What's missing from the new Fords

We all have deferent memories of things, over time The first Ford, or any car for that matter, that had seat belts was the all new 1955 Ford. Belts came as part of the optional $150 'Safety Package,' that included a padded dashboard cover, a 'deep dish' steering wheel and 'break away' rear view mirror. The all new 55 was the first car we designed to force the engine and tranny under the car, in a severe collision, to help absurd the forces of the collision.

mike

At least my beliefs are based on fact. You seem to just make stuff up and when confronted with actual facts go off on some tangent.

I never said Falcon and Fairlanes used the "same" chassis. I said the Fairlane was a derivative of the Falcon chassis. Some parts were shared, many were not. The basic layouts and suspension designs were the same.

Do you spend all day making up BS? There never was a separate "Sable" plant. The Taurus and Sable were always made at the same plants (Chicago and Atlanta).

There are no Fox body cars of "today." The prior version Mustang was developed from the original Fairmont chassis, but by 1999 model nothing much was carried over except the basic layout and suspension designs.

Not surprising since they have different wheelbases. And actually there is not jsut one Town Car chassis - don't forget the "L" version (see

. How about the special long wheel base Crown Victoria (6 inches longer)? If you don't know what I am talking about go to

You are wrong about the Town Car having a wider "beam." Excluding mirrors, a TC and a CV are the same width. The GM, CV, and TC are all derivatives of the original Panther chassis design (with significant refinements over the years). There are a number of different chassis with wheel bases of 114.7",

117.7", 120.7", and 123.7".

Quit posting this BS about the current Mustang being on the same chassis as the LS or Thunderbird. According to Ford the only thing shared was a single stamping. They have completely different front and rear suspension. If you want to say the engineers (clearly you were not involved) that worked on the LS also worked on the Mustang, I can buy that, but claiming anything beyond a remote relationship is total hyperbole. It is not reasonable to claim cars share a chassis if they use completely different suspensions, drivetrains, etc. Thunderbird and LS - SLA independent suspension front and rear - Mustang - Strut type suspension in the front, solid rear axle in the rear. You were hitting on me for claiming Falcons and Fairlanes were related, yet they at least used the same suspension design (front SLA with springs over the upper A arm, and leaf spring hung solid rear axles).

And your source of information is? Everything I read says Ford may keep the CV going as a fleet only vehicle for a few more years (primarily for the Police and Taxi markets).

Ed

Geeze, I know Reagan had Alzheimer's, but he was still President until

1989. While Clinton was elected in 1988, he didn't take office until 1989. Just like Bush's successor won't take office until 2009.

When did Ford abandon rear-wheel drive cars? Oops, they didn't.

Can GM makes some crossovers with RWD, like the Caddy SRX. And they still make a RWD Caprice, but in Australia.

Jeff

Jeff

You want to think about that for a minute or two, then post a correction? ;-)

You're right. It was President Bush's father, President Bush who was elected in 1988 and took office in 1989.

Jeff

Of course you are right - I guess Imust have Alzheimers. However, the point is valid. GM made large RWD cars well before and well after Regean was President. Mike made it sound like Regan somehow made it possible for manufacturers to build large RWD vehicles when that clearly was not the case.

I didn't say they did. I was just pointing out to Mike that GM didn't either until after Regean was long out of office.

But they aren't the same as the US Caprice. They look like some sort of weird cross between a Oldsmobile Cutlass and a Buick Century. According to your reference they are stretched Holden Commodores, which are based on the Opel Omega. Ford still make Falcons in Australia too - but they are nothing like the old US Falcons.

Ed

Your are free to believe what ever you chose. The wider beam refers to the distance between frame rails not the overall body width of the vehicle.

The last T-Bird and the 05 Mustang are indeed based on the same chassis used on the LS and the Jaguar, wheel base, suspensions parts do not need be the same. Does the Jaguar have the same suspension, engine and tranny as the LS? Front modules and wheel bases can be changed but the chassis hard points remain. The LWB T-Car is the same chassis, albeit several inches longer. Do a search and you will discover not all Mustangs, running around today have solid rear axles for instance. Independent rears can be simply bolted on and axles upgraded to take the torque

Who said current model must go away when the newer cars come to market? Escort and Taurus were built for several year after the new chassis cars come to market, as well.

Both plants originally built both cars but when Taurus sales grew, the later versions were only made in Hapeville. When Taurus sales slackened Ford closed the second plant and move Sable to Hapeville and that is what I said.

