1982 Ford Mustang vs Chevrolet Camaro Manufacturers Promo
Seldom does a new car arrive on the market more keenly anticipated than the new 1982 Chevrolet Camaro. Its predecessor, the second generation Camaro introduced in 1970, was an act that was tough to follow. Good enough to to eleven years with only minor changes, with handling and roadabiity that set new standard for U.S. cars back then.
During that 11-year span, though, a lot happened. Gasoline prices quadrupled, sending the entire spectrum of car sizes downward and leaving the compact-in-1970 Camaro very large by 1982 standards. European cars, thanks in part to their head start in adapting to expensive fuel, made inroads into American buying habits and tastes that would have been impossible to predict in 1970. The time had come for a new Camaro, and if it were to be a timely one, it would have to be more compact, lighter, more efficient, and perhaps even a bit more European in character.
Meanwhile, over at Ford the Mustang – after all, the car that kicked off the whole sporty-coupe phenomenon in America, had undergone two major character changes during the second gen Camaro’s lifespan, becoming lighter and smaller than the Chevrolet product. But it had also developed a rather anemic personality, one little altered by either an abortive attempt at turbocharging its basic 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine or the various V-8’s with which it could be ordered.
It made sense for Ford to give the Mustang a transfusion of power for 1982. For one thing, the new Camaro was coming, and it could be expected to be a formidable competitor for the sporty Ford. For another, Ford planners perceived that Americans may have been ready for a bit of fresh emphasis on performance after a lot of lean years at the mercy of strict emission regulations and fuel-economy pressures. So enter the Mustang GT 5.0, in which the familiar 5-liter (actually 4.9, or 302 cu in.) Ford V-8 made a return engagement in a form similar to one of the company’s marine applications. In 1981, the largest Mustang engine was the 4.2-liter V-8, mated exclusively to an automatic transmission; that combination continued for 1981, and the new 5-liter was available only with Ford’s 4-speed manual gearbox.
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