TOM SHAW >>>>
FROMTHE
EDITOR
SEASONS, SHOWS, TRENDS
S
pring is in full swing,
Mustang shows are
blossoming, and
change is in the air. I
suppose that shows are
constantly evolving, along with
changing tastes and preferences
among enthusiasts.
Here in Central Florida, we’re
just beyond winter’s reach. Oldtimers tell me that we once got a
brief dusting of snow in 1977, but
that’s about it other than an occasional frost or cold snap. For the
rest of the country, fall means the
end of comfortable weather and
the onset of freezing cold. For us
in peninsular Florida, spring is the
last gasp of comfortable weather
and the onset of intense heat, tropical humidity, and a worrisome sixmonth hurricane season. The best
strategy I’ve found for coping with
summer in the South is to go
indoors, fire up the air conditioner,
and stay there until October.
Winter is our primary season in
Florida, and if we’re getting an
advance peek because of our
inverted seasons, we’re seeing
some important shifts in the
Mustang hobby.
TREND NO. 1 —
NEW MUSTANGS ARE HOT
Not a deep revelation. They
show up in force at Mustang
shows as premium models, limited editions, customs, and rods.
No doubt Ford is happy to have a
hit on their hands, especially in
these challenging times. For the
many owners, it’s a blast to participate in a Mustang show without the expense and blood-andguts hassle of restoring a classic.
There’s a new wave of people
6 FOXMustangMagazine.com
rolling into Mustang shows.
But not everyone likes the new
class. “They haven’t paid their
dues,” we overhear. “What’s the
point of driving from the showroom to the show field?” they say.
Point taken, but today’s new cars
are tomorrow’s classics.
TREND NO. 2 — CLASSICS
NO LONGER DOMINATE
Again, this is not a stop-thepresses bombshell, but it’s interesting to me that the cars that
inspired the Mustang clubs in the
first place — the GTs, fastbacks,
Mach 1s, and Boss Mustangs —
are no longer the biggest draw.
I’ve noticed that while they do
have a devoted following, they
either get sprinkled in among the
general show field or they’re given
their own section. At Sturgis last
year, early Mustangs were given
an expansion area on the other
side of the main drag, but it was
the jellybeans (’94-’04) and ’05current models that had the
biggest turnout.
TREND NO. 3 —
FOXES ARE ON THE RISE
Fox Mustangs have bottomed
out in value and are now on the
rebound. Most non-enthusiasts
consider them to be beaters,
worn-out jalopies of little or no
interest, long bypassed by prevailing fashion and vogue. Not
among enthusiasts. They’re on
the lookout for the Pace Cars,
GT350s, Turbo GTs, T-tops, GTs,
and the like. They know a diamond in the rough and are very
passionate about the Fox
Mustang. This is a trend that’s
going to continue.
TREND NO. 3 —
FOX ROD VS. RESTO
It used to be that every Fox
Mustang in a show field was wildly
modified. The race was to be more
outrageous. These days, I’m seeing
lots of modifieds, but they’re outnumbered by restored and original
Mustangs. Just like what happened
with muscle cars, when the cars
get to be around 20 years old, the
nostalgia begins to percolate, and
tastes change. Originality becomes
the driving force. We’re still early in
the trend, but there’s no question
it’s already in progress.
TREND NO. 4 —
FOX VALUES ON THE RISE
I’m out in front of this one. It
hasn’t happened yet, but rest
assured it’s coming — the rise of
prices. I remember Boss 302s
advertised in the back of Hot Rod
and Hemmings for $4,500. “That’s a
lot of money,” I winced. Then t