Mustang History: 1983

The big news for 1983 was the availability of the convertible for the first time since 1973. Ford outsourced the convertible to Cars & Concepts, which received coupes from the factory and returned them as convertibles.

The nose of the Mustang is made smoother and sharper. Revised taillights, a reverse hood scoop and the addition of a convertible are further progress. The GT receives a wide black hood stripe and fog lights that are set more deeply into the revised, less angular, front spoiler. The Ford blue oval would grace the Mustang for the first time ever, and was placed in the grille and on the decklid.

The GT is opened up with the addition of a 600-cfm four-barrel Holley carburetor. Able to take deep breaths, the 5.0L makes 175 horsepower, the most in a Mustang since 1973. The GT can reach sixty m.p.h. in under seven seconds. The 5-speed T-5 was a midyear change

Total U.S. Production: 120,873

The inline six engine is replaced by a 3.8-liter V6.

Introduced at the 1982 Chicago Auto Show, the Mustang convertible becomes available.

Engines

• 3.8L 2v V6 112HP 3 Code
• 2.3L EFI 4-cyl 145HP T Code (Turbo GT)
• 5.0L 4V V8 176HP M Code (HO)
• 2.3L 1V 4-cyl 88HP A Code

Production

• Hatchback, standard: 64,234
• Coupe, standard: 33,201
• Convertible, standard: 23,438
• -Total-: 120,873

Prices

• Convertible: $12,467
• Coupe: $6,727
• Hatchback: $7,439

Colors

• Bright Bittersweet
• Bright Red
• Dark Academy Blue Metallic
• Dark Walnut Metallic
• Desert Tan Glow
• Light Academy Blue Glow
• Medium Charcoal Metallic
• Medium Yellow
• Midnight Blue Metallic
• Polar White
• Red
• Silver Metallic
• Black
• Light Desert Tan