1989 Ford Mustang

As it had from 1987 to 1988, the Mustang underwent very few changes from 1988 to 1989. With production at almost exactly the same numbers as they had been in 1988, it shows that this strategy was a good one for Ford, taking advantage of the public’s interest in the best model’s so far of the third generation Mustang. Buyers for the previous two years had discovered the advantages (in both price and performance) of putting the now famous 5.0 L V8 in the LX models, which were about 200 pounds lighter than the GT. Taking full advantage of this, Ford marketed the aforementioned LX 5.0 in 1989, adding the GT’s gas-pressurized front struts and rear Quadra-shock set-up suspension in addition to the engine upgrade.

Otherwise, the Mustang continued to revel (and be successful) in its simplicity. The LX and GT were the only models available for the third year in a row (a trend that would continue), with Ford opting to let buyer’s add the options they wanted to the Mustang instead of offering any “luxury” trim option models. Also the same as the previous two years, only two engine options were available: the 88 horsepower 2.3 litre four-cylinder and the 5.0 litre V8 that produced 225 horsepower.

As mentioned before, total production held fairly constant from the year before at 209,769 (1988 production was at 211,225). Obviously the Mustang was generating positive word-of-mouth talk between car buyers, so the minimal styling changes continued to make sense. One of the only exterior differences from the previous year was that the T-top option had been discontinued.

1989 Mustang LX

The most noticeable interior change to the LX was the discontinuation of the 85 MPH maximum on the car’s speedometer, upgraded to the GT model’s 140 MPH maximum. This made sense particularly for the 5.0 LX, which did include the coveted “5.0” decal on the body.

With a base price over $9,000 for the first time at $9,050 (for the coupe), the LX models now included power locks, cassette deck and dual electric mirrors at no additional charge.

1989 Mustang GT

As with all 1989 Mustang models, the GT remained almost completely unchanged from the previous year. Still included were the improved sport suspension, Goodyear Eagle 15 inch performance tires and 16-spoke cast aluminum wheels. Additionally, the GT was distinguished from the LX by a front air dam and side air scoops.

Competition

Ford introduced the Probe in 1989 as a front-wheel drive sports coupe to directly compete with cars like the Toyota Celica and Acura Integra, both of which were gaining sales traction year after year in the United States. Three years earlier, the designs for the future Probe were considered as a replacement for the Mustang. Instead, Ford decided to introduce the restyled 1987 Mustang to keep a rear-wheel drive sports car in the line and have the Probe replace the Ford EXP.

For the first time ever, the best-selling car in America for 1989 was an import, the Honda Accord. As it had been for years, the Mustang had more indirect competitors than it did direct. And even then it depended on which engine the particular Mustang contained. Four-cylinder Mustangs were competing with compact and subcompact cars like the Toyota Corolla and Chevrolet Cavalier, both of which continued to produce high sales numbers each year. The V8 Mustangs, however, competed more with other high performance cars of the day like the Camaro, Firebird and Toyota Supra. In all cases, there are differences that keep Mustang from being compared apples to apples with any car. In this view, Mustang was similar to its original 1964 version, which was in a class of its own.