The RARE Turbo 4 Cylinder Mustang Built By McLaren - The 1980 McLaren Mustang M81 (Foxbody)

👉 Become a Rare Cars Founding Member (And Get Awesome Perks): rarecarsmedia.com/
In this Rare Cars documentary, we go into the history of one of the RAREST factory built Mustangs ever, the 1980 Mustang McLaren M81. A turbocharged 4 cylinder mustang built in conjunction with McLaren to excite enthusiasts about the possibility of a true 4 cylinder performance mustang.
However, with so few of these M81 Foxbody cars ever built, one must ask the question, why did these cars not take off with the weight of the McLaren name behind it. Stay tuned to the end of this video to learn all there is to know about the McLaren M81 Mustang in this short form documentary.
This video aims to provide a short history of these unique and rare cars so you can learn about them in a quick, easy to digest video.
*Note, we are not historians. If you see an error in our research then please mention it in the comments!
For business inquiries or other inquiries, reach out to: [e-mail]

[@thomasrussell5562]

My first car was a 1980 Mustang 2.3 TURBO ( the troublesome turbo was removed after being replaced a few times before I acquired the car ). It was a red hatchback decked out in true 80’s fashion with rear window loovers, sunroof, front Le Bra and those aluminum wheels with Michelin TRX tires that cost way too much for a 16 year olds budget… Speed performance aside the car looked great and I worked my but off to get it. Not long after I got it I figured out how to step-side the clutch because the car did not have enough power to spin the tires just by piping the clutch the regular way - well , soon enough the rear diff center pin broke and I got a replacement used rear axle housing from a Mercury that had an open 2.73 gear. I went from a posi 3.42 to an open 2.73 and a speedometer that was now off. Needless to say the only way to burn any rubber was now gone…. I had plans to buy a 1983 Fuel Injected 2.3 TURBO out of a GT but ended up selling the car before I got the money together for that purchase - probably a good thing though ; I would have ended up killing myself on my endless pursuit of more power at such a young age…

[@2coolwheels139]

I had an SVO for a number of years, and absolutely loved that car. If some A-hole hadn't crashed into it, I'd still have it today.

[@flaxseedoil1000]

Still have my white '86

[@evangarriott6306]

I got a white 86 too

[@HighlanderNorth1]

✔️I never owned an SVO, but I got to test drive a brand new 1986 model when my boss opened a larger company in partnership with a guy who owned a Ford dealership. The SVO Mustangs put out way more than the measly 175hp of the M81. They were rated at like 225hp, which is obviously a huge increase over ^this "McLaren Mustang"(which also cost way more). So I'm a bit confused as to why the McLaren M81 is the focus of this video, and not the SVO. Ford also put the same turbocharged 2.3L "Lima" engine in the mid 80s Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, the Mercury Capri RS, and the Mercury Merkur XR4-Ti.

[@stonernation7221]

i dont have a real SVO but i have a 90 notch back with a 2.3 turbo out of the 86 tbrid. swaped the turbo for a HX35 holset from a 98 dodge ram cummins. 30lbs of boost on pump gas. 550hp. love that little death trap.

[@tonyelliott7734]

I had a 4E dark sage 85' SVO and a 2A medium canyon red 85.5'. I want another one badly.

[@Adam-nv9zo]

I just recently found this channel. It's awesome. There is definitely some stuff on here I've never seen before. Great job. 👏 👏 👏

[@jn8601]

Same love it

[@rarecars3336]

Thank you for the kind words and for watching the videos, happy you like the content!

[@WholeLottaBulldog]

It's such a quality channel. Great job​@@rarecars3336

[@SwordCymbal79]

I used to be a fox chassis Nurd. Believe it or not, Ford made a Fairmont with a 2.3 turbo same as the fox body mustang. It was just more rare.

[@rarecars3336]

I knew if the fairmont but not with the 2.3, I love the fox body Capris!

[@kristopherzamora6332]

The SVO fox body was the coolest. Turbo 4cyl.

