Jim Curry's '92 Feature Mustang LX 5.0l Convertible
A set of angel wings and a halo in "MOM" air brushed around the trunk lock are a subtle key to Jim Curry's '92 Feature Mustang. Ford built these limited edition convertibles in 1992 and 1993-one variant was the Vibrant Red convertible you see here. Are they collectible? "Absolutely," Jim Curry said. This didn't stop him from modifying his Feature Mustang to his personality. However, radical changes to the Fox body were not part of his agenda. He replaced the original plastic decklid and fender badges-LX and 5.0-with airbrushed versions. Just about as subtle is the taillight swap-'93 Cobra lenses in place of the stock LX versions. Jim considers them a cool upgrade.The Pennsylvania native grew up around a father where cars were a big thing. Actually, Jim's first ride was a green "7-Up" '90 Mustang LX convertible. When a drunk driver totaled his 5.0L in August 2001, the high schooler got a chance to buy this collectible Fox. He admitted, "I remember seeing the red '92 Feature car that I have now when I drove my green one around my hometown, and I used to feel guilty. I thought I was cheating on my car because I kept lusting after the Feature Mustang."
Jim bought the car already...
Jim bought the car already lowered a couple inches. He compensated for the lowering with Maximum Motorsports caster/camber plates. Jim bought, stripped, and matched the stock Pearlescent Opal paint on a brand-new set of wheels.
Now just because Jim owned his second Fox convertible don't for a second think Judy was still happy about it. Every time Jim had an issue with the car or had to buy repair parts she had something unkind to say about the car. "Her anger would flare even more when I would start the car up to go to school," Jim told us. "I found myself coasting the Mustang down the driveway and firing it up at the end to avoid 'waking the dead,' as she often put it. It was certainly no secret that my Mom despised the car.
"My Mom passed away in February 2006." Jim explained. The same Mom who "hated the car" and impugned the Mustang's reliability paid her own tribute to her son one day during a drive in the Mustang.Jim recalled, "One time we were going up to my grandmother's house. We were leaving our house (planning to take the family sedan) when she said 'well why don't we take the Mustang?'" Jim was all too surprised, to say the least. Why did she want to ride in the Mustang? No sooner had Jim stabbed the short-throw shifter into reverse than Judy said, "Why don't you put the top down?" Jim was even more surprised because his Mom was under chemotherapy at the time and wore a wig. She tied a bandana under her chin and around her hair.
The '92 LX convertible performed flawlessly, climbing higher and higher into the mountains as they drove mile after mile. "We were in silence just enjoying the ride. And finally she turned to me and said, 'I like this car.'" Jim said, "That was such a great moment between mother and son because it was a sore subject between the two of us about this car. Then to have her say that made me really, really happy."