2004 Ford Ford GT

CONVERTIBLE 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Convertible

260-horse/4.6-liter SOHC V-8 Fuel Injection Cataly

Auto transmission

1FAFP45X34F177878

Clear

Gasoline

Car review: 260 horsepower, the 4.6-liter V-8 cranks out a healthy 302 lb.-ft. of torque, and 90 percent of that is on hand by 2,000 rpm. Once in motion, particularly in its preferred wind-in-the-hair mode, the GT ragtop really comes into its own element. It delivers up 0-60 mph times in the sub-7-second range. That's more than enough whack to keep things interesting and make any merging and passing chores low-stress undertakings. To help all of the motive force get used to its best advantage, Ford fits all GTs with a limited-slip differential and all-speed traction control. Stopping duties on this 3,479-pound sun-runner are ably handled by standard 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS. Despite it modest Fox-platform origins, the drop-top Mustang is remarkably capable when it comes to enthusiastic bouts of corner carving. Although skewed more toward compliance than razor-sharp responsiveness, Ford has fine-tuned its well-seasoned underpinnings, re-valving the shocks and adding polyurethane bushings in strategic places. At the core of the mix is a combination of modified front struts and a 4-link live axle. But like all GTs, the convertibles benefit from a standard stabilizer bar in the rear as well as the line-wide front unit. Opting for V-8 power also brings a horizontal rear axle damper, regardless of body configuration. Directional control is ably provided by a variable-power rack-and-pinion steering unit. One final element that deserves special mention is the wheel design. With 5-spoker rims cribbed from premium alloy it gives the car a truly classy and classic look. Wrapping them is a grippy set of 245/45ZR17 Goodyear Eagle ZR45 tires. Charging at full gallop through a favorite local canyon showed the GT convertible to be far more adept at steady-state cornering than radical transient maneuvers. Despite that fact, its overall balance coupled with the ability to throttle-steer it through tighter twisties adds genuine appeal to this package. While time has clearly put a bit of gray into its hindquarters, there's still life left in this aging war-horse. Unlike its GM counterparts (the Camaro and Firebird), the Mustang continues to make a return engagement with this 40th anniversary special-edition versions.