Ford Fox platform

Not to be confused with Volkswagen Fox or Audi Fox.

Ford Fox platform

Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Production	1978–1993 model years
Successor	Ford SN-95 platform Ford D2C platform Ford MN12 platform Ford D186 platform Ford CE14 platform
Class	Compact Midsize Personal luxury car pony car
Layout	FR
Body style(s)	2-door convertible 2-door coupe 3-door hatchback 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Vehicles	see below

The Ford Fox platform is a rear wheel drive, unitized-chassis, automobile architecture used by Ford Motor Company in North America. Introduced for the 1978 model year, it would go on to be produced until 1993 in its original version; a substantial redesign of the Ford Mustang in 1994 extended its life another 11 years. Designed to be relatively lightweight and simple, in keeping with the general downsizing of Detroit designs in the late 1970s, the Fox platform served as a replacement for many models derived from the original Ford Falcon (dating from 1960). The Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr were introduced as the replacements for the Ford Maverick and Mercury Comet.

Eventually, thirteen distinct Ford models in several market segments would be built off it, with multiple bodystyles and powertrains. As downsizing became more common in the American automotive industry in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Fox platform was used for many nameplates that underwent downsizing. As the industry shifted to front-wheel drive, the Fox platform was used less for family cars and more for sporty cars; from 1989 to 2004, it was used exclusively by the Mustang.

Design history

The Fox platform, like most compact and mid-size cars of the late 1970s, was designed with a rear-wheel drive layout. Unlike the full-size Fords and Mercurys of the time, the Fox platform used unibody construction. Due to the wide variety of cars using the Fox platform from its introduction, it was designed to accommodate 4-cylinder (naturally aspirated and turbocharged), I6, V6, and V8 engines.

1983 changes

In 1983, the Fox platform was involved in a major shift of the Ford and Mercury product ranges. The 1980 redesign of the Ford Granada, Ford Thunderbird, and Mercury Cougar had been poorly received by buyers. As Ford had chosen not discontinue its full-size, rear-wheel drive cars in the early 1980s, the base-trim Ford LTD and Mercury Marquis nameplates were shifted to the Fox platform when the mid-size cars were updated in 1983. The Marquis replaced the Cougar sedan and wagon; the LTD replaced the Granada entirely. In addition, the Fox platform became the home of the Lincoln Continental. The Thunderbird and Cougar personal-luxury coupes were redesigned for 1983, becoming the first aerodynamic-bodied Fords. The introductory Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr were discontinued at the end of the model year and replaced by the front-wheel drive 1984 Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz.

However, the 1980s led to the popularization of front-wheel drive among American car manufacturers; aside from the Mustang and the Thunderbird/Cougar, the Fox platform largely disappeared after 1986.

SN-95

See also: Ford Mustang (fourth generation)

The Fox-platform Ford Mustang was redesigned in 1994 under the body family program code name Fox-4. This version was wider and approximately 60% of the parts were redesigned. The SN-95 platform finally ended production with the last 2004 Mustang. This platform was replaced for the 2005 Mustang (code named S-197), with the new Ford D2C platform.

Vehicles

Vehicle Name	Image	Production	Predecessor	Successor	Notes
Fox-platform vehicles (Compact)
Ford Fairmont		1978–1983	Ford Maverick	Ford Tempo
Mercury Zephyr		1978–1983	Mercury Comet	Mercury Topaz
Ford Durango		1981	Ford Ranchero		The Durango was a limited-production aftermarket conversion of the Ford Fairmont Futura 2-door Approximately 200 produced
Fox-platform vehicles (Mid-Size)
Ford Granada		1980–1982	Ford Granada (1975–1979)	Ford LTD	The Granada was updated and took on the LTD name for 1983. 1982 Granada was the first American Ford to wear the revived "Blue Oval" badge.
Ford LTD		1983–1986	Ford Granada	Ford Taurus	LTD was an updated version of the 1980-1982 Ford Granada
Mercury Cougar (sedan/wagon)		1980–1982	Mercury Monarch	Mercury Marquis	Cougar sedan and wagon models discontinued in 1983
Mercury Marquis		1983–1986	Mercury Cougar	Mercury Sable
Lincoln Continental (sixth generation)		1982–1987	Lincoln Versailles	Lincoln Continental (D186/seventh generation)
Fox-platform vehicles (Pony Car)
Ford Mustang		1979–1993	Ford Mustang II	Ford Mustang (SN-95)
Ford Mustang (SN-95)		1994–2004	Ford Mustang	Ford Mustang (D2C)
Mercury Capri		1979–1986	Mercury Capri II (1976–1978)
Fox-platform vehicles (Personal Luxury Car)
Ford Thunderbird (eighth and ninth generations)		1980–1988	Ford Thunderbird (seventh generation)	Ford Thunderbird (tenth generation/MN-12)	Produced in two generations (1980-1982 "Box Birds" and 1983-1988 "Aero Birds")
Mercury Cougar (sixth generation)		1983–1988	Mercury Cougar coupe (fifth generation)	Mercury Cougar (seventh generation/MN12)	Cougar became exclusively a twin of the Ford Thunderbird after 1983
Lincoln Continental Mark VII		1984–1992	Lincoln Continental Mark VI	Lincoln Mark VIII	The Mark VII was the first American-market car sold with composite headlamps and anti-lock brakes.

External links

• Fox Body Forum - #1 Foxbody Source on Earth!
• FoxBodyChallenge.com - A website & database dedicated to the Fox Body Mustang Platform & the 302ho
• Four Eyed Pride - A resource for all early Foxes
• foxbodyconnection.com-Great resource forum about technical help and parts that interchange between years.