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  1. #1
    FEP Senior Member Greywolf's Avatar
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    Default Visible model year differences?

    Yes, I searched, both Google and the forum. This seems like something that probably exists, and I just can't find it, so here goes:

    The ship is in port in Mississippi and I was taking a taxi to the local Wal-Mart a couple days ago to pick up some odds and ends.
    In a yard near the Wal-Mart was a Mustang, and we hit traffic so I had a moment to look at it.
    Not that it was anything special, but my mind said, "oh, that's an '83 or '84" as we went by the side of it. Then I saw the nose, and it's got the '85-'86 bumper cover, but it didn't look quite right and there's no hood on it (I think the front edge of the hood changed slightly in '84?)--but it looks like the owner was swapping the engine, so the hood might just be off for clearance. Of course, it could be original and just off-color and off-shape slightly from sun-fade and parking lot bumping.

    Is there a list of the minor trim/light/etc changes? Everything I've ever looked at for the 4-eyes says "look at the grille", but if the bumper cover has changed, all bets are off.

    Was my initial instinct correct, or not? I'll honestly never know, because I don't think I could find it again if I tried. But I wouldn't mind knowing a few more styling cues from between the years.

    It was a faded root-beer-brown, if that makes a difference. Solid roof car. Looked like a beige interior but very torn up and sun-faded.

    This is mostly for my own amusement, but it seems like it would be a useful sticky or article somewhere (or maybe I just missed it).

  2. #2
    FEP Super Member sowaxeman's Avatar
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    Default

    84-86 GT bumper covers (well mid-year 84 anyway) can look the same at a quick glance, as they all have the fog light openings. The key difference to look for is the grill as you mentioned, as the 84 grill is the same as an 83....with the vertical and horizontal slats and Ford emblem in the middle. The 85/86 grills are the same, but vastly different from 83/84....they are open horizontally on the lower 2/3, with the Ford emblem in the top center. If that part isn't obvious then you have to look at the bumper belt line, as 79-84 is all the same and then 85/86 are the same. No difference in lights that I can think of.

    Of course it could have been a parts car, with a Ford Motorsport bumper cover?

    I believe the front edge of the hood difference you are referring to is 79-82 and then 83-86.
    Jason Smith
    MCA #65481

    '82 Capri RS Resto-Mod
    '88 #400 Saleen Coupe "Mean Machine" Legal Guardian
    '93 LX Yellow/Black Summer Feature - 2,800 Mile Original Survivor (Foxtoberfest 2019 Best Original 87-93)
    '05 S-281 Mineral Grey

  3. #3
    Moderator wraithracing's Avatar
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    Default

    Jason hit on most of the differences above, but I will add a few comments.

    Mustangs 79-86

    Front Bumper Covers: 79-82, 83/84, 85/86

    Rear Bumper Covers: 79-84, 85/86

    Tail Lights: 79-82, 83-86

    Hoods: 79-82, 83-86

    Body side moldings: 79-84, 85/86

    Mercury Capri 79-86

    Front Bumper Covers: 79-84, 85/86
    Front Bumper Cover RS w/lower Air Dam 84, 85/86

    Rear Bumper Covers: 79-84, 85/86

    Tail Lights: 79-82, 83-86

    Hoods: 79-86

    Body side moldings: 79-84, 85/86

    There are other model specific items for both vehicles, but that gives you the basic difference for the 79-86 years.
    ​Trey

    "I Don't build it hoping for your approval! I built it because it meets mine!"

    "I've spent most of my money on Mustangs, racing, and women... the rest I just wasted."

    Mustangs Past: Too many to remember!
    Current Mustangs:
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    1979 Pace Car now 5.0/5 speed
    1982 GT Stalled RestoModification
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    1986 GT Under going Wide Body Conversion Currently

    Current Capris:
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    1981 Capri Black Magic Roller Basket Case
    1982 Capri RS 5.0/4spd T-top Full Restoration Stalled in TX
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  4. #4
    FEP Power Member
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    Default

    Good info. Should be made a sticky note.
    Fox Body/3rd Gen MCA Gold Card Judge
    84 SVO 24K miles, 85 Mclaren Capri Vert. 84 GT Turbo Vert.
    88 Mclaren Mustang Vert 20K miles, 89 Mustang LX Sport Vert,
    03 Mach 1 7900 miles, 74 Mustang II, 69 Mustang, 67 Mustang, 07 GT500,
    14 Mustang CS/GT, 15 F150 FTX Tuscany, 16 F250 Crewcab, 67 Tbird 47K miles

  5. #5

    Default

    Need an "ID Guide" with pictures.
    Axle Tag Decoder
    Buck Tag Decoder
    Door Tag Decoder
    Owner Card Decoder
    Transmission Tag Decoder
    VIN Decoder

    FEP Registries: Black Magic & Crimson Cat / Cobra / Dominator / G.T.350 / LTD LX/Police & Marquis LTS / M81 / Pace Car / Predator / Saleen / Turbo GT & Turbo RS / Twister II

    Wanted (Dead or Alive): VINs, door tags, buck tags, build sheets, window stickers, owner cards, transmission tags, axle tags

  6. #6
    FEP Member Dadsccat's Avatar
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    Default

    VIN is the easiest way to tell the year if it's visible
    Shawn


    Currently in the stable:
    83 Capri RS Crimson Cat
    90 7 UP Mustang
    87 Mustang GT
    83 Porsche 928S
    69 Thunderbird Landau
    65 Cadillac Calais 4DR Hardtop
    02 Thunderbird

  7. #7

    Default

    Weren't the '79 rear bumpers just a BIT different? To me, they protruded down a bit and looked a little more like a 5 mph bumper, though still a plastic cover. Then that was cleaned up for '80 and up? Maybe?

    Also, don't forget the oddball '79 trunklid and inside door handle position.
    Brad

    '79 Mercury Zephyr ES 5.0L GT40 EFI, T-5
    '17 Ford Focus ST
    '14 Ford Fusion SE Manual

  8. #8
    FEP Super Member webestang's Avatar
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    Default

    I have this book, helps out a lot.
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/FOX-BODY-MU...GrF0:rk:1:pf:0

    Scotty
    1985 Fox Notch 4-banger Ranger tube header Eastwood Royal Blue
    1988 Fox LX 5.0 AOD Vert BBK 170mph speedo Candy Apple Red
    1999 Mustang Coupe V6 Auto Chrome Yellow -Daily Driver.
    Past Pony's.....
    68 Coupe Inline-6 3-Speed-Man. Primer
    78 II Hatch 302 3-Speed-Auto Sunroof Black
    81 4-Eye Coupe 4-Banger 4-Speed-Man. White

  9. #9
    1985 GT owned since new

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