Despite my "Tech Editor" title and hard-core passion for late-model Mustangs, I can't...no, I won't say that "I know everything there is to know" about '79-'10 'Stangs.
Like anybody, I certainly may have opinions about 'Stang-related stuff, and a more-than-decent amount of genuine "knowledge," firsthand and acquired through others, but I honestly doubt I'll ever wear the pocket protector (overstuffed with pens, of course) of a Late-Model Mustang Super Melvin. I ran into a situation last night that calls for one.
I met Chris Howard and his family recently at a Los Angeles-area Mustang show. Chris recognized me as "the guy from the magazine," and after checking out his super-clean '08 Shelby GT500, Chris asked me if I knew of any way to confirm the authenticity of a Fox-body 'Stang he has in the garage, that he believes may be a '92 SAAC MK II Mustang GT.
Now, for all you knee-jerkers who are saying, "look at the dash badge, the seats, unique wheels" and all the other interior/exterior pieces that are exclusive to the ultra-rare SAAC 'Stangs (as I did), you have to understand that Chris acquired the car as a theft recovery and the State of New York removed every VIN badge and sticker before retitling the car as "salvage."
While all of the vital interior bits were long gone (with the exception of the steering wheel, which has a small SAAC badge in the lower-right corner of the airbag cover, and a really cool, leather-wrapped, 4-point roll bar), and Chris had to put Cobra R wheels on the car just so he can drive it, the 'Stang does have correctly placed SAAClike treatments that really lead one to believe it's the real deal.
The car strippers did a number on this Mustang, but they apparently didn't have time to remove the drivetrain and some pieces that are (as far as I know and could find out) very exclusive to SAAC GTs. The engine is 100 percent intact (and runs as smooth as glass, by the way) and has the correct intake plenum cover, valve covers and all-important, numbered oil-filler cap.
The exterior is white with the blue-stripes layout of SAAC Mustangs, and the front fascia is equipped with screened-off ducts for brake cooling, as well as an oval-shaped "SAAC" badge in the same place that Ford "blue-oval" badges sit on stock GT 'Stangs.
Underneath the car, is a 5-lug front/rear suspension w/disc brakes, with Koni shocks and blue coil springs that are marked "SAAC."
I was stumped. The 'Stangbanger in me truly wants Chris' '92 to be "real," but I just don't know of any way to tell, especially since there is no VIN info that will help determine original sale data, etc. If it isn't a real SAAC MK II (#12 in this case), it's really amazing how someone apparently went through a LOT of effort (SAAC-marked coil springs, #12-marked oil-filler cap, SAAC-embossed valve covers) to make a clone, or didn't hold much regard for its uniqueness and added such items as "snake" fender badges and a reverse-style faux scoop (which is more like just a bump) in the hood.
What do you think, Melvins? Does Chris have the real thing, or is it a fugayzie?! Either way, I think there's a ProCharger in this Mustang's future!