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Topic starter
09/06/2026 10:25 am
After suffering through the Pinto based Mustang ll (1974-1978) memorable only for its front suspension that's still sought after for hot rods and drag cars, in 1979 Ford launched their Fox body Mustangs... a different look, but still woefully under powered. Ford was still looking to a least give some semblance of performance to lure the youth market and teamed up with McLaren to see what could e done with their turbocharged 2.3 liter SOHC inline 4. In 1980, they did offer a 255 cid V8 but fuel efficiency and horsepower was not bringing the results they hoped for. Enter the M-81 McLaren Mustang with its hand built and blueprinted 2.3 turbo that produced 175 HP linked to a 4 speed manual with track tuned suspension, Koni shocks and Cragar mags or BBS modulars shod with Firestones. All that work came at a price and it was deemed to expensive to market, so only 10 hand built hatchback models were ever made. The only example of the M-81 in diecast was this 40 year old Bburago that came in kit form with Cartograf decals. It's a very low content diecast with decent bones so I painted it up and display it as a curiosity piece.
This topic was modified 2 days ago 2 times by Rich Sufficool
09/06/2026 12:13 pm
Thanks Rich. This is a very nice rendition of a very rare car. Bruce McLaren was killed in 1970 so I imagine his name was added as a tribute with his surviving company doing the work.
09/06/2026 12:40 pm
I remember when a customer on my mail route got a new ‘79 stang and had constant issues with some ECM that would cause it to stall out.
Steve
09/06/2026 2:21 pm
An interesting rendition Rich. It's pretty cool.
Topic starter
09/06/2026 3:37 pm
@100ford2003 My '79 Continental had the same problem. The electronics in the module were embedded in a resin that would crack over time and the resulting short would stop me dead in my tracks. Because it was a simple plug and play, I always kept an extra in my trunk.
09/06/2026 4:34 pm
Was the part covered under warranty or out of pocket? I don’t remember how many times it happened to Joe.
GDH and Jack Dodds reacted
Topic starter
09/06/2026 6:43 pm
@100ford2003 Nope. It was just like the mechanicals it replaced. It was on you.
GDH and Steve Jacobs reacted
Topic starter
10/06/2026 9:22 am
@grockwood Mercury Capri ASC McLaren was a modified luxury variant by American Sunroof Company (ASC). It had custom body panels and a more luxurious interior with luxe Recaro seats. Built by a collaboration between ASC and McLaren, they produced 257 convertibles, 150 coupes and 30 special Grand Prix lV cars. The Grand Prix lVs had the 5.0 liter HO V8 w/ 5 speed, a spoiler and front air dam, and track worthy suspension upgrades.
10/06/2026 4:40 pm
Around 1985-86 a local Mercury dealer had them on their sales lot. I would go up on Sunday when they were closed and drool on the convertible.
Rich Sufficool reacted
10/06/2026 5:53 pm
@rich-sufficool I had the exact same problem with my 79 Mark V Rich. To change the module I had to take the left front tire off to get to the screws that held it on to the inner fender panel.
10/06/2026 5:57 pm
Truly a forgettable Mustang IMO. Always wondered why Ford had to go outside to find performance when they had a house full of engineers.
This post was modified 20 hours ago by Bob Jackman
Topic starter
10/06/2026 6:29 pm
@bob-jackman When it happened on the road, I just unplugged the old and plugged in the new and let it dangle. Although it seemed to me that I unscrewed it from the inner fender because I don't remember being any big deal.
This post was modified 19 hours ago by Rich Sufficool