[@SwordCymbal79]

@@rarecars3336 the bubble hatch was rad

[@SwordCymbal79]

@@kristopherzamora6332 call me weird, but I prefer the t-bird turbo coupe. It had the best parts of the SVO and Lincoln mark VII

[@chadkent1241]

​@SwordCymbal79 I owned two and wish I still had them.. The 87/88s made 190 hp w/ the manual and I surprised a BUNCH of folks with them.

[@tkskagen]

For me, IMSA made this car an instant classic!

[@stephenhood2948]

All the IMSA cars looked tough, as did all the IROC cars.

[@1981mclaren]

Great vid and directionally and mostly factually correct! My M81 at full adjusted boost is quick enough to keep up with modern traffic. It’s quick by 1981 standards and gets good gas mileage. The 2.3 carb turbo is the great grandfather of today’s EcoBoost but was limited by Fords budget, available technology and emissions standards.

[@extremedrivr]

Except the Ecoboost is junk though. Sorry but just statin facts.

[@CheekyChan]

Except it really isn't. The 4 banger EcoBoost is actually a Mazda L engine. It's a GOOD engine when it's left naturally aspirated. Ford pushed so much boost thru those engines that it's common to have head gasket and cylinder wall failure on ALL of the EcoBoost engines, there are solutions to fix them such as using a thicker cylinder sleeve and a better aftermarket HG but the first fix is rather expensive and it's hard to find a shop or store that will do the work or even sell you an already sleeved block as it's a time consuming process. Not only that but some shops/stores won't fix the smaller EcoBoost engines, their main "focus" (hehe) are the 2.3 and the 2.0 found in the Mustang's and RS/ST Focus' for performance reasons.

[@deborahchesser7375]

My uncle Kenny put a 289 he built making 350 hp give or take in an 82’ Mustang and that thing was a beast. I wish I knew where that car went. Cool vid thanks 🐾✌️🇺🇸

[@rarecars3336]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing!

[@unionrdr]

I did about the same with a '69 302 Cleveland. I built millions of them in my 31 years at Ford in Cleveland. 350HP is not hard to make. .030 overbore, Shelby cam and kit, port match, port and polish heads, 4BBL intake, etc. I put it in my '76 Cobra2 that sucked a valve through a piston and tore out the lower part of the cylinder when the rod went through a freeze plug. Boy, was that car fun then! At 4500RPM, I'd dump it and have the headlights searching for enemy aircraft!

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

lol

[@marcgambone4240]

My first car was an 84 lx 4cyl that someone had swapped a 5.0 into.....I don't think they upgraded the suspension and I only had it for 5 days before I wrapped her around a tree on my way to school

[@supers0nic77]

I have it now, thanks for keeping it alive for me

[@Buddster218]

always learning something new in your videos 👏

[@rarecars3336]

Glad you learned something, that's exactly why I make these videos!

[@nathanieljones7981]

I actually know Kendall, Great guy, he has the white M81 street car, one of the orange street cars, and the backup race car, fantastic guy.

[@rarecars3336]

WOW thanks for the input on this! So cool to hear of someone actually having one. Thanks for sharing!

[@bikingD]

No not the same as Supercar Mclaren. Was developed with ASC Mclaren a company out of Michighan . I love how the myth behind these cars has people that weren't around then think it's the same Mclaren vs ASC which was mostly a sunroof company.

[@stoneylonesome4062]

ASC McLaren was still no joke. They did a good job with the Regal T-Type GNX and I believe they were involved with Shelby, as well with some of his Chrysler and Ford Cars.

[@foxchassis]

@bikingD The M81 was not affiliated with ASC (American Sunroof Company/Corporation). McLaren Engines Inc was the company that built the engines for the M81.

[@Wheelsofhotness77]

Now that's a tough one, because technically you're both wrong and right. The McLaren that build the Mustang, was a totally different group of people, known as the McLaren Cars. But after 2010 it became McLaren Automotive. So, technically same name brand, technically different company. That is an enigma, wrapped in a riddle. 👍

[@foxchassis]

The "McLaren" associated with this (M81) McLaren Mustang was McLaren Engines Inc. McLaren Engines Inc was formed in the U.S. so the McLaren race team from the U.K. could produce their own engines for their U.S. Can-Am and Indy Car race cars instead of buying them from someone else in the U.S. McLaren Engines Inc worked with Ford to rebuild the stock 2.3L in these cars.

