The Mustang received a cleaner front fascia in 1985. The egg-crate front grille was replaced by a nose that more closely resembled the clean look of the Mustang SVO. The headlights of the SVOs were changed mid-year in 1985 from being recessed to being flush with the corner lights. Horsepower in the SVO was also changed mid-year, from 175 to 205 horsepower.

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Twister Special, Ford produced 90 Twister II Mustangs.

The four-barrel 5.0L V-8 was upgraded for 1985.  Ford added 35 additional HP for the 1985 GT 4V 5.0L - pushing it up to 210 horsepower.  A number of enhancements were made to the 302 HO (still topped by the 600 cfm Holley 4V with dual snorkel 460 air cleaner) including the addition of a hydraulic roller lifter camshaft, stainless steel tubular exhaust manifolds and forged 8.4:1 pistons (replacing sandcast pistons) with thinner, lightweight rings to further reduce friction.  Of course, these changes necessitated a revised block and heads to accept the taller roller lifters.  Exhaust restriction was reduced by splitting the exhaust pipe behind the catalytic converter and adding dual mufflers and tailpipes.  Automatic V8’s still only came with the lower performance 302 and throttle body fuel injection, even though horsepower was upgraded to 180 hp early in the model year.

The '85 utilized gas struts, variable rate springs and a rear quad shock arrangement.  The front anti-sway bar thickness increased to 1.3 inches from 1.125 inches and the rear anti-sway bar was bumped to 0.83 inches from 0.79 inches. In addition, new Goodyear P225/60VR15 uni-directional Gatorbacks were mounted on new 15x7 inch wheels to match the suspension to the powerful engine. The transmission gear ratios were improved with a 3.35:1 first gear (lower than the 2.95:1 gear of 1984) in the new “World Class” T-5 and a short-throw shifter helped quicken gear selection. Axle ratios in ‘85 were 2.73:1 (standard) and 3.08:1 (optional) for the 5-speed and 3.27:1 (standard - no options) for the AOD.

1985 Mustang Engine Codes

2.3L

1V

4-cyl

88 hp

A Code

2.3L

EFI

4-cyl

205 hp

SVO

W Code

3.8L

EFI

V-6

120 hp

3 Code

5.0L

EFI/4V

V-8

165/210 hp

HO

M Code

Vehicle Identification Numbers

1FA

Ford Motor Co.

B

Restraint System (B-Active belts)

P

Passenger car

27

Body code for convertible (26-Coupe, 28-Hatchback)

A

Engine code

6

Check digit which varies

F

Year (F-1985)

F

Plant (F-Dearborn)

1

Consecutive unit number

Example:

1FABP27A6FF000001

1985 Mustang Exterior Colors

1985 Mustang Interior Colors 

Color Code

Color Description

Color Code

Color Description

1C

Black

A

Charcoal

2A / 2C

Canyon Red

B

Regatta Blue

8Y 

Dark Sable

D

Canyon Red

2R

Jalapeno Red

Y

Sand Beige

1B

Medium Charcoal

N

White/Red (Convertible)

3Y

Medium Regatta Blue

Q

White/Blue (Convertible)

1U

Oxford Gray

W

White/Charcoal (Convertible)

9L

Oxford White

3V / 3M

Pastel Regatta Blue

 8L

Sand Beige

1E / 1F /1Q

Silver

1985 Mustang MSRP Prices

LX Coupe

$6,989

LX Convertible

$12,237

LX Hatchback

$7,509

GT Hatchback

$9,449

GT Convertible

$13,479

SVO Hatchback

$14,806

1985 Mustang Production

Coupe (LX Only)

56,781

Convertible (GT & LX)

15,110

Hatchback (GT & LX & SVO)

84,623

GT (Hatchback & Convertible)

42,428

GT Hatchback

36,879

GT Convertible

5,549

SVO (1985 & 1985.5)

1954

SVO (1985.5 only)

439

Total

156,514

1985 Twister II Mustang Production Numbers
(limited Kansas City DSO special edition)

5.0L 5-speed (T5 - 4v Carb.)

5.0L automatic (AOD - CFI)

Totals

Hatchbacks

74

2

76

Convertibles

9

5

14

Totals

83

7

90

Summary of Magazine Tests - 1985

Car

Magazine

0-60

Quarter mile

Braking, 60-0

Skidpad

1985 Hatchback

Motor Trend, Oct. '84

7.08

15.51 @ 89.7 mph

164 ft.

0.84 g

1985 Hatchback

Road & Track, Dec. '84

7.2

15.9 @ 91.0 mph

151 ft.

0.792 g

1985 Hatchback

Car & Driver, Jan. '85

6.4

14.9 @ 91 mph

N/A

0.79 g

1985 Mustang Transmission Specifications

Transmission

Ratios (1st / 2nd / 3rd / 4th / 5th / Rev)

Torque Capacity

Door Tag Code

5-speed T5 (E5ZR-7003-FA)

3.35 / 1.93 / 1.29 / 1.00 / .675 / 3.15

265

2

AOD (1984-1993)

2.40 / 1.47 / 1.00 / .667 / --- / 2.00

T

1985 Mustang Horsepower and Torque Ratings

Year & Engine

Trans

HP

TQ

Induction

Comp Ratio

1985 5.0L V8

T-5

210 @ 4400

270 @ 3200

4V

8.4:1

1985 5.0L V8

AOD

180 @ 4200

260 @ 2600

CFI

8.4:1

1985 Mustang Options and Prices

3.8L EFI (Standard on LX convertible)

$454

5.0L 4V HO V8 (Standard on GT) for LX convertible

$172

5.0L 4V HO V8 (Standard on GT) for LX hatchback or coupe

$1,020

5 speed manual transmission (standard on GT & SVO)

$124

AOD transmission for LX

$706

AOD transmission for GT

$582

Traction-Lock Axle

$100

Air Conditioning

$762

Console

$191

Electric Rear Window Defrost

$145

Tinted Glass

$115

Power Locks for LX

$215

Power Locks for GT

$181

Lower 2-Tone Paint

$116

Electronic AM/FM Stereo Cassette Radio

$300

Radio Delete

($148)

Premium Sound Package

$138

Sunroof

$315

T-Roof

$1,100

Speed Control

$176

Tilt Steering

$115

Power Windows for convertible

$282

Power Windows for coupe and hatchback

$207

Leather Articulated Sport Seats for LX convertible

$780

Leather Articulated Sport Seats for GT convertible

$415

Vinyl Seat Trim

$29

Leather Seat Trim for SVO

$189