Sunday, December 31, 2006

Ford Mustang May Be Available As A Four Door Model

In January, Ford will begin showing off a concept car version of the very popular Ford Mustang model that is a four door version, beginning with the International Auto Show in Detroit. Chances are this controversial model is being floated to gauge public opinion for the possible marketing of this controversial model for the popular American sports model car.

Ford has historically been the only major automobile maker in the U.S. to build some unslightly and unusual looking four door models of some popular models. The popular "personal luxury" car the Ford Thunderbird received some controversial looking four door models during the late 1960's. By definition, "personal luxury" cars should have meant some luxury two door models, not a four door version. Nonetheless a few of these Thunderbirds actually sold.

In the 1970's, the new small compact car, the Ford Maverick received some strange looking four door models with a more squared off roofline. The original Mavericks had a sporty almost modern Mustanglike sporty look compared to the more boxy Falcon line that they replaced. Bith the Falcon and the Maverick were very sturdy automobiles, with great low prices. But while the four door Maverick models sold a few copies, they were another strange and clumsy looking Ford ill-conceived four door design. The beautiful fastback lines of the Ford Maverick just didn't loan itself well to a four door version, and the squarish four door models might have been a practical model, but seemed to doom Maverick to never evolving into another sporty Mustanglike car which was entirely possible with it's original sporty design. But with only a six cylinder available for the first models, and only a 302 V8 Grabber model added some time later, Mavericks just never received the performance upgrades to make them anymore than a low priced economy car.

Some aftermarket companies offered some fibreglass conversion kits to create a sports two door station wagon version of their Firebirds or Camaros. And these looked very good. A few persons even created some Mustang sports station wagon models by grafting on a Ford Falcon back, with good results. But the four door Mustang concept car is likely another ill-conceived Ford four door model, that maybe a few buyers might actually want, but most sports purists will only berate as simply ruining the car, not improving it. If buyers want a four door model, then let them buy some family sedan grocery getter, but leave the beautiful Mustang alone. Another clumsy looking Ford four door model of a car never ever really designed to be a four door model is really not needed.

1 Comments:

At 2:54 AM, Blogger taters&cheese said...

As a fellow Maverick four door loveing owner, I ressent that remark. I own a 1972 ford Maverick and it acually looks like a four door Mustang. Needless to say it has it differences but it also shares front end suspension trannys and motors. The olny time I would agree with you is if you said the later models with the big 5mph bumpers. But chances are that Ford will make it like they made the new Mustang with slik looking bumpers. Plus it is smart to make a four door Mustang since it is kinda a waste of gas for a car that only two adult and two infints powerded buy a v8. Also as a man that is 6'4" it is so nice having leg room, especailly when my get to work car is an 85 Honda Civic. By the way my Maverick has its original 250ci inline six, and I love it.

 

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