Top Gear|30. Aug.
New Ford Mustang Fox Body: ‘80s Icon Reborn! | 4K
The Velocity Restorations Ford Mustang Fox Body – An '80s Icon Reimagined
A journalist travels to New Orleans to test a remarkable restomod: the Ford Mustang Fox Body by Velocity Restorations. The car blends nostalgic 80s looks with modern engineering and craftsmanship.
Exterior – Subtle Upgrades
- Faithful but refined: No wings or exposed carbon; just perfectly aligned panels and original proportions.
- Paint: BASF high-quality finish in any desired color.
- Wheels: 18-inch billet three-piece wheels wrapped in modern tires; 335 mm section at the rear.
- Stance: Lowered but discreet – instantly pleasing.
Chassis & Handling
- Dual Frame: Original unibody reinforced with a Roadster Shop Spec chassis – immense rigidity.
- Front Suspension: Independent.
- Rear Suspension: Multi-link with a 9-inch differential.
- Brakes: Six-piston calipers all around.
- Weight: Only ~1,360 kg (3,000 lbs) – ideal power-to-weight ratio.
Powertrain
- Engine: Ford Coyote V8, 5.0 liters.
- Transmission: 10-speed automatic (10R80) – smooth and quick.
- Performance: Standard ~500 hp; optional Whipple supercharger boosts to 715 hp.
- Boost: Up to 10 psi (0.69 bar).
Interior – Nostalgia Meets Modern Comfort
- Materials: Retro-style fabrics, Alcantara, flawless fit – no rattles.
- Seats: Heated Recaro buckets with modern bolstering.
- Steering Wheel: Billet replica with original controls (cruise, horn).
- Instruments: Digital Dakota gauges in retro style; auxiliary boost and AFR gauges on A-pillar.
- Climate: Vintage Air system – modern, discreet.
- Audio: Blaupunkt cassette deck with modern internals.
- Convenience: Cup holders, power windows, USB ports – all seamlessly integrated.
Driving Experience – Character and Precision
- Steering: Surprisingly direct but with old-school feedback – fun and engaging.
- Ride: Well-balanced, comfortable on rough roads; no hopping or understeer.
- Transmission: In automatic mode, it hunts for gears too much – future versions will have manual override.
- Overall: Not a sterile modern car, but a lively restomod with soul.
- Why Fox Body? Customer demand for an iconic model that was often derided as cheap.
- Chassis Partnership: Roadster Shop's Spec chassis bolts directly under the unibody.
- Challenges: Engine bay modifications, transmission tunnel massage – tight packaging.
- Feorite Detail: Interior – parts look stock but are much higher quality.
- Prodution Process: 7 weeks assembly, 14 weeks total including quality control.
- Stations: Each station takes one week – similar to a production line but handcrafted.
- Models: Mustang, Broncos, F-Series trucks, Chevrolet C10, International Scout 2.
- Customization: Menu-based (colors, leather, accessories) – millions of configurations, but not unlimited.
- Pricing: Bronco starts around $260k–$270k.
- Waranty: 2-year bumper-to-bumper.
- Quality: Own dyno, three test drive routes before delivery.
The journalist calls the Velocity Fox Body Mustang “the best worst car” he’s ever driven. At around $300,000, it delivers exactly what nostalgia seekers want: the look and feel of the 80s without the downsides. It is honest, entertaining, and far from a sterile replica.