[@hoffa2586]

@@foxchassiscorrect fc knows his stuff and is keeper of a very thorough M81 registry.

[@charlieryan1736]

Thanks for making this informative and interesting video

[@gtx-808]

Thanks for the video I always thought it was just a prototype

[@rarecars3336]

Thanks for watching!

[@mylifeofchaos]

My grandfather had an 85 LX with a 5.0. That thing would smoke the tires from a dig. He kept his 5.0 100% stock. Now it did have pizza slicer tires. That was the first car I ever wrapped the speedometer around back to 10mph. I estimated I was doing about 130mph. I miss that car.

[@flat6fever680]

Love these deep dives.

[@rarecars3336]

Glad you enjoy them, thanks for watching!

[@antonhoward9027]

Had the Revell 1/24 kit when I was a kid here in the UK.

[@rarecars3336]

No way I didn't even know they made one!

[@christophecamus8410]

Great video thanks

[@rarecars3336]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@joedoc9357]

Pretty cool I like the way y'all done it

[@dmacpher]

Should do the Daytona iroc R/T with the lotus designed heads. That or the Shelby 4 bangers from the 80s

[@Zenny916]

Love the quad-light Fox. '85-'86 used to be my fave til this vid was posted lol. Never saw one of these in 80-90s Cali.

[@fuse8052]

I knew about the SVO. Never heard of this one before. Very interesting

[@edwardchance2543]

Thanks for sharing subscribed one of my favorite cars.

[@theayatollahofrockandrollah]

just looks awesome in that orange color...love the back with Mustang between the lights

[@rustyshackleford1827]

Do a video on the foxbody capri! One of my favorite cars that doesn’t get looked at enough. Never seen one other than mine on the street in my short time on this planet lol.

[@rarecars3336]

Absolutely at some point! The Capris are my favorite foxes

[@brassmonkey7566]

You from Tampa?

[@jamesford2942]

1979 and 1980 had the 2.3 draw through turbo set up in them. They suffer from severe turbo lag due to the exhaust side boost control that lets the turbo bog down. I have one of these setups for a hot rod I'm building. Hopefully I can get more power out of it than stock.

[@OrbitalRoc]

Sounds like a gun and cheers for the research.

[@michaelladue5066]

I loved my 86' Capri asc McLaren ...I was always bragging bout my McLaren badges 😂

[@gmain1977]

It not the same McLaren that makes Supercars

[@JustSomeGuyNotAnAlien]

I love that it was badged there M81. Growing up we lived in a dirt U shaped road that started and ended on a highway called M-81. 😂

[@rarecars3336]

Thats a cool fact that i did not know, thanks for sharing!

[@mry82]

British?

[@steveswanson4339]

McLaren Mustang #1 had a Dry Break fuel refill in the center of the Deck Lid which was the only one built with that feature. #10 had the ducted Hood and a Variable Boost Turbo knob on the bottom of the dashboard which was special ordered by the original owner, Randy Minch of Ohio, who had negotiated receipt of the car as partial payment for a concours restored 1967 Cobra 427 SC he sold to Ford Motorsport. #10 was purchased from Randy and brought to California by Swanson Ford in Los Gatos, CA. Not being able to be registered in California because of the Variable Boost engine it was later sold to a Las Vegas casino where it was given away as a prize.

[@stevelee5724]

Casino prize is a bad idea. The new owner has no respect for the car and it deteriorates...😢. Cheers from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@zwastiunburzy3688]

Wha'? Did I read that right? He got this, as rare and desirable as it is, and Ford got an original, concours AC Shelby Cobra? WHAT THE EFF?!! 3:17

[@foxchassis]

@steveswanson4339 There were two "race" cars. I only have pics of one of them so I'm not sure if both had fuel filler in the hatch of just one.

[@musewolfman]

​@@zwastiunburzy3688as partial payment. It wasn't a straight trade, he got the McLaren and other payment.

[@rickintexas1584]

I had never heard of these McLaren Mustangs. But 190 HP was definitely not powerful. These were expensive and slow. What a shame.

