All About Ford Mustang: janvier 2018

Now LMR.com had this nice little write up and it's great but isn't 100% accurate

Recently a couple cars from an estate went to ebay for auction at and I know of one selling for 60,300 or at least that is what the auction ended up with. Yes the 2.3 Turbo and the Ford 5.0 was used in the Enduro cars, but not all. A couple had the European Cosworth 4 cylinder that was also used in the Ford Escort Rally cars. and it was a bad little beast. Owner advertised with 320 to 340 hp out of the little force of nature. This by far is one of my most favorite cars ever produced.

WHAT IS THE MUSTANG MCLAREN M81

The Mustang McLaren M81 was a prototype Fox Body Mustang equipped with a 2.3L Turbo motor that had been blueprinted, polished, deburred, & reassembled by McLaren engines. It is often believed that the M81 was the first SVO vehicle from Ford’s new Special Vehicle Operations division. While 250 M81 Mustangs had been scheduled to be produced, only 10 cars were made after the first prototype.

THE EARLY YEARS

In the late 70s, Ford wanted to bring attention to the 2.3L turbo motor due to the energy crisis and death of big block motors. To help spread awareness, Ford gave the approval to a special project car that would become the showcase car for Ford’s new turbo 4 cylinder motor. Todd Gerstenberger & Harry Wykes collaborated on the design of the new M81 McLaren and completed the prototype in the spring of 1980. Ford had a few requirements for this car which included highlighting the handling capabilities and using current, off the shelf parts inventory. With the massive positive response to the prototype, Ford’s Motorsports division and McLaren Engines got the approval for a limited run of 249 vehicles to begin production in 1981.

FAILED PRODUCTION

Although the prototype had a surprisingly large amount of positive feedback, the M81 did not appeal to the consumers at the hefty price tag of $25,000. This caused the hand built cars to come up incredibly short of its approved 249 vehicles by producing only 10 cars other than the prototype. While the M81 did not catch on, it has been thought that it paved the way for the later SVO Mustang.

MUSTANG M81 ENGINE SPECS

2.3L Turbo Motor
T-3 Garret Turbo
9.0:1 Compression
175 Horsepower
145 Ft/Lbs Torque

MUSTANG M81 SUSPENSION

Fully Adjustable Koni Shocks
Fully Adjustable Koni Struts
Unique Higher-Rate Springs
Police Packaged Fairmont Sway Bars w/ Tungsten Bushings

MUSTANG M81 WHEELS & BRAKES

3 Piece BBS 15x8 Wheels
255/55/15 Firestone HPR Tires
10.6” Front Rotors
Semi-Metallic Brake Pads
V8 Mustang Calipers
9” Rear Drums

MUSTANG M81 EXTERIOR

Functional Heat Extracting Hood
Chin Spoiler
Active Front/Rear Brake Ducts
Wide Steel Fender Flares

MUSTANG M81 INTERIOR

Recaro LS Bucket Seats Matched To Rear Seats
14” Racemark Leather Steering Wheel
SCCA Approved Bolt In Roll Bar
Unique Stewart-Warner Instrument Panel That Integrated To The Factory Dash
Small Brass Dash Plaque

MUSTANG M81 PRODUCTION NUMBERS

249 Slated For Production (Plus One Prototype)
10 Actually Produced (Plus One Prototype)
7 Bittersweet Orange
1 Black
1 White
2 Enduros

Each of these cars were setup in their own way.

Stewart Warner stage III gauges. Popular pick back in the day.

I have seen some with the Gas fill through the hatch and some with out.

This Prototype only had 75 miles on it.

Now this one I believe was the one offered to the public as regular commuter.

This would have been the street look alike kit offered Notice the fuel door.

Now this is Street Car Production number 10 and the US 2.3L Turbo Equipped.

The Cosworth M81 McLaren Mustang Racecar number 001 that was at Indianapolis.

Unfortunately this engine really wasn't an option in production cars in the USA. However overseas it was.

This was a 1.6 L twin cam that pushed impressive 320 to 340 HP.

Notice below the headlights the additional over sized lighting added.

1982 Enduro

The Fiberglass Kit that was advertised for awhile.

The Iron Horse used to create the Fiberglass kit for the Cars

Now if you want to recreate the Iron Horse like I have thought about doing, then this is the book you need. Parts of the build were documented in this book as a teaching tool. IF you recreate the Iron Horse new molds can be made for replacement parts and restoration of the existing M81 and Enduro cars out there.

Hood discussion on Page 10, 106 - 112 Fender Flares are on 118

Hood was a 2 person job with welding, hammering, and english wheel work being required.

source: Fox Body Mustang Restoration http://bit.ly/2CUh3Qd

I am still looking for the photos from 1998 - 1999 when this was yellow and black slightly rustier and very much neglected car. The state of this car was horrible. This was before the digital camera availability. 1 very poor enlisted soldier and lots of GM Metalic grey single stage bumper paint bought from a salvage store. Poor Man's paint job. We fixed at the time this $150.00 car and got it running and stopping with help from my dad and brother, then we painted it grey and I drove over 1400 miles to Fort Hood, TX. Yes, I was a crazy bastard at the time.

At the time I bought an 81 mustang that my brother used to own back from a class mate to use as a donor car. Doors, interrior, struts, louvers for the hatch, wheels and front bumper cover came from the 81 that was my brothers and was also my uncles. Body was rusted beyond belief and the classmate that had bought the car from my brother toasted the differential from beating the car into oblivion.

The return from TX can be found

http://bit.ly/2mb0Wml

source: Fox Body Mustang Restoration http://bit.ly/2mb0WTn

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