SVO Emblem Wilit: The Man, The Myth, His SVO

Back to Vehicles

 

What is a Mustang SVO?
1984 Mustang SVO
· 2.3 Litre Turbocharged & Intercooled SOHC
· T-5 w/low ratio gearing
· 4 Wheel 5 lug Disc Brakes
· Koni SA Struts
· Flofit Bucket Seats
· Hurst Shifter
· Momo Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
· Dual Spoiler
· 16" SVO wheels
· 3.43 Trac-Lok 7.5" Rear Axle

Factory Options
· Air Conditioning
· Power Windows
· Power Door Locks
· AM/FM Cassette Player
· Jalapeño Red Paint

Modifications
· K&N Filter
· 3" Ram Air kit
· Dynomax Muffler
· Tinted Rear and Side Windows

 Mustang SVO SVO was the performance division of Ford which stood for Special Vehicle Operations. The division later changed it's name to SVE (Special Vehicle Engineering), then to SVT (Special Vehicle Team). The Mustang SVO was no regular Mustang. The first obvious difference between an SVO and any other Mustang was the exterior treatments. The SVO recieved a front air dam, molded side rocker panels, revised sail panels, dual-wing spoiler and most obvious, the off-center hood scoop which fed cold air into the 2.3 litre's intercooler. The SVO also recieved special 16" wheels wrapped in Goodyear Gatorbacks.
The SVO's interior recieved grey Flofit bucket seats as standard, with leather seats optional. A Momo leather wrapped steering wheel was installed to match the leather wrapped gearshift knob, and leather shifter boot. The Gauge cluster was also special, with a 140mph spedometer, and a turbo boost gauge in place of the GT's ammeter. Below the AM/FM cassette player was a bank of switches (3 in the case of vehicles equipped with the premium sound system). The First switch operating the sound system's "boost" feature, the second operating the fog lights, with the thrid functioning as a toggle switch between the "regular fuel" and "premium fuel" options in the EEC-IV computer. The "regular fuel" option was to be used with anything less than 92 octane fuel, and would keep boost levels at a safe 7psi. When the "premium fuel" setting was selected, boost levels of 15psi were the norm. SVO Interior
SVO Engine (Photo Courtesy of FORD Publications) The SVO's most significant differences required looking a little closer at the engine bay and underpinnings of the car. The engine bay contained a turbocharged and intercooled version of Ford's über-reliable 2.3 litre 4 cylinder which produced 175hp in '84 models, where later versions were upgraded to produce 205hp. Getting the power to the 3.43:1 Traction-Lok equipped 7.5 inch rear axle was a specially geared T-5 5 speed transmission equipped with a Hurst shifter. The suspension was dampened by Koni SA struts up front and Koni gas filled shocks in the rear. The front suspension recieved revised geometry A-arms which moved the spindle ¼ inch outwards. Turning the front wheels was aided by a special 15:1 ratio steering rack, which helped tearing up twisty roads. To help stop the SVO, 5-lug disc brakes were fitted on all four corners. 0-60 times for an '84 were rated at 7.8 seconds, and the quarter mile flew by at 15.8 seconds. This was 1/10 of a second quicker than the GT's of the day.
Page created with Notepad