The Growing Popularity of the Widebody Mustang

A widebody gives the mustang a low and wide appearance and increased performance.
Written by Alexandra Maloney
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
front of a red Ford Mustang
The widebody Mustang is a unique car because it was actually born through car enthusiasts who wanted to level up their ride, and was never actually produced by
Ford
. Inspired by the look and performance of race cars, many Mustang owners wanted a car that looked even fiercer on the roads.
Thus, widebody builds became a popular way to modify the look of the Mustang, creating an entirely new genre of Mustang that Ford never touched. 

What is a widebody Mustang?

A widebody Mustang modifies your car by moving it as low to the ground as possible, and giving it a wider stance. According to
MotorTrend
, the original inspiration for the widebody look stems from highly modified production cars in the International Motor Sport Association (IMSA). 
The goal of the widebody Mustang was to mimic the look of the wide fender flares, spoilers, and other components of race cars that make them have peak performance and fast speeds. 
Widebodies are actually completely customizable, which makes the genre of car hard to define beyond a look of low and wide, but also make it possible for drivers to have a completely unique car.
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How do you make your Mustang widebody?

There are multiple ways to make your Mustang widebody and achieve that wide and low stance. According to
CJ Pony Parts
, one of the easiest ways is to add wheel spacers, which create extra space between your wheel and wheel hub. Not only does this make your car wider, but they also allow drivers to put on larger wheels, which gives the appearance of the car being lower to the ground.
Another way to achieve the widebody look is by literally lowering your car down to the ground with suspension lowering. This can be done with either lowering springs, a coilover, or an air ride system. 
Lowering springs are the most cost effective option, but coilovers and air ride systems are great for people who really want to invest in their car. The end goal is to lower the car’s center of gravity, which will give you more control and a better ride.
Lastly, drivers can purchase a body kit to make their Mustang widebody. Body kits can include virtually any car part, but a great place to start when going widebody is with rear and chin spoilers, as well as fender flares, or side splitters. All, or even just some, of these parts will give your Mustang the widebody look.

Some memorable widebody Mustangs

Even if you aren’t familiar with the term widebody Mustang, it’s likely you’ve seen one before, whether on TV or in real life. Here are a few of the most famous widebody Mustangs:
  • “The Smoking Tire” Widebody Mustang LX Notchback: Host of “The Smoking Tire” podcast and YouTube channel created a memorable widebody Mustang with IRS suspension and five-lug disc brakes. 
  • Ken Block Hoonicorn Mustangs: Rally driver and business owner
    Ken Block has a passion for Mustangs
    . He’s put his name on two versions of the Hoonicorn 1965 Mustang, named for how unique the cars are. Both are widebody Mustangs with great engines,
    incredible horsepower
    , and a sleek design. 
  • Shelby Widebody: Multiple year models of the famous Shelby widebody are designed to increase performance, give the vehicle a wider track, and utilize all the necessary suspension and braking systems.
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