1982-93 Ford Mustang 5.0

You can build a supercharged 500-hp ‘Stang in your backyard for about the price of a Ferrari brake job

by B. Mitchell Carlson

1982 Ford Mustang 5.0: The second coming of Ford’s pony car.

For long-suffering Mustang fans, the all-new 1979 Mustang was a near-miraculous event after four years of the embarrassing Pinto-based Mustang II. It got even better in 1982, when Dearborn proudly proclaimed that “the Boss is back” with the 5.0-liter engine and the reincarnation of the “GT” name. While the 5.0 could be ordered in any body or trim level, the GT was an exclusively V8-powered model that included larger wheels, stiffer suspension, fog lamps, and sportier seats. The only transmission available was a heavy-duty four-speed manual. For the penny-wise and pound-foolish, a hopeless 4.2-liter V8 could be special ordered in a GT for a $57 credit. The Mustang continued to improve. In mid-1983, when a convertible returned to the roster, a five-speed manual became an option, and a slight facelift revised the front fascia, grille and taillights. For 1984, a new “high output,” 175-hp 5.0 with a four-barrel carb, mated to a Borg-Warner T-5 five-speed became...