As to the accuracy of what I posted about new models, that will become self evident when the AWD cars actually come to market over the next few years. I'm wasting time trying to enlighten you are the subject of chassis, you just like to nit pick out parts of a post with which to argue, it appears

mike

He will! Our friend Jeff OK but has a tendency to comment on every post, even on subjects of which he has little knowledge, because he likes to be heard. But like all of us on occasion he does not have all his ducks lined up correctly on subjects on which he does have sufficient knowledge, because he like to be heard on most every subject. However if others have a brain freeze he will call you nasty manes ;)

mike

See I told ya he was OK ;)

mike

PURE CRAP. You should be ashamed to keep repeating this when anyone that bothers to look knows it is not true.

I never made any comments about the LS vs Jaguar XJ. The current Mustang does not use the same hard points as the discontinued LS and Thunderbuird. You keep spouting this crap. You claim to have owned both an LS and a late model Mustang - go look! I had a Thunderbird and have a Mustang. I looked under both, there are no common points . You are repeating some old BS dished out a few years ago when Ford was evaluating using the DEW platform for the new Mustang. Ford started with using the DEW paltform for the Mustang as a target, but by the time they were through there is nothing significant left. If you are too stubborn to recognize this, then there is not much more that I can say. Maybe you would believe the Wikkipedia explantion? See

. From that reference: "DEW (or DEW98) is Ford Motor Company's midsize rear wheel drive automobile platform. The D/E nomenclature was meant to express an intermediate size between D and E class vehicles, while the W denoted a worldwide platform. The platform was developed by both Ford and Jaguar engineers, and debuted in the Lincoln LS sedan.

"A less-expensive variant known as DEW Lite was originally to be used for the 2005 Ford Mustang, but the platform was significantly redesigned to become the Ford D2C platform instead."

And from

: "The D2C (for "D-class 2-door coupe" and also known as DC2 and S197) is Ford's newest global rear-wheel drive automobile platform. The platform basics are a MacPherson strut suspension in front and 3-link solid axle in the rear with a Panhard rod. The 2007 high performance Special Vehicle Team (SVT) Mustang variation, called the Shelby GT500, will not include an SVT-designed independent rear suspension, but will also have the solid rear axle. Engines include a 4.0 L V6, Ford's Modular 4.6 L V8, and a supercharged 5.4 L Modular V8 in the GT500.

"Considered a new platform by Ford Motor Company D2C is loosely based on the Ford DEW platform which served as the basis for the Lincoln LS, Ford Thunderbird, and Jaguar S-Type. The 2005 S197 Mustang was originally designed to use a "Lite" version of the DEW98 platform, but while that plan was eventually scrapped as too expensive, most D2C platform development completed prior to that decision was retained. This led to the carryover of several DEW98 chassis components. These components include the floor pans, portions of the transmission tunnel, the front frame rails, and basic fuel tank design.

"Differences between D2C and DEW98 are most noticeable in the suspension: The DEW98-based Lincoln LS uses a 4-wheel independent double wishbone suspension. The D2C platform's MacPherson strut front suspension and solid axle rear suspension are less expensive to produce than DEW's more complicated setup. D2C also shares components with other Ford platforms. These include Ford's global C1 platform, with which D2C shares front strut and rear trailing arm components."

Or how about this article from Ward;s Auto World? From

: Ward's Auto World, March 1, 2004 by Alisa Priddle

Byline: Alisa Priddle

"Inner debates? How about fights, laughs Phil Martens as he describes the reaction in Ford Motor Co.'s inner sanctums when the decision was made early in the design of the '05 Mustang to abandon the DEW platform for an all-new architecture.

"Engineers were not far into the program when it became evident the expensive DEW98 platform (Lincoln LS, Ford Thunderbird, Jaguar S-Type) would not provide Mustang with the range and cost-effectiveness needed, says Martens, Ford group vice president-North America product creation.

"This was, after all, the first all-new Mustang Ford was attempting since 1979, in a segment reduced to a couple players when Chevrolet Camaro/Pontiac Firebird ceased production in August 2002.

"Controversial as the decision was internally, Martens has no regrets today.

"The new architecture developed for the Mustang represents a savings of 30%-35% (for the V-8) compared with what it would have cost to build the newest pony car off the DEW architecture, he tells Ward's.

"And the entry-level V-6, with a solid rear axle and desired pricepoint under $20,000, was close to impossible from a platform with an expensive double-wishbone front suspension and independent rear suspension.

"The LS (DEW) platform was built with a different cost structure and a different performance level and didn't have the accommodation that a traditional Mustang product has," says Martens of the complicated family with about nine variants planned, from the base coupe to a high-end $60,000 Cobra R."

