1982 Ford Mustang Facts

Overview

• Ford built 130,418 Mustangs for 1982.
• The Mustang GT returned for 1982 after a 13-year absence.
• The 1982 GT used a reworked 5.0L High Output Windsor V8 and the slogan The Boss is Back.

Production Breakout

The legacy corpus's five-row breakdown already sums exactly to the stated total; no correction was needed for 1982, unlike 1979-1981.

Engines & Power

Specifications

• MustangSpecs reports 179.1-inch overall body length, 69.1-inch width, 51.5-inch height, a 100.4-inch wheelbase, and 56.6/57.0-inch front/rear track -- identical to the corroborated 1979-1981 figures, consistent with the shared Fox-body platform.
• Reported curb weights: Hatchback 2,656 lb; Notchback 2,619 lb -- identical to the corroborated 1981 figures.

Options & Packages

Counts distinguish verified production records, attributed reports, disputed figures, announced limits, and figures that do not survive in available records.

Buyer Identification

• For 1982, use the VIN, door tag, buck tag, and build sheet or window sticker. MustangSpecs separates 66B hardtops, 66H GLX hardtops, 61B hatchbacks, 61H GLX hatchbacks, and hatchback GT production, so body code and trim paperwork matter.
• A real 1982 GT should be a hatchback in the MustangSpecs production table and should show GT equipment such as the front air dam with fog lamps, rear spoiler, blackout trim, 5.0 H.O. identity, and the correct engine/transmission context. A notchback advertised as a factory GT should be treated as a conversion unless the seller has exceptional Ford documentation. Verify the door-tag paint code because GT colors were restricted.
• 1982 SSP police-package cars were usually notchbacks; verify agency paperwork, buck-tag and DSO clues, speedometer/electrical equipment, and service history before treating one as a true Special Service Package car.

Special & Tuner Models

Additional Notes

• MustangSpecs reports 14 exterior colors for 1982; Black was the most common, while Pastel Vanilla is called out as the least common at 57 orders.
• The 1982 GT used a much narrower palette than the regular lineup. MustangSpecs lists Black, Red, and Metallic Silver for GT availability, while period-owner commentary also notes a darker red, so a buyer should verify the door-tag paint code on any claimed GT.
• The 302-based 5.0 H.O. GT used the four-speed SROD manual transmission; automatic GT ordering substituted the 255 V8.
• The 1982 GT is widely treated as the point where Mustang began climbing out of the Malaise-era performance slump.
• The 1982 GT set the tone for the 5.0 Mustang culture that would dominate the rest of the Fox-body decade.
• The GT badge returned for 1982, reviving a name that had disappeared from Mustang after the 1969 model year.
• Ford's 1982 performance message leaned heavily on the 5.0 H.O. V8, setting up the Fox Mustang's long-running 5.0 identity.
• The 1982 GT mattered because it shifted Mustang conversation from emissions-era survival back toward affordable V8 performance.