[@rarecars3336]

That sadness of early 80s performance :(

[@ItsDaJax]

Naturally aspirated 2.3s have 88hp. Mind you these cars are not EFI. The 2.3 didn't get efi until 84. These are engines that are capable of 400hp despite everything. A n/a carbed 2.3 with a header, cam, d-port head, and 390cfm 4bbl carb can make just over 100hp. Mind you a 2.3 hatch from 79-86 is just over 2600lbs.

[@SupraBdub]

Neat car and history. If I were to pick I'd get an svo over this any day

[@warrenb8228]

“You have to be at work in 6 hours.” KZbin: “wanna see a really rare mustang.” You know I do you SOB!

[@rarecars3336]

Thats how they get you LOL!

[@bryanmchugh1307]

Interesting. I never knew about this Mustang.

[@andrehooker3229]

Back in the 80's that was fast! Remember the gnx only put out 100 more and was quick as hell!

[@user-ph6wm8id2e]

I got to see one in person in Stroudsburg PA when I was a kid!!!!! I had pics but alas...I also suffered through a total loss house fire....

[@bbracing3925]

I used to dirt oval race a 2.3l Lima 1988 fox hatch (4cyl Mini stock) those engines are damn near bullet proof, even at 9,200 + rpms repeatedly!

[@ssnerd583]

....yip...that 2.3 was stout.....i got a '79 turbo mustang for cheap because the guy who had it thought he had blown it up....i knew better....lol.....i did all sorta madness to that thing....ported the head and put water/alcohol injection on it....blew 3 or 4 turbos before I got a v6 Buick turbo to play with...then the v6 turbo T/A and on and on......boost really IS addictive!!!! no doubt!!!

[@stephenhood2948]

My buddy had one in a TBird Turbo Coupe with a 5 speed and a posi rear. I always wanted to take that driveline out and stick it in a Ranger with some mini tubs. That would have been a sick ride for not a tremendous amount of money.

[@mr.nonederful3314]

I used to have an 85 ASC McClaren Capri, midnight blue with the orange accents... man I miss that car

[@hialeahe818]

Pretty cool only knew about the McLaren Capri not the Mustang

[@thedocofgreen2018]

Bro i had a 1984 mustang svo 4 cyl turbocharged. I wrapped around a tree in westwood ma where i grew up. Let ne tell you, it was a sleeper to the highest level. It had an offset inlet for air on hood. It was gorgeous

[@frosthoe]

My brother in law bought one new, after about a year major issues, and eventually the 3rd turbo died and it was out of warrenty. he drove it for years with no turbo, it was a dog. Even new they never made more then 7psi boost, soo basically 40-50% power gain for a crapload of trouble. My neighbor bought one used and put a warmed over 302 in it And it was a handfull, A true lil beast. Now THAT was an upgrade.

[@markandrade7547]

I loved my 84 svo that I owned for 25 years. Just gotta love a 4 banger turbo. In 84 175hp 210ftlbs of torque 85.5 205hp 235ftlbs of torque then detuned in 86 to 200hp to have the same hp as the 5.0. Even though it wasn't going to happen but the 87 svo was supposed to get a duel overhead cam by Jack Roush, so just imagine the output compared to the single cam head.

[@deansapp4635]

I had won of the last built 86 SVO, It was built without the Bi plane rear wing because Ford had no more. Fun car, I wish i still had it

[@ItsDaJax]

That's probably why the Volvo 2.3 head swap is/was a thing.

[@828_Nate]

Well thank you! I’ve learned something new! You have a new subscriber!! 🫡👍

[@syazwanali7094]

This is why I love fox body coupes with a small engine. A mustang that grips on corners is a win in my book.

[@richardwalther6229]

Didn’t know that the 2.3 turbo mustang idea goes back over 40 years. Interesting!

[@martinthorne8543]

Back in my youth, I ran 17's drag-racing in Pure Stock with my stock '67 base Chevy II, 250 cu. in. 6 with 3-on-the-tree.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

0:38 The top engine in the 1984 Mustang was the 302 (5.0 litre) - and was making around 175 HP that year as I recall. You seem to be thinking of the 1980 or 1981, when the 302 was not offered.

