- Purpose of this FAQ
This is the "official" (because it's the only one) rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang USENET newsgroup FAQ. In this document you will find:
- guidelines for participation in the newsgroup
- general and technical information relating to Mustangs
- Mustang-related resources.
- Welcome to rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang
This is a place where Mustang owners come to seek and give
information about Mustangs, as well as a little bullshitting. Some of the regulars have been around here for a while and usually provide useful answers to questions. You will also find an occasional Mustang hater who will troll the newsgroup with Mustang & V8-bashing, probably the result of once or more of the following:
- They consistently getting beat by Mustangs in
street races, and since it's easier to bash
them in cyberspace than to beat them in real
life, they come here.
- They are insecure/unsure about themselves, so
to compensate for some other "shortcoming" in
their lives, they pass themselves off as a big
shot in cyberspace, but in reality, they're
losers.
- A major character flaw or just plain hasn't grown up yet.
Most of the good patrons who regularly frequent this newsgroup are not F-body haters, import haters, or Brand X haters. They just "prefer" their Mustangs over anything else. And, although this newgroup is not dedicated to any particular generation, it seems most of the regulars here are 3rd & 4th guys. So if you're new to the newsgroup and plan on sticking around for a while, why not post an introduction so everybody can get to know you? Now, come on in and join the fun!
- Netiquette
Thankfully, the First Amendment is still in effect on this
newsgroup, but that will only last until the governemnt
starts regulating it. Until then, remember that with
freedom comes responsibility. If you're a newbie to
USENET, then here are some basic guidelines:
- Please do not write in ALL CAPS. It is considered
shouting and rude, and people think you're a bonehead
- When replying to a post, be sure to quote relevant
parts so other readers will know what you're
talking about
- Delete irrelevant parts of a post you're replying
to to keep it readable and compact
- You can emphasize words by putting *asterisks*
around them. This is equivalent to boldface
- Read followups in a particular thread before
posting your own to avoid repitition
- Unless specifically asked for, do not send email
to the author of a post you're responding to
- If an unrelated debate gets cross-posted to rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang and you reply to it asking for rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang to be trimmed from the list, be sure to trim it yourself
first
- Posting binaries ticks off some people and they'll
give you some BS about "wasting bandwidth", so don't
make a habit of it
- There's more to life than how fast your car will go
- You do not have the quickest car on the street
- You are not *the* shit, relax
- Off-Topic Posts: Occasionally a thread will start and
take a few twists and turns and mutate into a discussion
having nothing to do with Mustangs. This isn't
neccissarily "good" netiquette, but neither is flaming
the posters for their off-topic discussion. It happens.
Just ride it out and it'll eventually dissappear.
Remember, this newsgroup is about Mustangs -- that means
Mustang-related discussion is *primary*, not exclusive.
So don't get your panties in a wad if you see an
off-topic post.
- Cross-Posts: If this newsgroup is involved in an
off-topic cross-posted thread, and you respond to it
asking them to trim out the inappropriate newsgroups,
make sure you do one thing before you hit the "send"
botton: remove rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang from the newsgroups list!
- Structure
This FAQ is a multi-part FAQ, broken into separate files for each generation, plus a separate file for generic info pertaining to all generations.
- Mustang History
Generations
The Mustang is currently divided into 4 generations,
depending on their model year. These are as follows:
Ford formally introduced the Mustang to the public on April 17, 1964 at the New York World's Fair. It was available as a coupe or convertible. Every model had bucket seats, vinyl trim, wheel covers and carpeting as standard features. But there were numerous options to choose from.
Mustangs produced during March 9, 1964 and ended August 17, 1964 were 1964½ models.
However, regarding the 1964½ to 1965 model-year changeover,
MrFomoco writes:
The August changeover date is hogwash. While there are several reliable methods for determining early vs late 1965 production, that's not one of them. Best to look for the production number, as each plant changed their series to a new starting point for the switch. Also, all 1965 engines used alternators, rather than the generators used in early cars.
- Glossary
- Resources
A. Websites
Mustang Circuit Homepage
The Mustang WebSite
B. Newsgroups
this one
If you find any of my links inoperable, please email