81 ttop notch... how rare is this car???

[81ttopnotch]

I just picked up an 81 notchback mustang with ttops. It is an original V8/auto car. Can anyone tell me how many of these were made? I saw a site that said 14,xxx or something like that. That seemed a little steep tp me. I have been around mustangs for a few years and most of my friends have been too. Only a few have even heard of a car like this. Any help/info would be great.

Thanks,
Kyle

[SleeperGT]

I'm probably wrong, but I thought I read somewhere that Ford Managment were the only ones who got those cars originally. Buddy of mine had one years ago, but the car was pretty far gone :( they didnt know what it was

[evlgt85]

Fairview Heights? As in IL???

No numbers have been given out on the T-top notches. The only ones I've seen have been 81-82 cars. There certainly were not that many made and even fewer are still in existance.

Have any pics of yours? I'd love to get my hands on one.

They were not exec-only cars. Urban automotive legend. It was an option available like any other.

[81ttopnotch]

Yes, I am in Illinois. I am about 15 minutes out of St. Louis. I am going to see if I can get ahold of someone at Ford and see if I can get some definate numbers on this. I have never seen one, and none of my friends have seen any, so I figured it was pretty rare. Guess I was right!!! I will get some pics up here ASAP. I am going to pic up my dad's digital camera tonight.

[evlgt85]

Pics are always welcome 'round these parts.

I grew up in Alton, moved to Litchfield and then moved here last May.

Good luck getting numbers out of anyone at Ford. You have to know someone or be someone in order to do it. If you've got the right connections, it might be possible. However, since Ford themselves did not do the T-top conversions themselves, there may well be no solid records of it at all. :/

[81ttopnotch]

I didn't know know Ford didn't put in the Ttops. Thats wierd. Some girl I know had a number for some Vehicle specialist that researched cars and their production numbers. I am trying to get it from her but she can't find it. I will let you guys know what I figure out. I got a digital camera last night so I will have some pics as soon as I get a windshield in it. BTW you guys aren't going to like this, but it's got the newer front clip on it. I didn't do it though. If the car is worth a lot original I will prolly put it back to stock, but it is far from stock now.

[SleeperGT]

I just saw a pic of a 81 t-top sedan in Al Kirschembaum's 5.0 Mustang Technical and Reference Manual. They look pretty cool actually. That book has a ton of information in it.. Just bought it the other day. It's well worth the money. I think Cars & Concepts did Ford's modifications. Pretty sure they did the convertible conversions..

[81ttopnotch]

Thanks. I have to check out that book. Where can I find that at? Let me know.

Kyle

[SleeperGT]

It's actually called : The Official Ford Mustang 5.0: Technical Reference & Performance Handbook: 1979 Through 1993


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0837602106/ref=ase_19821993mustangg/104-1764708-4155128?v=glance&s=books

Like I said, it's chocked full of information on the fox Mustang and to a lesser extent, the Capri. Instead of ordering it online, I just went to the local bookstore, asked them to order it in, and they had it in a week.

[81ttopnotch]

Thanks for the help. As soon as I get a few things done to this car I am going to post some pics too.

[81ttopnotch]

Anyone else know anything about these cars? The only numbers I can find are for the Ghia, nothing on option break downs. All of the Ttop coupes Ive ever heard of were 4 cylinder cars.

[86 50CPRI]

Few and far between...I dont think I have EVER seen one in person.. 8O

[Ricky C]

I saw one in the junkyard 8O Those cars are beauties!

[RACECAP97]

I also have that technical reference & performance handbook. Actually thats where I get most of my info from. I would strongly recommend buying it if you want to further your fox bodied education. About 440 pages and well worth it. I'm not sure about this but I would assume that since the T-Tops were an "option" they should have come on both 4cyl and 5.0 cars..............Or maybe not, because of the loss of structural stability and more torque from the 5.0.

[evlgt85]

No numbers available by T-top or sunroof. Maybe someday...but that's just a dream with the way Ford is about their production numbers. I'm dying to get my hands on one.

[RACECAP97]

Does ford have the T-Top numbers though? Or would it be the company that did the conversion for them? Maybe both.

[FoxChassis]

Figures for regular production options such as T-roof or type of radio or cruise control are not available at this time. The archives of information that we're talking about in the form of buildsheets, invoices, etc. were simply filed away in one or more warehouses. Access to the archives is quite restricted at this point. They are also not very organized so whomever did get ahold of the archives would have to go through the arduous task of sorting and databasing the information.

There are at least a couple of people whom either already have access to some basic production information or are working on getting it and/or more detailed information.

A friend of mine started a topic about this very subject at the 1982-1993 Mustang GT Registry (http://www.mustanggt.org)...

Production Numbers for 82-93 mustangs and SVO (http://www.mustanggt.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000311)

T-top'd models were not converted from solid roof to T-roof by FoMoCo. They were converted by Cars and Concepts. Cars and Concepts was located in Brighton, MI and it later integrated with Creative Industries which was located in Detroit, MI. Creative Industries was purchased by MascoTech which is located in Taylor, MI. MascoTech was aquired by Heartland Industrial Partners LP.

[81ttopcoupe]

I've got a 81 t-top notch, or coupe, which ever you want to call it. I have seen a few others. Something interesting, a few of the t-top notchs I have seen had 83-84 style noses. There is a discussion in one of the other areas concening an 84 model blue/blue. Mine is far from stock at this point. It originated as a 4cyl GLX, white with red interior. I know where there is a red/red, know of a black/? that went to the crusher, and have seen a tan/? with an 83/84 front. I have never seen one that was really a restoreable car with out replacing everything with new parts.

[Anonymous]

Rise! Rise! I command this thread to rise from the dead! :)

Hey guys!

I was just reading along and ran into this thread....I'm TRYING to pick up a 1981 Mustang Ghia notchback with the T-Roof. This particular car is equipped with the 3.3 I6 and auto tranny....It looks to be totally stock (right down to the shocks/struts!), except for a replaced trunk lid...rust???

Here is a page with some pics of it:
http://www16.brinkster.com/sffb/1981/1981Pictures.html

Here is a pic of a 1984 T-top notch belonging to buffhomer over at www.corral.net: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sffb

WISH ME LUCK WITH THE '81!!

Although there are no hard numbers available, I'd say that they are certainly a rare breed as not many of them are seen around....some Mustang 'enthusiasts' are not even aware that they exist! :)

[86notch]

My father inlaw is a retired engineer from ford and also lives in Brightion Mig I will try and get him to get some production numbers on the t-top cars I am sure he still has some conections with in ford. :wink:

[FoxChassis]

fiveoh, looks like you have some work ahead of you. Good luck with that project.

[silver85]

My father inlaw is a retired engineer from ford and also lives in Brightion Mig I will try and get him to get some production numbers on the t-top cars I am sure he still has some conections with in ford. :wink:

If he can talk to the legal department he might make some ground there. I guarantee the information is stored somewhere. I know that much. If he gets access to the info, it won't be for free. That is for sure!

I was the one who started that thread that FoxChassis posted. I have personally talked to Kevin Marti, Stew Jones, and Ford. I got far enough into Fords hierarchy that someone told me they have an offsite warehouse that stores the information for all models so they can study trends and fads for options on all their vehicles. What that means is whomever gets the information will have to spend countless hours deciphering it. That is what takes so long. Kevin Marti will be your best bet to get the accurate information.

[Snake]

moved