See full 1981 ford Mustang data
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Other years : 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 [1981] 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Show some Ford Mustangs from 1981
Other 1981 Data Explorer Pages : [Mustang] Cobra

Body Styles (compare years, go back to 1981 summary information)

Coupe

Hatchback

The 1981 Mustang saw mainly refinements to its options list, as well as an over 20% increase in price across the board. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine was dropped, and a five-speed manual overdrive gearbox was offered. A Traction-Lok rear axle was new, as well as a T-roof, reclining bucket seats, and power windows.

As in 1980, the two main option packages included the Ghia and Cobra. This was the last year for the Cobra option package, priced in 1981 at $1,588. It came with 190/65R-390 TRX tires, forged metric aluminum wheels, an 8000rpm tachometer, two-tone paint, Cobra tape treatment, hood scoop, sport exhaust, dual black sport mirrors, black bumper guards, dual accent stripe body side moldings, and black moldings around the windows. A Cobra package taping delete option existed to save $65, but the special large Cobra hood decal was an additional $95 option.

A special sports package was offered which upgraded the engine and exhaust, added hatchback louvers or a rag carriage coup top, and included blackout treatment. An economically priced "S" model coupe package came with limited trim options. Two-tone paint options continued but most required a black lower color except for Medium Pewter over Light Pewter, Red over White, and White over Bittersweet.

Grille Styles (compare years)

1981 Grille

Rear Styles (compare years)

1981 Rear View

Special Models (compare years)

Mustang S
The 1981 Mustang S was an economy sedan model which offered all the fuel savings options with a less than base Mustang price of $5,897 where the base 2 door regular sedan was $6,363. We think this means the model came with the 88hp 2.3L 4-cylinder engine. It probably was based on the base level 1980 Mustang sedan which was priced very similarly. If anyone has any information, let us know.

Mustang Ghia
The 1981 Ghia included many luxury items including black remote control side mirrors, body side pin striping, turbine style wheels, low back reclining seats with adjustable head rests and deluxe seat belts with tension eliminators, luxury level cut-pile carpet, and extra convenience lighting (map, dome, glove box, ash tray, engine).

Mustang Cobra
The 1981 Mustang Cobra continued to be the only sports model for the Mustang with blacked out side mirrors and interior trim accents, rear facing hood scoop, 1979 Mustang pace car front end and rear spoiler, TRX wheels, added to the standard 2.3L twin turbo 4-cylinder engine connected to sport tuned exhaust. Upgrades included the 4.2L V8 engine. A Cobra package taping delete option existed to save $65 but the special, large Cobra hood decal was an additional $95 option. Although the Cobra came only in a hatchback, a sports package was also available for the hatchback or coupe which included engine upgrades, blacked out treatment, sport wheels, rear window louvers on the hatchback and convertible looking carriage roof for the coupe. See our 1981 Cobra Data Explorer for more information.

Other Special Models
Other special models include the 1979-82 IMSA Mustang Race Car. In our book there is the 1981 Intermeccanica Mustang Cabrio.

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Other years : 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 [1981] 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25