1984 Ford Mustang Specs & Details

On top of 1984 being the Mustang’s 20th anniversary, Ford proves that pony car performance doesn’t always involve eight cylinders. That’s because the SVO debuts this year and becomes one of the most memorable Fox Bodies. Sure, later years of the third-generation Mustang offered greater output (with V-8s), but the SVO’s turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four was impressive. Its 175 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque were on par with the 5.0 (well, at least in the horsepower department—the V8’s torque was better by 35). Perhaps the SVO’s greatest significance is that it highlighted turbo technology decades before it became commonplace. Think of the SVO as the predecessor to today’s EcoBoost Mustang.

Ford also produced 5,260 copies of the 20th Anniversary GT. Available in either convertible or hatchback form, the car only came in an Oxford White exterior and a red interior. GT-350 side stripes helped distinguish this special edition—which could be had with either the turbo four-banger or the 5.0 V-8—from ordinary Mustangs.

Customers could order the 5.0 V-8 with carburetors (as when it first debuted in the Fox Body) and an accompanying five-speed manual transmission, or with electronic fuel injection (which dropped horsepower by 10 to 165 ponies) and a four-speed automatic. The 3.8-liter V-6 was also updated with electronic fuel injection (regardless of the transmission choice).

The model lineup was also reshuffled for 1984. Last year’s GL and GLX were consolidated into the single mid-tier LX trim, which could be ordered as a hatchback, notchback, or convertible. The carryover base L was available as a hatchback (for the first time) or notchback. And, because of the base model’s availability in three-door form, options such as the T-top roof could be added to the least expensive Mustang. The Turbo GT also continued without any trim-specific changes.

The reduction of Mustang trims signals a subtle shift in Ford’s operations. In the face of growing competition from Japanese automakers (that tend to bundle options by trim), Ford sought to simplify and be more efficient. Mustang was available in 14 exterior colors and eight interior finishes in the previous year. That drops to ten paint colors and just four interior choices for 1984. It’s a trend no doubt also brought on by stagnant Mustang sales. For 1984, Ford sells about 142,000 Fox Bodies. That’s less than half of first-year third-gen Mustang sales (370,000) in 1979.

1984 Ford Mustang Specs

1983 Mustang Articles

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  SN95/New Edge: Everything You Need To Know

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  Mustang SVO: Everything You Need To Know

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  Fox Body Horsepower & Torque Numbers

Check out other 1979-1993 Mustang Specs: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993