Surely that article should set you straight. The mis-information about the Mustang and DEW paltform needs to stop.

You can't buy a current Mustang with IRS. The previous style (pre

2004) Mustang Cobra models included IRS. But that IRS was designed specifically to bolt in place of the solid rear axle. The same thing could be done for the current Mustangs, but it has not been done yet. And I am certain that you can't bolt the IRS from a Thunderbird or Lincoln LS under a 2005+ Mustang without doing a lot of hacking and welding.

Ed

READ what you posted, it is exactly what I have been trying to tell you, but of course you are free to believe what ever you chose.

mike

"Considered a new platform by Ford Motor Company D2C (the chassis on which '05 to '07 Mustangs are assembled) (CE) is loosely based on the Ford DEW platform which served as the BASIS (CE) for the Lincoln LS, Ford Thunderbird, and Jaguar S-Type.

Quit try "The last T-Bird and the 05 Mustang are indeed based on the same chassis used on the LS and the Jaguar, wheel base, suspensions parts do not need be the same. Does the Jaguar have the same suspension, engine and tranny as the LS? Front modules and wheel bases can be changed but the chassis hard points remain. The LWB T-Car is the same chassis, albeit several inches longer. Do a search and you will discover not all Mustangs, running around today have solid rear axles for instance. Independent rears can be simply bolted on and axles upgraded to take the torque"

Clearly you were trying to claim that the chassis were closely related (as in "same chassis"). And just as clearly they are not. Read again the quote from the Ward's article - "How about fights, laughs Phil Martens as he describes the reaction in Ford Motor Co.'s inner sanctums when the decision was made early in the design of the '05 Mustang to abandon the DEW platform for an all-new architecture." Notice the words - "all new architecture." Go back and review your many erroneous claims on this subject and tell me you weren't flat wrong. Here are a few:

10/25/2007 - "The last T-Bird and the 05 Mustang are indeed based on the same chassis used on the LS and the Jaguar" 10/24/2007 - "That chassis, was used on the Jaguar, the last T-Bird and still today on the Mustang" 10/25/2006 - "built on the same basic chassis the Jaguar 'S,' T-Bird and the 2005 Mustang" 12/28/2005 - " own a 2005 Mustang GT convertible that is build on version of the Jag/T-Bird/Lincoln LS chassis."

Your previous statement make it clear you were claiming that the current Mustang was built on a chassis closely related to the LS and Thunderbird. Phil Marten's quote makes it clear it is not.

Thanks for goving me premission to believe the truth. You don't have my permission to keep spouting BS.

Ed

I am going to break my response to your flood of misinformation in to two separate replies - one for the Mustang chassis and one for the Town Car Chassis.

The Town Car Chassis issue is easily settled. Go to

and down load the two PDFs - one for the Lincoln Town Car Chassis and one for the Ford Crown Victoria Chassis. Every single width dimension listed for the two chassis are the same. So to review - the overall body widths are the same and the chassis widths are the same. And you claim is? Ed

What is clear is YOUR BS. You have been saying all along the 05 Mustang was not based on the LS chassis, but rather an unrelated new chassis because the suspension is different.

What you posted herein proves my point that "The last T-Bird and the 05 Mustang are indeed based on the same chassis used on the LS and the Jaguar" .

The reason manufacturer use previously NHTSA approved chassis is the high cost of certifying all new chassis

Thanks for giving me permission to speak the truth. You do have my permission to keep spouting you BS personal opinion if you chose ;)

mike

Mike you are incorrect. Read again what the Ford project manager said.

It is more than just the suspension that is different. Why don't you list what is the same - errrrr one stamping maybe?

Go back and read what I actually said instead of trying to twist the fact to cover up your false assertions, I have been trying to correct your misinformation on this subject for almost 3 years. despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary you keep saying things like " The Lincoln LS, T-Bird and a Jag are all built on the same chassis as is the 2005 Mustang."

Here is part of my June 19, 2004 reply to some of your incorrect claims:

"I can only assume you are basing this whole argument on the early press articles that said the new Mustang would be based on the DEW platform. This never happened. I am sure Ford used a lot of the same development techniques and construction techniques and maybe even "morphed" parts of the DEW platform to create the new Mustang, but the cars don't share any major structural or suspension components. It is simply wrong to try to claim the Mustang is a version of the DEW platform. If you want to say it was "developed from" or "distantly related to", then I cannot argue with you. But saying "The Lincoln LS, T-Bird and a Jag are all built on the same chassis as is the 2005 Mustang" is just an incredibly imprecise statement."

