Body Color or Black on '84?

[brinkjm]

Why do some '84s have black grilles and headlamp surrounds while others are body color? Was this a difference in trim, L vs LX?

[28HopUp]

Jim, I have wondered the same thing. I hope someone else with the right answer will reply.

[brinkjm]

Bill, how do we page Jim Y to this thread? I'll bet he knows.

[Cobra Jet]

I’m including images from the original 1984 Mustang Dealer brochure.

Although there isn’t any statements in the brochure or anything at all listed under options or exterior appearances, that isn’t to say there could have been (or was) a mid-year change in how the body was painted OR if there was a production change decided after the brochure was already printed and distributed. Ford and other vehicle manufacturers are known for changing design/options/interior and exterior paint colors/schemes last minute.

All vehicles in the original Dealer brochures, doesn’t matter manufacturer, were always prototype and pre-production models. Usually there was a small fine print disclaimer too that visual appearances, options, standard equipment, and/or the production model could differ from what was in the brochure.

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Back to the question:
- 1984 GT350’s: all had white grille and headlight buckets.

- 1984 Base Model “L”: all had body color grille and headlight buckets.

- 1984 GT: had a black grille and body color headlight buckets. Now I have seen 1984 GT’s with the black headlight buckets over the years. I have no way of confirming IF these were incorrect repaints, incorrect restorations, owner added, OR if there was a Ford assembly line change and the headlight buckets were changed from body color to the black paint scheme. Even the 1983 Mustang Dealer brochure shows all GT images with a black grille and body color headlight buckets.

In the 1984 Dealer brochure the GT’s pictured have body color headlight buckets - even though they look “dark” they’re not painted, it’s just lighting/shadow from the photo session.

1984 LX - In the brochure the only LX pictured is all black. The assumption can be that the 1984 LX followed the same headlight bucket color scheme as the 1983’s. In the 1983 Dealer Brochure, all LX models have the black grille and black headlight buckets.

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My deep dive to your question is:
- The 1984 LX would have the black grille/headlight bucket exterior appearance following the 1983 scheme.
- The 1984 L would have the base body color headlight buckets.

IF the 1984 SSP was ordered by the DSO as an “L”, and based on DSO jurisdiction body color paint scheme, the headlight buckets would be body color.

IF the 1984 SSP was ordered by the DSO as an “LX”, it would have the black headlight buckets regardless of DSO or jurisdiction paint scheme.

Remember an “L” in 1984 was the absolute base model now, a stripper with almost no options, while the LX was the upgrade. In 1984 these changes were primarily due to the SVO being introduced which essentially was the top of the line “LX” if you want to think about it that way (because it was not a GT based platform).

The only true way to confirm the body paint scheme ordered would be if the 1984 SSP body BUC tag has an “L” or an “LX” stamped on it. If it had an “L”, the headlight buckets should be body color as long as the DSO jurisdiction didn’t specify otherwise in their ordering form. If the 1984 body BUC tag has an “LX” stamped into it, the headlight buckets would most likely be black following the 1983 paint scheme.