I have watched the evolution of badges and such on the almost 50 year run of the Mustang. It has been interesting to watch this evolution. First a fender emblem from a 1964 (and a half).
It sports the correct "C4XX" part number. It belongs to a ride I need to get to soon. Guess what? Clean it up and put new paint on the red white and blue "Tri-Bar" and you will be good to go.
Then to the 1966 Fastback GT.
The emblem denotes GT and the letters were a PIA to get right!
Next the 1971 Fastback.
Decals this time around. Interesting to note if you did not have a Mach 1 you got this script emblem for the fender.
It looks similar to the script in the 1994 GT.
Then we look at the fender of the 1994.
No Tri-Bar but it does say GT.
Then to the "other emblems": FoMoCo capitalized on the long running history and stuck these on cars. Literally.
Ok, the Tri-Bar is back. I will give them that.
Tri-Bar is gone.
A horse shoe! Really?!?!
All of these emblems are plastic.
These are not. Serious business back in the day to let everyone know what was under that hood.
289 V-8 as noted by the "V" under the cubic inch number. By the seventies the "V" disappeared.
Now? Well I'm somewhat underwhelmed with the fender on the 2013 GT.
Yes I know it is a 302. Glad y'all got away from the 4.6 liter modular engine. I'm thinking I need some Tri-Bar Pony happiness up here. Just so I can run sorta old school.
In the back of my soul, I always miss my Little Pony. But it comes roaring to life, as painful as losing a lover, every time I come read your posts. Thank you, and I hate you. ;-)
ReplyDeleteOh now don't be bitter =). All of these cars are as distinct as any lover. They require constant maintenance and have distinct personalities. Some, stick the key in and go, others require more attention to reach full potential. They all handle vastly differently too.
Delete351 Ram Air?
ReplyDeleteWas that just a cold-air package on a "base" 351 4-V?
I have a buddy with a *genuine* Boss 351, and it goes like stink with a 3.89 rear axle. Wasn't quite so quick with the OEM gearing, though.
And your sweet little 289....."K" code?
I had a '67 with a 289 2-V and a C4. I put dual exhaust on it, and it used to get 20mpg all day long.
And it sounded meaner, too!
The Ram Air package was a modified air cleaner with vacuum operated scoops on the hood. Sorta like a K&N first generation cold air system. Not really a bolt on as it requires the hood. To make it more difficult the hood was available with the scoops blanked out. Yes you could get it on a base 351, but records are somewhat jumbled.
DeleteAh, sorry drjim. The 289 is an "A" code denoting 4 barrel carb. I wish I had the "K" high performance one. The K code got its own special 289 badge with "high performance" above the 289 on the front fender.
Ahhh....forgot the "K" cars had a special badge.
DeleteIn 1973 Pontiac had a "Ram Air" option for the Firebird Formula only.
The 400 4bbl was the same, but you got a special air cleaner, and they cut open the front of the scoops on the hood, and added two rubber "bellows" to couple the cold air from the scoops to the special air cleaner.
It probably added a few horsepower under the right conditions, it was the last cold air package offered by Pontiac. The 1970~72 TransAm birds had a vacuum operated panel on the back of the hood scoop that opened under power (low manifold vacuum), but it was eliminated in 1973 because of drive-by noise regulations.
They were actually very easy to open up. Take off the scoop from the top of the air cleaner, drill out three rivets, and presto! Instant cold air induction.
I made quite a few sets of metal grille work to cover the opening and keep low-flying birds and bugs out, and a magnet-backed solid piece to snap in for bad weather use.