Pony car wars revisited: Beyond the Camaro/Firebird/Mustang resurgence


The old battles are heating up again, but like all good wars these days, a new front has opened.
The horsepower-laden GM F-bodies and the revamped Ford Mustang have sparked a turnaround in sales of American pony cars from the decade-lows of 1993. Aside from the usual sales and horsepower clashes, availability has become a niggling point, much more so for GM than Ford.

Indeed, when Chevrolet and Pontiac officials say they can't build Firebirds and Camaros fast enough, they really mean it. Nor can they seem to build them the way enthusiasts want them. After saying the Corvette traction control system would be available on '95 F-bodies, GM delayed that option. Not one production F-body has been built with the feature, sources said, and officials don't know when it will be available.

Further, of roughly 185,000 F-bodies expected next model year, only 35 percent will be V8s. Just 6 percent of those will have the six-speed manual. There's no lack of V8 Mustang GTs, currently accounting for about 60 percent of sales.
Thus far the ponies are running neck and neck, and the F-bodies have a chance to outsell the storied Ford for the first time since 1987. Through the first seven months of calendar year 1994, GM had sold 106,105 F-bodies (76,985 Camaros and 29,210 Firebirds) to 105,089 Mustangs. The Mustang was launched in December 1993, giving the F-bodies a three-month head start.

But, there are more '94 Mustangs in the stable. Model year production totals 142,162, the best since 161,148 in '89. The decade-low of 78,946 was in '93; Ford expects to sell some 200,000 in '95.

F-body production totals 133,897, the best since 150,499 in '89, also topping a decade-low of 73,222 in '93.

Clearly, America's tawdry affair with the pony car is pulsing furiously once more. Could this spawn a power race that recalls the muscle car era of the '60s? Quite possibly. Camaro Z28 and Firebird Formula/ Trans Am lead the pack with the 275-hp LT1-powered 5.7-liter V8. The '94 Mustang was launched with 215 hp in the top-line GT. A 240-hp version is offered in the limited-edition (2500 cars) SVT Mustang Cobra.

While Pontiac looks at a ram-air setup (similar to the one used on the SLP Firehawk cars) for '95 that could bring 300 hp, Ford retains the 215-hp GT and 240 hp Cobra, but goes to the F-150 Lightning-based 5.8-liter V8 (good for about 275 hp) for a 200-400 car run of Cobra R models.

In 1996 the Mustang makes the switch to the 4.6-liter ``mod'' motor V8. Insiders say the '96 GT with a two-valve 4.6 should make about 250 hp. Better still, Cobra gets the dohc four-valve version (as in Lincoln Mark VIII) tweaked for about 300 hp.

Originally posted by 99SilverSS
Seems like the V6 buyers are the ones who left!

Originally posted by 99SilverSS
Seems like the V6 buyers are the ones who left!

Originally posted by Z28Wilson
You got it. I'm not sure buyers of a V6 sport coupe care about 20 HP upgrades. They're looking for the newest, stylish ride. As Red said, in a market that is so style driven don't underestimate the impact the redone '99 Mustang made.