[@musewolfman]

He specified the 1980 4.2l V8.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@musewolfman No, he SPECIFIED "1984" and it's "top trim 4.2 liter". NOT 1980 which would have been correct.

[@jaycarlson927]

That front end looks like the Chevy Monza Spider from that same era

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

If McLaren was involved with your car in the 80's or 90's, then you were going fast

[@bikingD]

Wrong McLaren this was done by ASC McLaren mostly a sunroof company out of Michigan.

[@TheWeswade]

Pop

[@TWOxTONE_773]

0-60 in 9.7 and 1/4 in 17 seconds is not fast.

[@bikingD]

@@TWOxTONE_773 Got to remember the era. Under 10 seconds in 1980 was fast. In the 7 second range by mid 80's was fast. 90's 6 second range fast. 2000's 5 second range fast. 2010's 4 second range fast. 2020's 3 second range fast. Everything is relative to the era. So under 10 for 1980 was fast.

[@TWOxTONE_773]

@@bikingD It’s still a turbo 4 banger. No different than the mustang eco post of today everyone makes fun of. In the 60s-70s cars were doing 5-6 second 0-60 times. I blame the governments EPA but still 9-10 seconds is not fast.

[@scottnix4991]

I have known about the SVO's but never heard about this model. Makes me appreciate my Ecoboost Premium all the more. Cost me just a little bit more compared to the McLaren's 1980 price. I'm talking dollars to dollars. Not adjusting for inflation at all, just $ signs to $ signs. 10X the car either the McLaren or SVO was. Sure the new 5.0's are level of magnitude above the Ecoboost, but I get 20 mpg with my foot in it every chance I get. Great video, Thanks.

[@rarecars3336]

Very cool that these cars were a 2.3T and the new 4 cylinder mustangs are also a 2.3T!

[@caribman10]

Nice bit of humblebragging there, bro.

[@markbreitsameter3336]

You're comparing a performance car to a premium rental trim💀

[@stephenhood2948]

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but the EcoBoost is junk. Engines are popping corks left and right. The engines on these new cars are pretty much disposable. They are nice while they last, but they aren't built to last much longer than the warranty period, and are not designed to handle boost pressures. They can be made reliable, but that takes money. Just Google head gasket issues on EcoBoost engines, they are not well designed.

[@scottnix4991]

Oh really? Any engine can be abused to the point of failure. I've lived with one for over six years with no problems. I haven't babied it either. What's your actual experience? Just something you've read I suppose.@@stephenhood2948

[@Saltinator]

Back in 93 some guy in his white svo was showing off for older kids skateboarding at a park I was at. The guy did a rolling pull, 20 or so mph. Me being 13 at the time I never seen a car squat so hard, hook up, and take off like that. I was use to 90hp economy cars of the day lol

[@cliffcox7643]

It's really amazing how power has trickled down to the masses.. when a old V8 made only 200 ho, now a V6 makes more, and a standard var can make more w a regular 4 cyl.

[@williamlewis5688]

My brother bought a 1984 Capri RS 5.0 4sp in 1987 we put a 4barrle on it and dule exhaust it was pretty fast out ran alot of Camaro Z28s with it

[@timmcfarland2853]

I test drove a 79 fox body with a 2.3 turbo. It looked like a plain Jane stock but that thing was fast.

[@rarecars3336]

Have yet to drive a fox myself but definitely on my list of cars to drive. I think a modern 2.3 ecoboost in a factory 2.3 fox would be a cool swap

[@darren6951]

My very first car was a black and gold dodge daytona turboZ carrol shelby edition. T-tops, leather all the bells and whistles. It always reminded me of the F-body. The only thing the daytona was missing was rear wheel drive.

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

My brother had an 80 Turbo Mustang but didn't look like this. IT would roast the tires well into 3rd gear but desperately needed another gear past 4th!

[@kevingreen5834]

I'd love an old Fox body with an eco-boost motor!!

[@rarecars3336]

Right!? I think that would be a killer swap

[@futureconsequence5374]

I still have my first car. Its a 84' 2.3L turbo mustang. Its not the SVO just a turbo GT. Stock except for the SVO complete interior swap.

[@rarecars3336]

Awesome that you still have it, my first car was a Mustang too and I plan on keeping forever!

