1985 Ford Mustang Specs & Details

The Ford Mustang gets a mild refresh for the 1985 model year. The slatted grille is ditched in favor of a streamlined design that borrows cues from the SVO. And the updated SVO, which is given a 1985.5 designation, gets flush headlights. Front-end changes were minor, but the updates gave the Mustang a contemporary look. Yet, changes were more than skin-deep as there were engine improvements as well.

Improved Mustang performance began with a reworked 5.0-liter V-8. To start with, engine architecture was revised with a new camshaft and stainless steel headers. And GTs, when equipped with the 5.0, got a dual exhaust system. Similar to the previous year, the 5.0 (when paired with a five-speed manual) relied on a four-barrel carburetor setup for maximum output. But, the results were markedly better for 1985. Horsepower now reached 210, and torque topped out at 270 lb-ft. (compared to 175 horsepower and 245 lb-ft for the year before). The automatic transmission and 5.0 combo continued with no output change of 165 horsepower. At the same time, the Turbo GT is dropped, and GT power becomes 100% V-8-based.

But, Ford doesn’t completely say goodbye to four-cylinder turbos. The SVO, as part of the 1985.5 refresh, sees better things under the hood. Its turbo 2.3-liter inline-four received a larger camshaft, an upgraded exhaust, and an extra pound of boost. Output increases by about 15 percent to 205 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. Even the 3.8-liter V-6 saw some improvement, with horsepower reaching 120 (from 112) and torque hitting 205 lb-ft (from 175). Mustang’s base engine, the loyal 2.3-liter inline-four, soldiered on unchanged with 89 horsepower.

Mustang trim levels are again tweaked as last year’s base L goes away for 1985. The LX becomes the entry-level Mustang, and Ford positions the LX notchback to appeal to price-conscious shoppers. The cheapest Mustang starts at $6,989 (about $17,300 in today’s money), about $500 less than the LX hatchback. This was a significant spread as previous years usually only had a $200 difference between the two body styles in base trim.

Mustang saw a ten percent increase in sales for 1985, reversing a slide going on for a few years. The improvement can be traced to mostly better GT sales, likely due to the horsepower increase (on GTs with a stick) and the freshened front end.

1985 Ford Mustang Specs

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