Ford's Mustang has borne the "iconic" tag for several decades. Why? Because, from its introduction in 1964 to the recently announced 2024 S650 "Dark Horse," the Mustang has become one of the most popular U.S.-built sports cars of all time, with an enthusiast base that literally spans the globe and includes collectors of (often multiple) rare and, in most instances, pristine examples of "America's ponycar." Kenny and Marilyn Newcombe fit that particular profile to a T.
The couple's connection with 'Stangs is closing in on 60 years, started by a 1965 coupe owned by Marilyn's dad. The car literally was their ride to church every Sunday, back when they dated in high school, and their romance with each other and Mustangs has continued from that point to now. New Energy Training Platform
In the more than 30 years since purchasing their first Mustang, a 1965 convertible, the Newcombes have amassed a collection of 26 heated-garage-kept Fords, many of which are Mustangs, highlighted by four "Feature Car" 1990-1993 convertible Fox-bodies that are included in The Kenny and Marilyn Newcombe Mustang Collection, a 15-car No Reserve lot that surely will be one of the headliners at Mecum Auctions' 2023 season-opening bid in Kissimmee, Florida (January 4-15). The collection crosses the block on Thursday, January 12, 2023, and it can be seen (along with all of the bidding action from Mecum Auctions' opening event) on MotorTrend and MotorTrend+, starting at 12 p.m. Eastern. HOT ROD Senior Editor KJ Jones will also be on hand in Kissimmee. Look for KJ's vehicle-highlight reels on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and other social media.
To answer this question, let's start at the beginning and define the term "Fox-body" first. It's a 1979-1993 Ford vehicle (Mustang, Fairmont, Thunderbird/Mercury Capri, Zephyr, Cougar), powered by a 4-, 6-,or 8-cylinder engine, that uses the rear-wheel-drive, unibody chassis produced during the period. Though unofficial per Ford's platform nomenclature, "Fox-body" is the widely accepted, enthusiast-created (and media-manifested) term that is used to identify and describe the cars.
Related: 9 Reasons the Ford Fox-Body Mustang is America's Top Hot Rod
Several limited-edition Fox-body Mustangs were produced during the platform's 14-year run—cars like our own 1986 T-top LX coupe that we'll be resurrecting in the coming months, turbocharged SVO GTs (also of 1984 to 1986 vintage), one-year-only (1993) SVT Cobras, and a quartet of 5.0-liter, 225-horsepower/300 lb-ft of torque V-8-powered, monochrome/clear coat-painted (with the exception of black front-windshield and door/trunk trim until 1992, and a black cowl until 1993), Arctic White-leather-interior (until 1993, when optional black leather was offered), LX convertibles (Oxford White tops only until 1993, when optional black tops were offered) Fox-bodies produced from 1990 to 1993 that Ford called "Special Edition" and "Feature" cars (a trim tag with FEATURE stamped into it is located behind the driver-side headlight of every one that was built)," four of which highlight the Newcombes' collection.
Leading off the group of special 'Stangs is this 1990 LX, Lot T177.1. It's not necessarily the rarest Feature Car Ford produced (1993's Vibrant White model has that honor), but the limited-edition, Emerald Green exterior/Oxford White top/Arctic White leather interior 'vert has a big following. Thirty of these cars were intended to be promotional prizes sponsored by the 7-Up Bottling Company—yes, the makers of the popular carbonated beverage. When the program—a half-court-shot contest that would be held during the 1990 NCAA men's college basketball tournament—was scrubbed, Ford released the 7-Up cars as 25th Anniversary Special Editions to dealers for sale to the general public. A total of 4,103 7-Up cars were made, with four-speed automatic (AOD) or five-speed manual (T-5) transmissions, 15x7" four-lug aluminum "turbine" wheels, and 3.08-geared Traction-Lok rear axles rounding out their drivetrains.
The odometer on this 7-Up convertible currently reads 35,874 miles. It has only eight additional miles since it was purchased by the Newcombes in 2001. Since then, it has also represented 1990 Mustangs at the Mustang Club of America's 25th Anniversary Show in Commerce, Georgia, been displayed at the MCA Nationals and Grand Nationals in the Unrestored class, and, in June 2004, it received the Blue Grille Medallion.
