[Jeff Pozorski]

I happened to take a long road trip today and noticed something I hadn't noticed before and that leads me to present the following quiz:

What does the new '05 Mustang share with our classic GT's and Manta's? Hint #1: only the Corvette shares this rather unique thing. No other modern car (in the past 15 years or so) shares this thing. I am not counting exotic foreign cars, only those cars widely sold in the United States.
Hint #2: It is most noticible from the rear but can be seen in profile also.

Good Luck!

 

[Fly Boy]

I have not looked at the 05 Mustang that closely but if I had to guess I would say: Round Tail Lights? My second choice would be a rear deck gas filler. The more recent C-5's and C-6's are side fill though.

Don

 

[baz]

GT badges ? not easy to guess when we dont get them

the 05 is side fill too

other than that first car from the states with style and good looks in 15 years

 

[bq97]

All Mustangs have rectangular tail lights. On the 2005 the gas filler is on the left rear quarter panel not the rear panel. Only 1st generation Mustangs, 1965 thru 1973, have the gas filler in the rear panel beneath the trunk lid.

Brian

 

[manta73wi]

Hmmm...could it be the styling of the rear roofline? Seems to me the way the c pillar & back window slope down and is set "in" from the fenders forming a lttle fastback kinda roofline is similar between the Manta, GT, and that nifty '05 Mustang.

BTW Jeff P, I hope the last GMO meeting went well. Sorry to have missed it, but we did have fun with the VW's in Illinois. Seeya!

Jeff W
73 & 75 Manta

 

[Jeff Pozorski]

Everyone is so close yet not quite there. Hint #3: it has nothing to do with the shape of the tail lights themselves.

 

[bear]

Methinks it is an easy question Jeff. They all have individual singular lites in the rear vice one large lite assembly.

 

[Opelmn70]

Could it be that the backup lights are in the taillight assembly like the 73 GT and the Manta?
Gerry

 

[flipper]

I went and looked at the new mustang a few months ago, and one of the things I noticed was the "revolutionary rear suspension". Look at it next time you see on, it is almost an exact copy of the opel gt minus the torque tube. Springs on the outside, panhard rod and all. They claim it is a "new live axle design".

 

[LeftLaneGuy]

Umm.. Methinks it's the "kamm-tail".... Alex?

-Dave in NOLA

 

[ging]

Everyone is so close yet not quite there. Hint #3: it has nothing to do with the shape of the tail lights themselves.

So are you saying (hint,hint) that it is the lights in some way? They don't wrap around the side of the car like so many do these days.

 

[simplemind7]

i do believe i have it... flat rear panel?

 

[Jeff Pozorski]

We have a winner!!!!

Ron, you were very close but GING got it 100%.

The '05 Mustang, the Corvette, our GT & Manta are the only cars whose tail lights/brake lights don't wrap around the corners of the rear of the car. These 4 models have their lights totally surrounded by the rear sheet metal and do not wrap around into the rear quarter panels. I was very surprised at how rare this is nowadays when I started looking at all the other cars on the freeway after driving behind a new Mustang and admiring how they did the rear lights. Our beloved Opels share this rare item with some pretty classy company
Next time you are out driving check out the other cars, and trucks. You will be amazed as I was at how rare this setup is on todays modern cars.

 

[simplemind7]

wow, i never noticed... kinda makes me want to go driving just to look at the back of random cars

 

[jlthunder]

If you notice, wrap around lights, front and back are on 99% of the cars now days. It is cheaper and faster for the manufacturer to make one lens to serve dual purposes. To cut corners further, some cars use the same bulb for front and side lights. My Wife's Honda Civics(squished 99 and replacement 05 model) uses the same bulb for the front and side marker lights. The current model Impala does the same thing.

I know, I know. I have too much time on my hands but I didn't start this thread.

 

[ging]

Woooohoooo!!

 

[bozkm]

Very true that the GT and Manta share this characteristic, but when I was was looking for the answer... I was looking for GT/Manta specific...most cars in the 70s were like this..Pinto, skylark, chevette, my 77 sunbird to name a few...but it is nice to see the newer cars coming back to basics.....

 

[Jeff Pozorski]

Very true that the GT and Manta share this characteristic, but when I was was looking for the answer... I was looking for GT/Manta specific...most cars in the 70s were like this..Pinto, skylark, chevette, my 77 sunbird to name a few...but it is nice to see the newer cars coming back to basics.....

That is exactly it! Most cars back then were like this. In the present there are only 2 models that currently have there lights like ours. It is something you don't see anymore that 25 years ago was everywhere.

 

[jlthunder]

I found 2 more. All Hummers and the Toyota Rav 4

 

[jordan]

caprice classics as well do not have wrap around tail lights.