LX-Prize: 80 MPG '87 Mustang with 400 HP
by Alex Nunez on Jul 2nd 2008 at 10:01AM 
Doug Pelmar's 1987 Ford Mustang LX Coupe might have just become our favorite X-Prize competitor. How come? Well, first off, LX Coupes are awesome to begin with, but Mr. Pelmar's is even more special. Rather than neuter his 'Stang in the name of high efficiency, he's gone and created something that should contend in the X-Prize's "Mainstream" category, but would also be right at home on the pages of Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords. The car's engine runs on E85 for emissions purposes and has several modifications that Mr. Pelmar designed (mostly electronics, it seems) allowing it to run much more efficiently -- to the tune of a claimed 80 miles per gallon -- while producing 400 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. He admits that he could squeeze more MPGs out if he dialed back the power some, but where's the fun in that? 80 MPG and 400 horses in a Fox body seems like a completely reasonable compromise to us. Oh, and MM&FF? You need to call this guy.
[Source: Mustang Evolution]
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 5)
chase 1:31PM (7/02/2008)
there has to be some trick to this, there is no way that is possible. Sorry, but some good ol' boy with a penchant for 80s mustangs isn't going to be out smarting years of automotive engineering research.
My guess is that he does some type of hypermiling when measuring the MPGs, but if he were to actually use the full potential of the engine and actually achieve 400 hp by flooring it he'd have considerably less efficiency.
Either way, anything running on ethanol should be shunned and burned as it is the biggest hoax in the history of environmental and automotive science.
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Lee 1:38PM (7/02/2008)
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v322/Dodgeyaussie/Funnypics/bullsh-t.gif[/IMG]
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Lee 1:39PM (7/02/2008)
Riiiiiight... going down hill while idling maybe....
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90lxTurbo 2:07PM (7/02/2008)
I like seeing a Mustang as R&D vehicle!
I've been doing research on may fuel saving devices and the only company that I have found that has any independent verification of there claims is a company called Vapor Fuel Technologies. They have a system that has been independently verified to get a 30% increase in mileage on a 2006 F-150 running the EPA Highway test. Looking over their site, they plan to have retrofit packages for most trucks and SUV's in 2009.
http://www.vftllc.com
Also, an article I found about them on their web site;
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/inde..._invention.html
It’s just too bad some people make these claims unverified and ruin it for the folks that actually have some technology that works. GM, Ford, and any other Auto and Collage institutions have HCCI and auto ignition engines, GM released a HCCI car last year.
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ooooooh 2:19PM (7/02/2008)
400 horses huh? A herd that big would sure generate a lot of horse s***.
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Patrick 2:37AM (7/03/2008)
He should ditch the E85 and go for the standard E10 gasoline that is sold today. His mileage figure would be a little higher. MPG is highly dependent on driving style too. Even though the engine has 400hp, he probably doesn't use most of it and he is probably shifting at 2700rpm while barely pressing on the gas pedal.
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Marcus 2:52PM (11/06/2008)
Hmmm... You may actually be on to something.
Can you imagine going through the gears without having to touch the accelerator? Idling along in 5th?
Mino 3:06PM (7/02/2008)
or a rat tail. either way the mullet or rat tail will come back into style if this is legit~!Maybe there's a 90mpg z28's for all the guido's out there too
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retro77 3:02PM (7/02/2008)
Ok I am looking at his car on his website:
http://www.hp2g.com/videos.html
And it looks like he has a 4 cylinder LX [notice 4 lug nuts], maybe turbo charged, that is running the E85 fuel. As far as volume, he's probably still getting 20-25mpg, but as far as how much of that is actual gasoline, thats where the 110mpge comes in. E = equivalent.
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ANONYMOUS 3:26PM (7/02/2008)
FYI all fox body mustangs save for the 93 svt cobra and 84-86 SVO mustangs had 4 Lugs
Chris 6:50PM (7/02/2008)
He probably has pro-dumps for exhaust.....squeezing everybit of mileage that way.
90lxTurbo 3:53PM (7/02/2008)
The 1993 Cobra had 4 lug, the 1993 Cobra R had 5 lug.
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Joel 3:58PM (7/02/2008)
Ethanol increases incidences of asthma attacks and hospital visits due to air related concerns. And corn ethanol (here in the US) isnt very good for the environment or efficient. And ethanol from food means the poor suffer due to higher food prices. Nice try, but ethanol is a loser.
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Mike 4:11PM (7/02/2008)
Hey,
You can say whatever you want about his claims of mileage and power numbers but don't be dissin' on the Fox Mustang.
This is one of the most versatile cars to ever come out. Of course off the showroom floor they were not great at anything (except fun) but a few modifications in the right places makes these cars very competent at the drags or the road courses.
I spent $3200 on a rust free car, another $10k in suspension, brake, and engine upgrades and I can hang with most anything at the track (there are a few big $$ exceptions). Plus if I rack it up into a tree or guard rail or break something, it's cheap and easy to fix as there's a ton of parts for them.
That can be said of drag cars too. Stock bodied Mustangs can and have been built to compete against full tube frame cars for fractions of the price.
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andrew 4:18PM (7/02/2008)
Could he be running two turbos and running vacuum with electronic waste gates (hence the reference to electronics)? If so, that might explain having a potential 400 hp and great mileage. Maybe even cylinder shut down? It may work but I would bet it's expensive
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90lxTurbo 5:16PM (7/02/2008)
^^Yea! I payed $150 for my LX, $500 for the Turbo 2.3, T5 and Computer, $1300 in brakes (sn95) and suspension and have fun getting 24 mpg! When I'm not in the boost :)
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User 6:16PM (7/02/2008)
Hrm...
Maybe he meant 80 gallons per mile. I bet that could be achieved with "mostly electronics." lol
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ronzo 9:42PM (7/02/2008)
me want
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Gerald 1:11AM (7/03/2008)
After the turbo Regals, the notchback Foxbody was the next sexiest car of the 80s.
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Gerald 1:12AM (7/03/2008)
After the turbo Regals, the notchback Foxbody was the next sexiest car of the 80s.
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