The 7-Up Mustang is a Fox-fan favorite, but Kenny and Marilyn's Vibrant White 1993 LX convertible, Lot T176.1, is the undisputed holy grail for this run of special-edition 'Stangs. Although Vibrant White wasn't exclusive to Feature Cars, only 1,500 LX convertibles were made with the Vibrant White body/Oxford White top/Arctic White leather-interior (with running-pony embroidery in the headrests and floor mats) color setup in 1993. The car also had white, 16x7," four-lug, aluminum five-spoke wheels, for what would be the Fox platform's final year.
The Newcombe Mustang Collection's all-white Special Edition Fox-body has an AOD transmission and is driven on a limited basis. Only 1,220 original miles show on its odometer. And, per Kenny, the 'Stang is a fully documented (has all original sales and service paperwork) true trailer queen that, in addition to standard and optional components that are common or specific for all 1990-1993 feature-car Foxes (5.0-liter V-8 engine, leather-wrapped steering wheel, air-conditioning, remote mirrors, dual exhaust, power steering, etc. ), still sports its original Michelin XGT Z4 P225/55/ZR16 tires.
As a midyear model, technically, the Feature Car in Lot T176 is a 1992½ Mustang. Picking up where 7-Up left off in 1990, this automatic-transmission, Summer Edition 'Stang could only be had in Vibrant Red and, of course, with an Oxford White ragtop and Arctic White (with all-new black piping) leather interior. It also has 16x7" Opal Pearlescent White Superior aluminum five-spoke wheels. Added for 1992-and-subsequent convertible Fox-body Mustangs were a black inner-liner for the top, and a body-colored Aeroquip rear spoiler on the decklid, which replaced the black luggage-rack/spoiler combo.
The Summer Edition that Kenny and Marilyn are auctioning is Number 1,802 of the 2,193 that were built in the special configuration. They've owned the Pony since 1995, making the purchase after seeing it on a dealer's lot in Morrow, Georgia—ironically, while driving to a Mustang show at World of Wheels in Atlanta. This feature 'Stang has 17,570 miles.
Finally, Lot T177 is the most recent acquisition in Kenny and Marilyn's awesome collection of Feature Cars. Purchased in November 2020 from the original owner, this 15,822-mile 'Stang is one of only 1,503 Canary Yellow special-edition Fox-bodies that were built in 1993.
Unlike previous models in the Newcombe Mustang Collection, this car features a body-color cowl and rear spoiler, with a black convertible roof and leather interior treatments. It also has a T-5 five-speed manual transmission (that's right, it's a one-of-113 stick-shift 'Stang), and the 16x7" aluminum five-spoke wheels are chrome-plated, in lieu of paint.
If you're wondering about the Canary Yellow/Arctic White (interior) Feature Car, the Newcombes actually have one of those, too. And, although it is not of the same high stature as the four Fox-bodies featured in this report (probably due to its higher but still ridiculously low 66,200 miles), it's also included in their auction Lot T183.
Recall that we said the Kenny and Marilyn Newcombe Mustang Collection is 15-vehicles deep? In addition to the four Feature Car Fox-bodies, the cache of Fords features a 1966 Shelby GT350H fastback, an SVT Cobra of 1993 vintage, SN-95 and New Edge cars (1998 SVT Cobra, 2003 SVT Mach 1), and a first-generation 1993 F-150 Lightning, among other 1993 Foxes, and a 2006 Shelby GT-H.
Auto Repair Equipment Manufacturers On episode 66 of Roadkill, David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan head to Colorado Auto & Parts, a giant you-pull-it yard with heritage back to 1959—with a good stash of vintage cars that have been there for decades. One of them was a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 that had been melting into the ground since 1980. But 37 years of neglect are not daunting to Roadkill, so the guys figure out how to get it running and driving. First, they've got to deal with 37 years of raccoon poop, which is just part of bringing the Disgustang into the Roadkill fleet of project cars. Sign up for a free trial to MotorTrend+ and start watching every episode of Roadkill today!