Sketch to Design: The 1994 Ford Mustang

The story of the fourth-generation Ford Mustang is really that of three separate cars – the 1979 Mustang, the 1989 Probe, and, ultimately, the 1994 Mustang. The three cars and programs spanning the better part of two decades encompass the seismic shifts in the automobile market during that tumultuous era.

The 1979 Mustang was born in an era when safety and fuel economy regulations were already the norm. After launching the 1974 Mustang II with only four- and six-cylinder engines, Ford heard the customer demands that Mustang always should have a sporty V8 option. However, they still wanted more interior room, handling refinement and progressive styling. The stodgy shapes of the ‘70s were getting tired, so this thoroughly modern “Fox” Mustang delivered on all fronts.

While the 1979 model had restored much of the spirit of the original 1965 model, its introduction was followed by a confluence of world politics that would begin changing consumer opinions about the segment.

The sting of the 1973 OPEC oil embargo with shortages, outrageous gasoline prices, long lines and fuel rationing left a deep scar in the driving public’s mind. Those fears were revisited with the 1979 Iranian oil crisis.