[@culcune]

Probably rarer than an SVO! Was '84 the last year of the turbo Mustang GT/Capri RS? (I know the SVO Mustang continued into 1985 and ended in 1986)

[@futureconsequence5374]

@@culcune yes it was the last year of the Turbo GT. I still see an SVO every so often but ive never seen another GT turbo on the street.

[@futureconsequence5374]

@@rarecars3336 Awesome! yeah ill never get rid of mine. infact back in the early 2000s I was buyin up every turbo 2.3l from the junkyards. they also has that same motor in the turbo thunderbird. I was able to score like 5 or 6 of those motors.

[@pckldplmfshcm]

My Uncle owns an ASC McLaren Mercury Capri, which actually has nothing to do with the McLaren car company, but is still an extremely rare car.

[@rarecars3336]

Those are awesome cars as well!

[@nunyabisness4300]

Super cool. A new hybrid Camry will out perform this car today.

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

That SVO was a beast

[@gentlemanzackp6591]

there was a 4 cyl cosworth swapped mustang from i think 1985 or 86 in the UK. produced 500 horsepower (from sierra cosworth? maybe) however! the swap happened in the 2000s, as a retromod. but it was a great concept

[@zerocool5395]

I'm surprised nobody ever made those fender flares so that you could install them on your own Mustang. A 93' Cobra with them kn would look so effin awesome.

[@rarecars3336]

Actually not a bad idea that could look sweet!

[@zerocool5395]

@rarecars3336 Everything looks better with fat fenders lol.

[@rarecars3336]

@@zerocool5395 I approve this statement LOL

[@hoffa2586]

One could buy any of the aftermarket the m81 components separately including the full body kit with fender flares out of the Ford Motorsports, Inc. catalog. Full fiberglass part# MP-60501 listed for $1,300!

[@jamesalexander7540]

McLaren used to be one of my customers. In the entry there was a 1000 hp 2 liter BMW sitting on an engine stand, just to say hello.

[@rarecars3336]

No way that's awesome, what did you do for them!?

[@ItsDaJax]

The M81 is my dream foxbody. There's also a Capri version. For YEARS there has been a M81 for sale in Sweden for $10k USD- I wonder whatevee came of it.

[@rarecars3336]

I love the foxbody capris!

[@savagewhitmore2815]

That seems amazingly cheap, especially outside of it's country of origin

[@1981mclaren]

Was this black one in Italy for sale 20 years ago or an orange one? If not then that makes 2 overseas and I believe 2 more have gone overseas in the last couple of years.

[@ItsDaJax]

@@1981mclaren I think it was orange, but I can't remember. I'd have to dig deep on FourEyedPride and that's some work. I wish somebody would remake that body, but not in magnesium or whatever it was.

[@davidczarco]

Love the wheels

[@Skyrider12]

Had a “79 stang with the turbo 4cly. It was “the official pace car” trim package. It would kick it pretty good, but to get it to dance would mean peggin the gas top it out n dump the clutch! I wish I had it today! Also 63 falcon convertible… sigh. If we only knew the value of these classics we’d probably taken better care of ‘em. That is all. ✌🇺🇸

[@user-ik3wq4qh9k]

When I was just a kid I had a 1979 mustang cobra and it was a turbo 2.3 and the power for the time wasn’t bad but it did breakdown a few times

[@musewolfman]

The wild thing is that the 4.2l V8 only made about 25hp more than the NA 4-cylinder. And that was also rated at about 2hp more than the 3.3l inline 6. An inline 6 that, I might add, had a 1-barrel carburetor and an intake manifold that was cast in one piece along with the cylinder head. I miss my '79 fox body, but I do not miss that boat anchor of an engine.

[@WPGinterceptor460Interceptor]

yeah but the torque is what moved the car.. my buddy had one and ran a 0-60 in 9 seconds

[@bladez0613]

When I was a kid, I found a 1982 McLaren mustang for sale in the buy and sell. My dad bought it for me and we brought it home. It was rotted out so badly that I eventually took the body kit off of it, and kept it for a few years before, a drunk kid fell on it at a party and cracked it. I figured I would probably never get around to putting it on a Mustang so I sold it for a couple hundred bucks. This was a V-8 GT four-speed car. The person that owned it was the son of a Ford dealer and they obviously didn’t look after it because the car was a rotted out shit box. Wish I kept it though.

