SV-OHHHHHHH

Saying that Mitch Ring is a Mustang fanatic would be a huge understatement, between him and his father they own some of the most iconic Mustangs to ever come off the production line. While they own Shelby Cobras, Mach 1s, GT350s and GT500s I decided to highlight one of the forgotten, and more affordable Mustangs, the SVO. SVO stands for Special Vehicle Operations Department and was tasked with creating an American car that competed with the entry level European sports cars. Taking cues from the European market with both the styling and handling, it borrowed the idea less is more with a power plant inspired by the Japanese market.

Enter in Mitch’s 1986 SVO Mustang with the potent 200hp 2.3 turbo motor, you millennials heard that right, an old Mustang with a turbo 4 cylinder. Backed with a 5 speed, when you run it up through the gears the car chirps the tires in 1st and 2nd and pulls smoothly through 5th. With 9,835 of these built between 1984 and 1986 these cars would be the predecessor to the 5.0 Cobras that would set the world on fire in the late 80’s early 90’s. Mitch is the 2nd owner of the car and purchased it down in Georgia with around 60K original miles on it.

So why own a forgotten 4 cylinder Mustang when you already own a gorgeous SN95 Mach 1 Mustang and a GT350? Well Mitch loves all Mustangs and wanted to be a little different when he pulled up to a show, and when he pulls up with a turbo whine in a Fox Body Mustang with SVO badges, people notice. Mitch describes the driving experience as one of the most enjoyable of the fleet. The motor makes all the right noises both in and out of the throttle. With minimal upgrades limited to a down pipe, exhaust and air intake the car sounds like a mash up of an old school V6 and a big turbo Supra. At low RMP you get a small amount of turbo whine with the grunt from the exhaust however when you open it up and spool the turbo it turns the power band into a symphony inside and outside the car.

The small 4 cylinder is pushed behind the front axle for a factory hotrod trick to get the SVO to handle extremely well. With the factory Koni adjustable shocks and front suspension geometry modified, 15:1 steering ratio matched with a limited slip, 7.5” Traction-Lok axle and vented 4 wheel disc brakes the Mustang was a “spaceship for its time,” as Mitch put it. It’s worth noting this is the first time Konis showed up on a Mustang. I love the amazing period correct GT 5 lug 16x7-inch aluminum wheels which matted up with the Gatorback tires screams 80’s.

In true Ford fashion you could have any color interior as long as it was charcoal grey and Mitch’s sports the cloth version that has one of the coolest lumbar adjusters around. The adjustment is made through a hand pump located under the seat that resembles a blood pressure sleeve, and yes it works! All of the period correct items work in the car, cassette, power windows, A/C and a premium 1980s sound system…give me alllll the treble and no bass please! The exception to a totally typical 80s interior filled with lots of plastic, non of which was cracked or damaged, there is a little hidden button that changes the tune of the motor with a flick of a switch. The crude air metered system has two settings for unleaded and premium gas. The shifter and handle has been changed out from the Hurst to an MGW system and only enhances the driving experience.

The exterior is completely bone stock and has some quirky upgrades from the factory. The 3 headlights, unique front grill, hood, side moldings, rear wheel spats and that amazing biplane spoiler let you know this was a special Mustang. Mitch has replaced the front headlights which prompted us to go down the rabbit hole of hard to find items during the podcast. The black paint matched with the battleship grey accents round out, to me, the most appealing combo you could get this year.

Mitch thinks, and so do I, that the car drives like a $30K car and for a purchase price of $8500 I’d say these are a complete bargain. His wife jokingly refers to the car as “that piece of junk,” and next to some of the more modern Mustang icons it looks out of place. However in a world of GT500s there needs to be an SVO. The 80’s nostalgia runs deep in this vehicle and makes everyone look twice while you’re driving it and that’s what car guys are looking for…be like the SVO.

If you have any questions for Mitch or interested in any of his other cars you can find him on Facebook at Mitch Ring or on instagram @mud.eighty.six. If you don’t like social media you can always email the program and I can get some answers back for you!