With 1980 being the second year of the Fox Body Mustang not many things have changed. The Cobra kept the ground effects from the '79 pace car and Ford added a 4.2L V8 while dropping the 5.0L and 2.8L V6 from the previous year. This 4.2L V8 was a scaled-down version of the iconic 5.0L!
Emissions standards were in full effect for 1980 which made fuel economy on this model go up an extreme amount vs 1979. With these same emission standards, it also means that the 5.0L engine wasn't going to be returning from 1979. This, unfortunately, led to a huge decrease in sales for the 1980 year model.
| Engine Options |
Engine Bore |
Compression |
Horsepower |
Torque |
Fuel Tank |
| 2.3L 2V 4cyl |
3.78 x 3.13 inches |
9.0:1 |
88hp |
118 ft-lbs |
11.5 gal. |
| 2.3L 2V 4cyl (Turbo) |
3.78 x 3.13 inches |
9.0:1 |
135hp |
143 ft-lbs |
12.5 gal. |
| 3.3L 1V 6cyl |
3.68 x 3.13 inches |
9.6:1 |
91hp |
160 ft-lbs |
11.5 gal. |
| 4.2L 2V V-8 |
3.38 x 3.00 inches |
8.8:1 |
118hp |
194 ft-lbs |
12.5 gal. |
| Exterior Paint Options |
Paint Code |
| Black |
1C |
| Bright Bittersweet |
2G |
| Bright Blue |
3J |
| Bright Caramel |
5T |
| Bright Red |
27 |
| Bright Yellow |
6N |
| Chamois Glow Metallic |
8W |
| Dark Chamois Metallic |
8A |
| Dark Cordovan Metallic |
8N |
| Light Medium Blue |
3F |
| Medium Bittersweet Metallic |
8D |
| Medium Blue Metallic |
3H |
| Medium Gray Metallic |
1P |
| Polar White |
9D |
| Silver Metallic |
1G |
| Interior Color Options |
Color Code |
| Black |
A |
| Caramel |
T |
| Medium Red |
D |
| Vacquero |
Z |
| Wedgewood Blue |
B |
| White/Black |
W |
| White/Blue |
Q |
| White/Red |
N |
| White/Caramel |
2 |
| White/Vacquero |
9 |
| Model |
Curb Weight |
| 2.3L 4-cyl Manual |
2,497 lbs |
| 2.3L 4-cyl Automatic |
2,601 lbs |
| 2.3L 4-cyl Turbo Manual |
2,687 lbs |
| 2.3L 4-cyl Turbo Automatic |
2,687 lbs |
| 3.3L V6 Automatic |
2,637 lbs |
| 4.2L V8 Automatic |
2,811 lbs |
| Model |
Units Sold |
| 1980 Cobra |
5,500-5,550 *Estimated |
| 1980 2dr Sedan |
128,893 |
| 1980 3dr Hatchback |
98,497 |
| 1980 2dr Sedan Ghia |
23,647 |
| 1980 3dr hatchback Ghia |
20,285 |
| Engine |
Transmission Options |
| 2.3L 2V |
T-04 Manual |
| 2.3L 2V Turbo |
T-04 Manual/C-3 Automatic |
| 3.3L 1V 6cyl |
T-04 Manual |
| 4.2L V8 |
C-4 Automatic |
