The Fox body platform is best known for carrying the Ford Mustang through the 1980s and early 1990s, but the Mustang was only part of the story. Ford used this versatile architecture across its lineup, creating a wide range of cars that shared DNA with the famous pony car. From luxury coupes to hot hatchbacks, the Fox body underpinned vehicles that often get overlooked. Here are ten Fox body cars that deserve attention, even if they don’t wear a Mustang badge.
Mercury Capri
The Capri was the Mustang’s Mercury sibling, built on the same Fox platform but with distinct styling touches like flared fenders and a unique hatchback design. Sold from 1979 to 1986, the Capri often offered the same drivetrains as the Mustang, including the 5.0 V8, but it sold in smaller numbers. Today, Capris are far rarer to find, making them a cool alternative for enthusiasts who want Fox body performance with a bit more exclusivity.
Ford Fairmont
The Fairmont debuted in 1978 as the first car to use the Fox platform, and while it was a family sedan and wagon rather than a performance machine, it laid the groundwork for the Mustang that followed. The Fairmont was offered with everything from modest four cylinders to V8s, and because it shared its bones with the Mustang, many hot rodders later discovered how easily it could be upgraded. What was once a plain family car is now sometimes reborn as a stealthy drag strip weapon.
Mercury Zephyr
Mercury’s version of the Fairmont was the Zephyr, which carried the same sedan, coupe, and wagon body styles. Like the Fairmont, it was intended as practical transportation, but its Fox body foundation made it stronger and more flexible than many realized. While few survived in pristine condition, the Zephyr remains a fascinating example of how widely the platform was used beyond sporty coupes.
Lincoln Continental Mark VII
Luxury also sat on the Fox body, with the Lincoln Continental Mark VII serving as one of the most refined versions of the platform. Sold from 1984 to 1992, it offered digital dashboards, air suspension, and a sleek aerodynamic profile. Best of all, performance models like the LSC came with the Mustang’s 5.0 V8, giving the big Lincoln genuine muscle under its plush exterior. It remains one of the most interesting blends of luxury and Fox body performance.
Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird moved to the Fox platform in 1980, and while early models were boxy, the redesign in 1983 gave it a sleek, aerodynamic look. Offered with a range of engines, including the turbocharged 2.3 four cylinder and the 5.0 V8, the Fox body Thunderbird proved that the platform could stretch from muscle to personal luxury. Sporty Turbo Coupes remain especially collectible today.
Mercury Cougar
Mr.choppers, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sharing its platform with the Thunderbird, the Cougar offered Mercury buyers a stylish personal luxury coupe with the same underpinnings. Like the Thunderbird, it came with turbocharged four cylinders and V8s, but it leaned more toward comfort and style. Its sharp eighties design and rarity compared to the Mustang make it a cool Fox body sleeper.
Ford LTD
The Fox body LTD was a mid size sedan sold in the early 1980s, not to be confused with the larger LTD Crown Victoria. Built on the same bones as the Mustang, it was offered with everything from modest four cylinders to small block V8s. Though it was never marketed as sporty, it had the same basic mechanical layout, and a few enthusiasts have built them into surprising sleepers.
Mercury Marquis
Mercury’s take on the Fox body LTD was the Marquis, which was essentially the same car with slightly more upscale trim. It represented the practical side of the Fox platform, showing how versatile the chassis was. Though it has mostly faded from memory, the Marquis proves that the Fox body was just as comfortable wearing a family sedan suit as it was a muscle car badge.
Ford Granada
The Granada returned in 1981 riding on the Fox platform, offering buyers a more upscale compact sedan or coupe. While it never carried the same performance image as the Mustang, it did share engines and many mechanical components, making it surprisingly similar under the skin. Today, they are rarely seen but represent another forgotten branch of the Fox body family tree.
Lincoln Continental (1982 to 1987)
Before the Mark VII, the standard Lincoln Continental also adopted the Fox body platform. It provided Lincoln with a mid size luxury sedan that shared its bones with far more humble Fords and Mercurys. Underneath the chrome and plush interiors was the same architecture that underpinned the Mustang, proving just how wide a net the Fox platform cast.
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