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

Nah, it wasn't the dealer, that's just how they came from the factory

[@saleen88-049]

One sold at Mecum-Indy 2023 for $82.5k, not bad at all

[@rarecars3336]

For a car as rare as it is I would agree!

[@peggle09]

Even more rare is similar body style mustang my dad and I put a turbo 6 Buick grand national motor in. Was a fun track day car.

[@queensapphire7717]

That 3.8 was one of the best motors of its time.

[@braddietzmusic2429]

The Lamborghini Countach debuted in 1974. Even the ones with wings and various ground effects and trim bits originated in the 1970s and were not an 80s creation.

[@rarecars3336]

They are a 70s car however I would still say they are synonymous with the 1980s

[@zairomolino4074]

Not an 80s car but later model were 80s icon

[@optimus3305]

Thank God I was just a kid in the 80’s, awesome movies and music, cars not so much, in the US at least.

[@Narpets2112]

I thought I had seen one in the wild once but seeing it in this video and hearing how many were actually built, it seems it was just someone who put some Maclaren badges on his car.

[@nathanieljones7981]

Also, the mclaren literature and feeling of the car states 250 hp. race car got a cosworth 4 cyl that put down 300 or so. I have seen and felt the cars. they are beautiful.

[@dermetzger]

3:51 - John needs to hit pit lane before those front tires let go... Damn

[@ashylarry1589]

My first Fox Body was a 79 GT Turbo. It was slow but still a lot of fun. It had a green turbo light on the dash that lit up every time I hit boost. I thought I was the 💩 because of that 🤣 I blew the engine on it and junked it. Since, I’ve only seen one other in my life. Wish I kept it in hindsight.

[@rarecars3336]

That green light had to be super cool back in the day

[@ashylarry1589]

@@rarecars3336 it was awesome! It lit up green and said turbo in black. Nobody had that back then. I have a lot of things that I grew up with. Especially old school car audio. I kick my self mentally every time I think about that 79. I wish I kept it. I also had an 86 GT with t-tops, a 90 drivetrain, Paxton and a bunch of other goodies but my 79 always comes to mind when I think of them.

[@67NickM]

Had a '79 notch with the turbo as well. There was another light on the dash that was amber and nice buzz warning-overboost. The wastegate on these was set about 6 or so PSI. Wastegate on mine never opened to dump boost-dang thing would easily hit 25 or so, foot to the floor. This is not good as the this was a blow through carbed setup and the 2 back cylinders would go way lean under high boost. Popped the original (shattered pistons on 3 and 4), did the same on a junkyard engine I picked up. 3rd engine was built with forged dished pistons, new high duration cam, etc (but dumbass me never fixed the wastegate). No longer busted pistons, but would get about 5K out of plugs and headgasket would blow around 12K. Fun car though-light them up first through third and bark going into 4th.

[@HenHavenEggs]

Weird knowing a 1980 air cooled Honda CR80 dirt bike for kids was faster than a McLaren mustang.

[@rarecars3336]

When you put it that way you really do the car dirty LOL

[@BCaldwell]

Hell Yeah 🤟

[@rarecars3336]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@caribman10]

Only ever saw one of these in all this time. What it really needed was about 300 rwhp. Less than 200 hp was a non-starter.

[@ionhunter]

I still have my 1980 Turbo Capri (1986) and 1985.5 SVO (1990)

[@kevinangus4848]

My friend had a turbo Capri ( Big difference is the badges). There were a lot of them in my area: they all crashed within two years. Extremely unpredictable braking: not just bad, but in different ways.

[@musewolfman]

The biggest difference was the badges? Not the box flares? Not the entirely different nose? Not the bubble rear window?

[@skeezix8156]

There was one on the seattle craigslist about two months ago for $5500. Gone within hours

[@leroycolejr6626]

It's how funny that we are going back to turbo 4 banger

[@Flies2FLL]

So this rare edition Mustang was about as fast as an '82 Volkswagen GTI-

[@rarecars3336]

yes...

