History
The Ford Mustang is one of the all-time great performance cars out of the US. The famous kickin' horse was first released back in mid-1964 and - thanks to its affordable pricing - over a million examples were sold within only 2 years. A truly amazing feat in the 60s. Since then, the Mustang name and philosophy has continued and, over the years, we've also seen many-a reworked high-performance example. Cobra, Boss 302 and Mach 1 - to name just a few.
Basic fuel injection first appeared on the faithful 302ci Windsor engine in 1985, but it took until the1995 model year for an all-new engine to be devised for the 'Stang. The 302's time was well and truly up. The new modular 4.6-litre SOHC powerplant made the 1994 shape car much more tractable, economical and faster. And, to this day, this engine (in an even more powerful form) continues its role in the current Mustang.
Chassis
The 4.6 GT Mustang rides on the same suspension set-up that was devised for the earlier 5.0 litre '94 shape - with the exception of some minor updates. That means it's got MacPherson struts and a swaybar at the front, plus a coil sprung 4-link rear end with another swaybar at the back. Over and above the contemporary entry-level V6 Mustang, the 4.6 received higher rates front and rear, as well as a horizontally mounted axle damper at the rear. Convertible models also scored a solid cross-brace in the engine compartment and heavy gauge steel in the rocker panels in an attempt to maintain body stiffness. On the road, however, our test 4.6 litre convertible showed a great deal of body flexing - to the point where you can actually see the A-pillars moving. It handled reasonably well though, displaying predictable dial-it-up power oversteer and generous levels of overall grip. Its ride quality was generally good, although its sharp rate of suspension progression does cause some crashing over larger bumps.
On the outside, the 4.6 GT features many of the styling features of the original '64 Mustang - such as similar front/cabin/rear proportions and pressed areas in the doors. A rear spoiler, fog lights and a deep front bumper were all standard items for their first buyers. The 4.6 litre GT was also sold with 16-inch wheels and 225/55 tyres, or optional 17-inchers wearing 245/45 rubber. Both sizes look pretty slick.
Inside there's seating for four (although rear head, knee and legroom is minimal), comfortable sports bucket seats (electric on the drivers' side) and a leather wheel at the end of a tilt-adjustable column. Drivers and passenger airbags are standard, and the cabin has a unique "dual cockpit" treatment. This sees flowing curves extending across the dash, centre console and into the doors, and - once again - there are many standout styling lines reminiscent of the original '64. It's modern and nostalgic all at once.
A single CD player and a 80W amp came as standard fare, however there was the option for a Mach 460 sound system, which boosted output to 460W (peak). Even so, this isn't a brilliant system, as it lacks extreme bass and treble.
Engine
The SOHC 4.6 litre engine - although down in capacity over the 302 that it replaced - is a truly mighty one. Using a square 3.6 inch bore and stroke, it runs a cast crankshaft, a 9.0:1 compression ratio and features 16-valve alloy heads and a EEC-V engine management system. That blissful V8 sound is then put through a high-performance dual exhaust system. It's a package that's rated at a handy 225hp (SAE) at 4750 rpm and 290 ft/lb at three-five. Note that the engine's exhaust ports were revised in 1998 to give it an extra 10hp over early 4.6's 215hp (SAE) output.
The engine idles smoothly with its sequential injection and it is much less "grumpy" than the engine it replaced. It also revs out relatively smoothly and delivers good torque at all revs. New car buyers had the choice of either a 4-speed auto trans or a 5-speed manual shifter.
Performance
The 4.6 litre engine gave the Mustang life. Automatic versions were able to crack 100 km/h in around 8 seconds (low 7s in the manual) and the quarter mile hovered in the low 15s. Its top-end speed is well over 220 km/h (depending if the roof is up or down). However, we'd expect enthusiastic Mustang drivers to have to pull in for fuel quite frequently. Looking at its attributes, the car might consume anywhere between 12.0 and 17 litres per 100km - depending on your driving style. You'll certainly need every bit of its 60-litre fuel tank!
Mods
The usual intake and exhaust enhancement principles all apply to the 4.6 Mustang. Fitting a forward-facing cold air pick-up will certainly boost flow into the standard airbox. Together with an aftermarket replacement filter, this should generate perhaps 5% more power than standard. The stock exhaust can then make way for a twin 2½ or 3 inch system with good quality cats and mufflers, and you'd expect to pick up around 10% additional kW.
Of course, there is plenty of good stuff available in America to get the 4.6 really boogying. Official Ford dealers of the time were even able to enhance your GT with SVO equipment before you took delivery! Cams, throttle bodies and various other components are all at your disposal - although there isn't as much around for the 4.6 as there is for the older 5.0.
Buyers' Guide
The 4.6 litre powered Mustang first started coming out in numbers in 1996, in both coupe and convertible form. The 4.6 V8 car was automatically badged the GT, and you should note that a basic 150hp (SAE) V6 was also offered at this time. Options included 17-inch wheels, remote entry, Mach 460 sound system, anti-lock brakes, an sports axle ratio and a 4-speed auto transmission.
Our 1996 70,000 kilometre test vehicle was in immaculate condition and was provided by Crossover Sports and Luxury Cars and is priced at $65,000. This includes a 2-year conversion warranty and a 1 year/unlimited kilometre vehicle warranty. All parts are stocked or are very readily available. Craig Dean of Crossover says there are no real things for buyers to be wary of with these cars - except for conversion quality. Signs of a bad job are no airflow from interior vents, ill-fitting dash panels and bad steering. As always with something high performance and unique, you'll also need to chase for the best insurance coverage and premium.
Summary
The Mustang's role has always been clear - to give practical, sports motoring to the American public (usually in the form of a V8). The 4.6 litre engine update brought the car much more into the 90s, and its overall performance was increased substantially.
If you love ragtop motoring and American cars, the 4.6 'Stang is a hard one to pass up. All that muscle, all that sound, all that character - ahhh, it's orgasmic! And, don't forget, you're getting a classic name as well. The only thing is, that $65,000 price-tag sure does buy a lot of Supra, Corvette, 300ZX, Camaro, RX-7, GTO and Skyline GT-R in comparison...
Contact:
Crossover Sports and Luxury Cars
+61 3 9753 5799
http://www.crossover-car.com.au/mainpage.htm
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