All of this discussion of the 2015 Mustang design, with cries from many that it looks like a Fusion Coupe, or a Taurus Coupe, got us thinking, what is the most unMustang-like design of the car’s five-decade history? Even the 2015 shares unique Mustang design elements, so we started thinking, and the conclusion shocked even us.

In the late 1970s, the Mustang II had saved the nameplate from extinction, but it was time for something new as sales dwindled, a new car, or the new decade, and that was the Fox body Mustang. The design lived on for 14 years, and underwent numerous updates and changes along the way, especially in the first 8 years. Today we love the Fox body, and so do millions of die-hard Mustang fans the world over. However, it stands to reason that this design looks the least like a Mustang of any other body style ever produced.

The ’93 Cobra’s grille was the only one to feature a trapazoid shape and a running horse in the 14 years of Fox body.

Look at any other generation Mustang and you’ll likely find the following cues, hockey stick side, tri-bar tail lights, trapezoid grille, shark-bite nose, fastback design, twin-brow dash. While it could be argued that the 85-86 models, as well as the 86-93 LX grilles somewhat resembled a trapezoid shape, the only other true Mustang DNA design cue was found in the ’93 Cobra’s running horse grille. The GT didn’t even have a grille from 87-93, just a flat nose. These cars shared a corporate grille design that canted backwards, not forwards in the traditional shark-bite. It could be argued that if any Mustang wore the corporate look well, it was the Fox body, just look at the Taurus, Tempo, and Escort of that era. The Fox body was a Mustang only in name, and the very basics only, front engine, rear drive, with a V8 or a base engine, four seat, available as a coupe or hatchback (not fastback).

Don’t mistake this as a bash of the car, we love the Fox body, but the next time someone screams the 2015 doesn’t look Mustang enough, we’ll direct them to the Fox. What Mustang design do you think looks the least like traditional Mustang styling?