The McLaren Mustang. The Fox-Body Mashup Nobody Saw Coming

The McLaren Mustang. The Fox-Body Mashup Nobody Saw Coming

Inside the Rare Partnership That Brought Euro Style to American Muscle

Now here’s a car you don’t see every day—and honestly, most people don’t even know it exists. When you hear the name McLaren, your brain probably jumps to carbon fiber hypercars, twin-turbo V8s, and the occasional Formula 1 podium. But back in the 1980s, long before the McLaren P1 was melting tires and minds, there was a curious little slice of American performance oddity called the McLaren Mustang.

Yeah, you heard that right. McLaren. And Mustang. In the same sentence. And no, it wasn’t a fever dream or a one-off project car built in somebody’s garage. It was real. It was rare. And it was kind of awesome in a very ‘80s, Miami Vice sort of way.

How the McLaren Mustang Came to Be

Let’s rewind to the early 1980s. Ford was riding the Fox-body Mustang wave, and while performance was starting to creep back into the American car market post-smog-era, things were still pretty tame. Then along comes ASC McLaren—a collaboration between American Sunroof Company (ASC) and McLaren Performance Technologies, which was based in Livonia, Michigan.

Now before anyone gets confused, this wasn’t the British McLaren from Woking, the one that gave us the F1 and Senna. No, this McLaren was a U.S.-based operation founded by Peter Musser and Ken Eschebach, and it had nothing to do with Bruce McLaren’s racing outfit across the pond. What they did have was racing DNA and the desire to bring some boutique excitement to the American road.

So they teamed up with Ford and took the humble Mustang—specifically the Mustang GT and later the Mustang LX 5.0 notchback—and gave it a completely different look, a chopped roof, roadster treatment, and a handful of performance tweaks.

Production Years and Numbers

The McLaren Mustang was produced from 1984 to 1990, but it wasn’t consistent throughout those years.

Production Breakdown:

  • 1984–1985: Based on the Mustang GT hatchback, featuring custom body kits and interiors.
  • 1986–1990: Switched to the Mustang LX convertible, rebodied as a two-seat roadster with a new tonneau cover and European-inspired styling.

Total Production Estimates:

  • 1984–1985: ~190 units
  • 1986–1990: ~1,806 units
  • Grand Total: Around 2,000 cars, give or take. That’s right—only about 2,000 McLaren Mustangs exist. That makes them rarer than a lot of Ferraris, even some Shelby models. Try spotting one in the wild—go ahead, we’ll wait.

Styling: A Mustang in a Tuxedo

If the regular Mustang GT was the guy who wore his letterman jacket to the class reunion, the McLaren version was the one who showed up in a linen blazer and aviators, probably holding a martini.

The most radical shift came in 1986, when ASC McLaren started chopping the roof off Mustang LX convertibles and installing a custom fiberglass tonneau cover to create a sleek, two-seat roadster. The rear seat? Gone. The convertible top? Heavily re-engineered and concealed for a clean look. They also shaved the door handles, added ground effects kits, and fitted custom mesh wheels—often from Enkei or BBS.

The cars were offered in bold colors like Midnight Blue, Cabernet Red, Black, White, and the occasional eye-searing Bright Orange or Teal. Each car got unique badging and VIN plates, and you could customize them through ASC’s own order channels.

Interior: Plush, Flashy, and Totally ’80s

Step inside a McLaren Mustang and you're immediately hit with leather, suede, and custom touches that feel more like a boutique Euro sports car than a Detroit bruiser. Many of these cars had:

  • Leather-wrapped sport seats
  • Custom McLaren embroidery
  • Color-matched trim panels
  • Upgraded audio systems
  • Woodgrain or body-color dashboard inserts In short, this was the Mustang for someone who thought the regular GT was a little too “budget muscle” and not quite flash enough for the valet stand at the country club.

Drivetrain and Performance Specs

Let’s talk numbers. This wasn’t just a body kit on wheels—they did tweak the hardware too, especially in the earlier models.

Engine:

  • 5.0L V8 (302 cubic inches)
  • Horsepower:
    • Early years (1984–1985): Around 210 hp, thanks to freer-flowing exhaust and engine tuning
    • Later years (1986–1990): Same basic power as factory 5.0L V8 (225 hp by 1989)

Transmission:

5-speed manual or AOD 4-speed automatic

Suspension:

  • Lowered springs
  • Monroe Formula GP shocks
  • Larger sway bars (on some models)

Wheels:

  • 15-inch or 16-inch Enkei mesh wheels with performance tires

It wasn’t a race car, but it handled sharper than a stock Mustang and certainly had more presence.

Was It a Success?

Well… yes and no.

From a performance and visual standpoint, the car was definitely unique. It filled a niche—people who loved the Mustang’s power and layout but wanted something that looked more like a European roadster. In many ways, the McLaren Mustang was ahead of its time, predicting the future of factory-customized American muscle cars.

But sales were modest at best. The price tag—often double that of a standard Mustang—scared off budget-conscious buyers. Plus, Ford dealers weren’t always clear on how to sell them, and McLaren’s small production numbers didn’t help with awareness.

Still, those who bought one? They got a slice of Mustang history that’s practically guaranteed to stand out at any cars and coffee event.

The Legacy Today

Today, the McLaren Mustang is a bit of a cult classic. Collectors who know what it is tend to hunt for clean examples, especially the 1988–1989 models, which had the best combination of style and refinement. Finding one in good condition isn’t easy, but when you do, it’s bound to draw a crowd—usually followed by, “Wait, McLaren made a Mustang?”

It’s a conversation starter, a rare bird, and a wonderful example of ‘80s car culture taking a swing at European style with American muscle under the hood.

The Mustang Nobody Saw Coming

The McLaren Mustang isn’t the fastest, lightest, or most famous pony car ever made—but it’s definitely one of the most interesting. It combined luxury, exclusivity, and muscle in a package that stood completely apart from its Fox-body siblings.

It was a Mustang for the Miami crowd, a boulevard bruiser in a tailored suit. And while it may not have sold in huge numbers, it carved out a space in the muscle car timeline that no other variant ever has.

So if you ever see one at a car show, take a closer look. Underneath all that fiberglass and flair is a true American unicorn—and one heck of a story on wheels.