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The 1969 Mustang
1969 was a year of radical of styling changes. Probably more sheet metal changed between 1968 and 1969 than in all of the receding years. Ford was up to its corporate cars in the muscle-car race. The swoopy looking body designs did not belie the powerful machinery available under the hood. So competitive did Ford become with their muscle cars that the more expensive Shelby line could no longer compete. Thus, 1969 was the last full production year for the shelby.
Body Styling:
Mimicking the '65--68 GT package, the front-end styling of the '69 Mustang featured quad headlamps, with the high-beam-only center lamps relocated to the outboard edges of the grille. These inner lights were mounted in a newblack plastic grille with the Mustang logo offset to the left. The valance panel was changed to admit fresh air to the engine compartment.
The concave sculpted side of the car, a predominant feature since its inception, just about disappeared. In fact, this area of the body was made convex from front to back. The upper bounds of this styling feature was a body line from the lip of the headlight to the rear quarter panel. A three section, reversed scoop at the end of the body line suggested an air exhaust vent on the coupe and convertible.
The fastback, now called the sportsroof, had the same body line. The body line, however, terminated at the non functional air intake scoop at the front of the quarter panel immediately behind the door handle. Another body line extended from just above the rear bumper along the rear quarter panel to just behind the rear wheel well to define the lower bounds of the convex body sculpture.
The cars grew in length as well as in performance. By adding 4 inches to the body, Ford increased the length of all three models to 187.4., the longest Mustang built up to that time.
The rear exterior somewhat resembled the concave style of 1968. The SportsRoof, however, had a spoiler built in to the deck lid and quarter-panel extensions.
Interior:
A complete interior styling change accompanied the exterior changes. The instrument-panel dash pad was now a two-pod design, accentuating and dividing the driver and passenger compartments, giving a "cockpit" effect. Gages were deeply recessed into the instrument panel, with an overhanging crash pad greatly reducing reflected glare from the instrument faces.
The new instrument cluster featured four gage pods: two large ones centered behind the steering wheel and two smaller ones at either side. From left to right, these were the ammeter, speedometer with high-beam indicator, fuel and temperature gage pod with two warning lights for seat belts and emergency brake, and the oil pressure gage.
Two interior groups were available: interior decor group and deluxe interior decor group. The deluxe interior decor group was available on the convertible and sportsroof. At additional cost, you could have high-back bucket seats. The biggest difference between the standard and deluxe interiors was the wood-grained, vinyl applique on the dash. To this was added a clock mounted above the glove compartment. A tach, if so ordered, replaced the oil-pressure gage and coolant-temp gage. These became warning lights. Adjustable front-seat headrests were offered on low-back buckets for the first time in 1969.
GT Equipment Group:
1969 was the last year of the GT equipment group and, as such, offerings were basically a carryover from 1968. Ford was now putting more emphasis on selling packaged cars such as the Mach 1 and the Grande--cars with elements of the GT option group. The few cars sold with the GT option are among the rarest of mustangs.
Drive Trains:
For 1969, Ford dropped the 302 four-barrel engine, but added two-and four barrel versions of a new small-block V8, the 351--basically a stroked 302. This provided the customer with eight engine choices: a standard 200-CID six and optional 250-CID six; three small-block V8's, the 302 2 barrel; 351 two-barrel and four-barrel; and three big-block V8's the 390, 428, and 428 CJ (RAM-Air).
Three-speed manual transmissions were offered as standard on the two sixes and the three small-blocks. The four-speed boxes were available as an option on all engines except the two sixes. A cruise-o-matic was again an option on all eight engines.
Boss and shelby information comming soon....
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