In January of 2004 when you claimed "The 2005 Mustang is in fact built on the Jag/LS/T-Bird chassis." I responded with multiple credible references that refuted this claim:

From

- "The new chassis, known internally as S197, borrows elements from across Ford's global brand portfolio but is less derivative of any specific model than previous generations. Overall, about 30 percent of the new platform's content is shared with other Ford vehicles--mostly things like fasteners (shared with the Mazda 6 built at the same Flat Rock, Michigan, assembly plant where the Mustang will be built), door hinges, and environmental controls.

"While some have suggested it resembles the current Lincoln LS, the base V-6 and GT models will not share that platform's independent rear suspension (IRS). Instead, the initial models in the lineup will debut with a conventional 8.8-inch rear axle suspended by coil springs and two lower control arms, a differential-mounted torque link, and a Panhard bar.

"The new Mustang's front suspension consists of cast-aluminum, rear-facing, L-shaped lower control arms with true coilover MacPherson struts. We're told the chassis has been designed with IRS in mind, and future IRS-equipped models are in the works, most likely in a future SVT-produced Cobra version. One major enhancement of this front suspension is the better location of the front roll center, which on the current platform is about 35mm above the ground at stock ride height and typically goes below ground level when the car is lowered even an inch or two, creating a variety of ill-handling characteristics. The new geometry places the front roll center 55 mm above the ground, and its location is far less subject to change as the suspension cycles than the old design. This is good news for handling fans and will allow the aftermarket far greater leeway in designing suspension components to enhance what already promises to be a far better handling car than the current version."

From

- "A new-from-the-ground-up chassis and careful attention to vehicle dynamics give the all-new Mustang world-class ride and handling...... ....

"Engineers carefully examined the BMW M3, a car believed by many to deliver just such qualities, before they laid out the Mustang's suspension. They used lessons learned from the M3 and the Lincoln LS to create the new Mustang's chassis design."

From an April 2005 reply to more of your incorrect claims:

".... I don't understand why you continue to ignore the copious references that refute your claim. At some point did Ford consider using the DEW platform for the new Mustang? - yes! Does the new Mustang share some basic dimension with the LS? - no (neither wheelbase nor track, although the wheelbase is almost the same as a Thunderbird). Are some parts shared? - yes (but that is true of most Ford products). Are the "hard points" shared - no (the Mustang has different rear suspension mounting points and a completely different front structure). Is the suspension design shared (even the basic design) - No. Using your logic, we might as well claim the new Mustang is a variation of the Model A- after all, both have four wheel on the ground.

"I don't doubt that when the initial layouts were done the LS chassis was a starting point. However, by the time the Mustang became a reality almost nothing of the LS design is left. From the articles available, it appears the Mustang shares one piece of the floor pan with the LS, although I suspect even this is a variation made off of the tooling and not the same physical part. "

I particularly hate the way you keep trying to weasel out of admitting that you are flat wrong by trying to broaden the definition of a chassis. For the LS and the Mustang to share a chassis, they need to share something more than one stamping. They don't share basic dimensions, or subframes, or mounting points, or types of suspension, or even engine choices. I would have thought that Phil Martens quote (".... the decision was made early in the design of the '05 Mustang to abandon the DEW platform for an all-new architecture.") would have finally made you see the light. I guess I was wrong. Apparently you are willing to go to any lengths to try and claim you are right, even if it is painfully obvious you don't have a clue about the facts.

Regards,

Ed White

You keep going around in circles. You problem continues to be that you do not know what a chassis is, fasteners door hinges, and environmental controls, are NOT part of the chassis any more than are the engine trannys or suspension parts.

The DEW indeed was the "part that was morphed," as you call it to create the new Mustang just as it was "morphed" to create the Jag and the T-Bird. I agreed the FOUR different cars do share all of the suspension components. Nor do they share the same engines or trannys as I have stated, as well. It is simply wrong to try to claim the current Mustang is NOT a version of the DEW platform and that is what you continue to want to do, yet contend the LS, and the "morphed" Jag and the T-Bird are exactly the same chassis, that is a ridiculous opinion..

Mike

Define chassis. Clearly the Mustang and Lincoln LS don't share anything that can remotely be called a chassis. Everything in front of the passenger compartment is completely different and everything behind the firewall is completely different. Possibly a couple of stampings that form the footwheels are similar but nothing else. Different wheelbases, different track widths, different suspension typees, etc. What is left to make them the same, or even similar?

