedo’s. But since the car manufacturers hopped in bed with the feds, in the early 70’s. I wouldn’t doubt they voluntarily did it.
Yep – my ’77 Vette only went to 85 on the speedo … the ’84 Pontiac 6000 STE I had as a demo did, too … it was just plain silly …
Driveinstile. The speedometer was numbered to 85mph. It was pegged to 140mph. The only way to determine actual top end was to be timed on a track. Mine got 146 mph best. Temperature, humidity, tire pressure, and all that other good stuff factored it in.
The later aero flush headlamp front end, really helped the look of these unique Mustangs.
Agreed! I’ve always wanted one of these but it would have to be an 85.5 or 86 for the aero headlights (and increased hp).
Along with the EEC4 newer electronic system, the 85.5/86’s were altogether different (better) than the earlier ones, as far as modified tuning.
Has it had a repaint? That sure looks like overspray in several of the pics!!!
JDC. Most likely it was not repainted at any time. Even up to the 1996 Ford model year vehicles , there were QC issues with the paint. I have a two-tone 1990 Bronco where it appears that there was overspray. It wasn’t. However, if you see a lot of Ford vehicle of that gendre, you’ll find some less than quality paint applied. This occurs even on some solid color vehicles like this one. Fortunately, FoMoCo got the engineering right, but the bodywork, eh, not so much.
Growing up, a friend’s data ran a Luk clutch plant in Wooster, OH. He would often get test cars as the engineers fine tuned the clutch. My friend got one of these that was pre-production. Fun car to drive.
That sounds like a cool job! I’m a Wooster kid myself – born there but left the area a few years before these cars came along.
Wooster Ohio
Great cruising in 76 thru 78
1969 Mach 1 Cobra Jet
Just off the top of my head, I don’t think the government mandated the 85 mph speedometer. Fifty five was the limit on the interstates at the time that’s true, but it was probably an over reaction by the manufacturers to insurance companies raising rates on performance cars, like under reporting horsepower ratings. Correct me if I’m wrong. BTW, this fox owner likes the SVO.
If I remember correctly, this car had 200 horsepower. 175 HP was the amount found in all manual XR4ti Merkurs and 83′ to 86′ Turbo Thunderbirds. SVO’s had an intercooler and other details not found on the TBird or Merkur. The lighter weight and suspension details made this car more fun to drive than a V8 GT. It felt glued to the road with stable and effortless turning ability.
This car was rated at 175 hp. The hp increased to 205 for the 85.5-86 models.
Thanks, Todd
Always liked these and a rare sight even in their time. Faster than the GT in ‘84 for sure and better handling. Count me in.
I had an 86 SVO. Was my favorite Fox. Well balanced, handled well, and decent gas mileage when not heavy on throttle. Four wheel disc and 16″ wheels should have been standard on all Fox Stangs but would have made for a steep window sticker. $16k new for less hp vs a 5.0 did not help to market. This 84 is sweet.
I owned one of the last 200 86′ SVO’s made. Bought it out of Paul Bailey’s Warwick Ford in March 86′. There were many a GT that challenged that car, but in the end, they mostly tried to keep up with it. The car was a screamer. If you kept it in the power band on a curvy road (Vermont 100, Mass.140, R.I. 106), you could feel the grip from the Koni shocks and the Goodyear VR’s. Because of the decrease of weight in the front end, the car was well balanced. This might seem tame by today’s standards, but remember, this was 1986. As far as the speedometer is concerned, it was numbered to 85 mph, BUT, it was pegged to 140 mph. Best I ever did with mine stock was 146 mph timed. Ford’s idea of this was to build a SCCA racer, that all you had to do was add a cage and a number. Driving one of these to a meet is like bringing a Thompson M1A1 to the range. Always lots of questions because there weren’t many of them around. Mine wasn’t wrecked, rusted, or stolen. It was sold for a 71′ 351C / C6 / Trac-Lok, Ram Air Convertible from the original owner.