The fourth-generation Mustang is the most consistent iteration of the moniker throughout its six-decade history, with sales fluctuations well below those of the other periods. Launched in 1994, the SN95 Ford Mustang soldiered on until 2004, topping over one-and-a-half million units produced (third in the Mustang’s all-time hierarchy by generation).
For some of us, it’s almost unbelievable that the third generation of the quintessential pony car came around three decades ago – how time flies, right? The model sold relatively well, and unlike other generations, the debut year didn’t spike at overconfident values, only dropping in freefall in the following ones.
Coupe and convertible models remained the only body styles available—the hatchback body style that came around with the foxbodies was relegated to the archives of the Mustang lineup. It wasn’t the only change signaled by the new model. The lame powerplants of the previous generation were scrapped; the inline-four and inline-six were no longer under the hoods of the new Mustangs.
The smallest powerplant available was the 3.8-liter V6 that first appeared in 1982 (and was an option on the Fox-body Mustang). It wasn’t the greatest of performers, with 193 hp (196) at 5500 RPM and 225 lb-ft (305 Nm) of torque at 2800 RPM. In 2003, however, one year before the end of the generation production run, the Mach 1 came back after a long absence (the variant had been discontinued beginning with the 1979 model year).
The V6 engine was the vastly popular option for 2003, with over half the Mustangs produced for the model carrying the small powerplant (60,000 hardtops and 26,500 convertibles). Other engines were available for the GT, Mach 1, and Cobra versions—two 4.6-liter V8s in either single or dual overhead camshaft configurations. In the SVT Cobra Mustangs, the engine was backed by a Roots-type supercharger to pony up 390 hp and 390 lb-ft, 20% more than the naturally aspirated V8 in the previous years’ Cobras.
With over 1.5 million units assembled, they’re anything but rare – the fourth-gen Mustangs, I mean – but that doesn’t make them any less exciting now, even in their basic form, with the not-so-wild V6 overhead-valve motor. Take the following example as proof: born as a 2003 model, the red convertible Mustang has spent most of its life collecting dust and aging in oblivion. Why and how are not that important, but its time is up. Its time for a refreshment, that is.
Courtesy of the merry boys from WD Detailing, the red-and-black ragtop gets a well-deserved cosmetic treatment – and I must say the results are more than impressive. The Convertible is the Premium trim level, with the aforementioned 3.8-liter six-cylinder and a four-speed automatic with overdrive lockout.
Moreover, this abandoned Stang was ordered with the Pony Package (16-inch polished aluminum wheels, Mustang Stampede tape stripes, a unique rear fascia with ‘Mustang’ in black lettering, a GT hood—fake air intake—and the steering wheel wrapped in leather). We don’t know if the engine runs, but the car definitely won’t drive with the rear wheels locked. See the video below for how the detailing vloggers drag it on the trailer.