I have never claimed that the Jag and T-Bird are exactly the same chassis.

I don't have access to the Jaguar parts catalog so I can't comment on it, but the 2002+ Ford Thunderbird and Lincoln LS do share many actual suspension parts (the actual parts). The Mustang doesn't share a single suspension part - not one.

I have given you multiple credible references that refute your claim that the current Mustang is a version of the DEW platform. Instead of just thumping your chest and repeating the same misinformation - educate me - what makes the Mustang a member of the DEW family? The Mustang and the DEW family don't share anything beyond possibly a couple of stampings. If a member of a platform family doesn't at least include the same type of suspension, what does define a platform? What makes the Mustang a member of the DEW family and not related to the Dodge Charger? I want specifics, not just the sort of vague BS you like to toss out. I am sure with your 30+ years of automotive experience you can sight a few important (significant) features that relate the Mustang to the Lincoln LS.

I assume you will agree that the Jaguar S type, Lincoln LS, and 2002+ Ford Thunderbird all shared the same type of suspension, and many of the parts are directly interchangeable. The Lincoln LS and Thunderbird engine compartments are the same size and have the same subframe mounting points (I assume the S Type does as well, but I've never had one of those side by side with my Thunderbird). The Thunderbird and LS have the same rear suspension (parts are interchangeable except for springs, shocks and parking brake mechanism). Now what does the current Mustang share with either the LS or Thunderbird........possibly a metal stamping at the front of the passenger compartment that forms the footwell and transmission tunnel entry (and I am not even sure about that - they don't actually look the same). They completely different suspensions - not just parts, but actual design, different front subframe mounting points, different rear suspension mounting points (the Lincoln LS and Thunderbird have the primary independent rear suspension components mounted on a subframe - the Mustang has hard points for the solid rear axle suspension formed in the unit body and they aren't remotely in the same places as the LS subframe mounting points), different drive trains - in particular the Modular V-8s require a much wider engine compartment than the one provided in the Lincoln LS.

You are just wrong. I don't know why you can't admit it. It is a shame you can't.

Ed

This little paragraph bothered me since I first read it. This was especially true since I owned a 1986 Sable that was built at the Atlanta plant. I reviewed the documents available on Ford's Atlanta plant and once again it seems you are making stuff up.

Read the following references:

From: Automotive News, 02-MAY-05 by Domby, Debi

"The final Mercury Sable rolled off the assembly line on Friday, April 29, at Ford Motor Co.'s Atlanta assembly plant. Sable production began in October 1985. The car also was built at Ford's Chicago assembly plant until last summer. In nearly 20 years, 2,118,000 Sables have..."

From

: "A total of 243,842 cars were produced at AAP in 1999. Employees built

188,966 Ford Taurus cars, 2,247 Ford Taurus SHO cars and 52,629 Mercury Sable cars. Production of the Taurus SHO was discontinued in June 1999."

From

: "The Atlanta Assembly plant was opened on December 1, 1947. [2]. Products: - 1983-1985 Ford LTD - 1983-1985 Mercury Marquis - 1986-2007 Ford Taurus - 1986-2005 Mercury Sable

From

: "End of Ford Taurus closes era .... "The end of Taurus production robs Ford's Atlanta assembly plant of its last product. Production of the Mercury Sable, a Taurus twin, ends this month -- and no new product has been earmarked for the plant, which opened in 1947 and employs nearly 2,000 hourly workers." ....

From

"Mercury to drop Sable next spring.

"By: Wilson, Amy. Automotive News, 12/6/2004, Vol. 79 Issue 6124, p8-8

"The article reports that Mercury will discontinue its long-suffering Sable sedan after the 2005 model year. Production of the Sable at Ford Motor Co.'s Atlanta assembly plant is expected to end in April, according to an internal company document."

Go look at

- this is a 1992 Sable. The VIN number is 1mecm5346na600440 . Notice the "a" in position 11. This indicates the car was built in Atlanta. Now explain your claim that "the Hapeville plant near Atlanta.......had to be modified from building just the Taurus and to start building Sables as well, when Ford closed the Sable plant."

Where is the "Sable plant." How did I buy a Sable in early 1986 built in Atlanta? Why do you keep making stuff up?

Ed

i have problem with our local ford/mercury dealer. i went there in my old grande marquis. wanted one a year or two old,green. they pushed me on everything but . i was going to pay cash,they pushed me into ford credit. the old guy there i used to deal with died. i know its just these younger guys not listening.still drivin my old g/m.. lucas