Collector Cars Archives - Sopwith Motorsports

2 YEAR REVIEW: Chassis Stiffeners for Fox Body Mustang

The Stephen Cox Blog is presented by National Parts Depot Fox body Mustangs (1979-93) have torque boxes for a reason. Ford’s sloppy Fox platform literally twists under acceleration and with every turn the driver makes. This “chassis flex” (technically the Fox Mustang is a unit body platform but you get the idea) robs the Fox Mustang of cornering power and good handling characteristics. For the uninitiated, torque boxes on the Fox are located just ahead of the rear wheel wells. They are square, as opposed to the tubular torque systems on some others vehicles, and are frequently found cracked on Read More

World Class Datsun Collection at Monterey

The Mecum Monterey classic car auction in August featured the Mike and Debbie Rogers Datsun collection. Rare models included a Fairlady 432, Zzzap Edition Datsun and a rare Black Pearl Datsun. Sopwith’s Stephen Cox previewed the entire collection prior to its sale. Read More

Meticulous Mustang Collection at Indy

Stephen Cox previews the spectacular collection of Fox Body Mustangs coming to the Mecum auction at Indianapolis in May. Read More

Sneak Preview of Horton Classic Car Collection

Follow Stephen Cox and John Kraman as they peruse one of the finest collections in the south! Possessing some of the most highly respected and sought-after vehicles to ever grace the automotive market, The Horton Classic Car Museum Collection is an assemblage curated by a husband and wife duo who are passionate about collecting some of the rarest automobiles in the world. Hailing from the extravagant Horton Classic Car Museum in Nocona, Texas, the Horton collection of more than 100 museum-quality vehicles is prepared to impress bidders and onlookers alike as examples from makers like Ford, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Read More

Road Noise Features Blue Thunder

YouTube’s Road Noise producers recently visited the Sopwith Motorsports garage to film a short feature on the progress of Blue Thunder, a 1980 Fox body Mustang undergoing a frame-on restoration in stages. Click below to view content: Read More

Birth of the Fox Mustang

. They won’t get any cheaper than they are right now. Ford’s famous Fox Mustangs, built from 1979 through 1993, are moving up from the bottom of their value curve. The Fox Mustangs derived their nickname from the 1978 Ford Fairmont, which had been internally designated as the “Fox Project” within Ford’s management and design teams. Since the Mustang borrowed the Fairmont’s platform, the “Fox” name was naturally adopted for the 79-93 Mustangs within Ford and eventually by the public as well. Ford president Lee Iacocca had overseen the design of the original Mustang in 1964 as well as its Read More

Cox Gets Sneak Preview of Spectacular Mustang Collection

. “The Kenny and Marilyn Newcombe Mustang Collection is one of the finest collections of Fox body Ford Mustangs I’ve ever seen,” Mecum co-host Stephen Cox said after reviewing the cars last week in Atlanta. “Leave it to the Mecum crew to consign a historic collection of this importance. They’ve found something pretty special.” Ford manufactured what is now called the “Fox body” Mustang from 1979 through 1993, making it the longest running generation of Mustang to ever grace the roads. The Euro styling appealed to early 1980’s car buyers, and the powerful 235 horsepower 5 liter engine appealed to Read More

1,200 Classic and Collector Cars Expected at Mecum Harrisburg

Stephen Cox of Sopwith Motorsports joins co-hosts John Kraman, Chris Jacobs, Scott Hoke and Katie Osborne for the upcoming Mecum collector car auction at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex on July 27-30 with an estimated 1,200 muscle cars, exotics, hot rods and customs crossing the block. Mecum Auctions described the vehicles and collections included in this event: Among featured vehicles consigned to the Mecum Harrisburg 2022 auction is a selection from the Dan The Oil Man Collection, including a Bloomington Gold Certified and multiple-time NCRS Top Flight-winning 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe (Lot S57) presented in its correct Sebring Silver paint and boasting a Read More

What I Learned From a Chassis Bracing System

. Rebuilding My Totally-Not-Collectible Mustang, Part VIII The Stephen Cox Blog is Presented by National Parts Depot Guess what I just learned after 40 years of driving Mustangs? The stock suspension on an early Fox body Mustang actually isn’t that bad. It’s certainly not great, but I was shocked to learn that it’s actually somewhat serviceable as far as 1980’s technology goes. Known as Blue Thunder, my 1980 Mustang has never had anything other than factory-recommended springs and struts. I’ve found them perpetually unsatisfactory with too much body roll, poor turn-in on corner entry and insufficient insulation from the bumps Read More

Rebuilding My Totally-Not-Collectible Mustang, Part VII

. The Stephen Cox Blog is presented by National Parts Depot Holy cow. I may have to give this series a new title. For thirty years no one cared about the early Fox body Mustangs. Then I took my 1980 Fox in for rust-proofing last week and the entire staff quit working and walked out to the parking lot to see it. Times certainly are changing. The early Fox body Mustangs are experiencing an unprecedented resurgence in popularity and price. All those 1981 Cobra owners who had their sanity questioned for decades are starting to look pretty smart. I bought Read More

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