[YNOT]

why is it called a fox body?

[TurboLX]

cuz the guy who designed it last's name was Fox

[BWAL]

i thought it was cause they are foxxay

[1/4-horse]

Because at the time it was designed, the Ford engineers on the project had alot of "European" experience between them, and were enamored with the Volkswagen Fox (over there). It had the right combination of performance, looks and technology, and they thought they could do that with a car over here. At the time it (the Fox Mustang/Capri) was introduced, not very many cars in the world were on Mcpherson struts, so it was kinda a big deal.

That's the gist of the story from the 5.0 Tech manual.

Jay

[neverfastenough]

Ford gave the code name "Fox" to all the cars based on this platform. That included the Mercury Zphyr and the Fairmont, too. The platform was redesigned in 94 and became the sn95, and then dropped in 05 and the new D2C platform is now used. Just like the F-body, which is what chevy used as a code name for their interchangeable platform for the camaro, firebird, and what ever other piece of crap they put on it. I don't know if this is right or not , but it sounded good, huh? I am going to go with the guy who said it was foxxay and the German speaking guy on this one, but the last name thing I don't know about.

[zero]

i was just under the impression it was named the f-body.. and in the phonetic alphabet f is fox.

[TurboLX]

F body is camaro/firebird

[Mr_Evil]

Quick like a fox.?

[blackdragon]

im not sure much my self but as you can read i own a 1980 mercury capri and its a fox body

[neverfastenough]

Yeah sorry I left the Capri out, it too is on the fox platform. My bad.

[zero]

so, does anyone really know? or have any proof that they know?

[neverfastenough]

The Ford Fox platform was a rear wheel drive, unibody automobile architecture that Ford used for 15 years in the North American market. It was designed to be relatively lightweight and simple, in keeping with the general downsizing of Detroit designs in the late 1970s.

Its initial appearance was in the compact car class, when the Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr appeared in 1978. Eventually, a wide range of Ford models in several market segments would be built off it, with multiple bodystyles and powertrains.

Vehicles using this platform:

* 1978-1983 Ford Fairmont
* 1978-1983 Mercury Zephyr
* 1979-1993 Ford Mustang
* 1979-1986 Mercury Capri
* 1980-1988 Ford Thunderbird
* 1980-1988 Mercury Cougar
* 1981-1982 Ford Granada
* 1982-1987 Lincoln Continental
* 1983-1986 Ford LTD
* 1983-1986 Mercury Marquis
* 1984-1992 Lincoln Mark VII

Straight from Mr Wikipedia himself. Whoever he is. All these cars are fox bodies.

[whiteboycustom]

Originally Posted by zero i was just under the impression it was named the f-body.. and in the phonetic alphabet f is fox.

actually its FOXTROT just wanted to clear that up

[BWAL]

foxtrot uniform charlie kilo? lol

[zero]

hahaha yeah.. well that tells me what cars can be considered foxTROT bodies.. but not why. wasnt why the original question?

[1/4-horse]

Uh, yeah. See my post above. That is the legit explanation. Also, see Mustang, Forty Years, by Randy Leffingwell. There is a LONG explanation why in that book. I don't feel like typing it out right now, it's a long chapter.



Jay

[neverfastenough]

Yeah, I wish I could find it again Not that I am disagreeing with the fact that they might have gotten some ideas from the VW Fox, but the fox platform was designed long before the first one hit the floor in 78. The Honorable Mr. Henry Ford wanted a platform designed that could be interchangeble with many body's, suspenisons, and drivetrains. His word's to the engineers, that, yes, were mostly Germans, was that he wanted something that could sell quick and also be smart as a fox. I had read an article that actually had a pic of the engineers with that motto on the board behind them. There's that and still thinking it might be the foxxay thing.