1994 FORD MUSTANG COBRA INDY PACE CAR
FIT AIN’T BROKE, WHY FIX IT, RIGHT? That seemed to be the logic behind Ford’s Fox-platform Mustang. Introduced in 1979, the third-gen unit-body pony’s chassis originated from the Ford Fairmont/Mercury Zephyr line unveiled a year prior, but the new Mustang used a shortened version of that chassis, with a wheelbase measuring a svelte 100.5 inches. Coupled with the standard 56.6/57.0-inch front and rear track, the revised Mustang — with a footprint larger than the outgoing Pinto-based Mustang II — had a nimbler foundation to work with.
The new Mustang also benefitted from lighter weight and a sleek new body that resulted in a — reasonable for the day — 0.44 drag coefficient in fastback guise, while the notchback registered a 0.46 Cd. Other than a ceaselessly evolving series of convenience and power options — including the welcomed addition of the 5.0 engine — and a convertible body, little change was implemented to the overall design. Only the short-lived Mustang SVO delivered significant upgrades,