[@Flies2FLL]

@@rarecars3336 That's awesome!

[@bradc32]

never heard of this one

[@KkevrockK]

Ha! I was rebuilding a 79 turbo..till I started sourcing the plastic/rubber body accents.

[@ckryses3962]

Oh snap...i was excited to hear and even expecting to hear that ""McLaren retouched the whole engine, gave their performance pistons"" but nope, it was only heads...air intake and so.. Did you all people realised?? How many times you have heard ""an inline 6 or performance inline 6 from U.S ""?? They could have accomplished so much...two more cylinders could have done the trick...less heavy than V8 and more punchy than inline 4 or V4.. Here to edit my comment... forgot to add thanks ....thnak you for awesome video ""RareCars""..

[@nicothebassdude]

were the wheels on those metric like the TRX cars were from '79-'83?

[@Fleghorn504]

I had a 79 mustang Cobra with the 2.3 Turbo

[@user-xu9tx7jd2f]

The fox body was wat started the new age muscle car era didnt like them at all till i got an 86 GT with a 5 speed i loved that car

[@rarecars3336]

Foxes are quickly growing on me!

[@user-xu9tx7jd2f]

@@rarecars3336 they did me after owning one and working on it

[@robertmerrill4326]

I remember these, when i lived in the detroit area. I was 15 earning $2.90 washing dishes. My dad was an extreme car nut and would frequently take me tire kicking. We drove for what seemed an eternity one night and in a back lot there were a couple. My love affair was brief and crushed hard as i looked at the sticker. I remember circling to the 2nd hoping to see a different option package, only to be crushed again.

[@fanoftheclassics5720]

Insane to think a 1999 accord v6 will leave the mustang in the dust.

[@supertruckertom]

This car was actually hand-built by Ron Fournier. Many of the hand fabricated metal custom parts are in his book published by HP Books The Metal Fabricator's Handbook in 1984. Added that book to my collection in High School

[@Naferner_Said]

I had a lx in-line 2.3 SHO

[@Funky_Ghost]

My favorite drag race ( at the strip ) was me with my 1965 Dodge Dart with a 225 slant six, wildly modified ( this was in 1985 ) and a turbo 4cyl. Mustang. We caught crap all night long until, karma armed and dangerous, we were the last two standing. I won because he tried to sandbag and the turbo lag was real back then so he didn't have the grunt to squeak past me. We were both laughing our butts off during the award ceremonies. There were a lot of butt hurt v8s. Oh, the kicker? 13.56 @ 89 mph ROFL! We were not the fastest by a LONG shot! Good times.

[@stevedeleon8775]

$25,000 was a ridicules amount of money back then for a Mustang 4 cylinders?..I don't care if it was a Maclaren Influenced Moustang

[@rarecars3336]

Yeah $25,000 was a crazy price

[@jokeyton2917]

Like the prices now aren’t??

[@glenwaldrop8166]

Only thing I'd add is the 5.0 from that time didn't have a lot of power, the 255 was not dramatically weaker, the 302 wasn't powerful in the early 80s either, worse than the 70s 302. It was ~140 HP vs 118HP, weak on both sides. The 255 was V6 power with V8 fuel economy though. For some reason auto manufacturers decided that limiting peak power by giving the big engines tiny intake and exhaust was how to increase efficiency, the single best thing you could to is open up the intake and exhaust. When they limited the peak power to limit peak fuel burn they managed to destroy low RPM efficiency at the same time.

[@robhicks2117]

The first years of the Fox body 5.0 Mustang only had a 2 barrel carburetor.

[@granniesrecipebox]

You could get the fox body cobra in 79‘ with a 4 cylinder turbo. A year before this “groundbreaker“

[@ItsDaJax]

Yeah, non intercooled with a draw-thru carb and standard suspension. The M81 and SVO are a tad different than the Cobra.

[@jimmyhamm6041]

Looks like the spyder pontiac they made in the 80's

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

Wasn't that a Monza Spider or a Pontiac Sunbird?

[@Tj930]

There's something about recessed headlights that I really hate. The amount of aerodynamic drag they must create, and for what?