Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.The Rumors are Swirling AgainRumors about a 4-door Ford Mustang aren't new, but given the latest update, it might actually become a thing. Then again, that's been said many times, and, for years, nothing really happened. Still, the possibility is becoming more likely. Besides, the Mach-E already exists, and we've ended up with an electric Mustang crossover way before GTA 6.If it's true, we're hoping that it'll come with a V8. The only American-made V8-powered sedan on the market right now is the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, and at nearly $100,000, it's not exactly the kind of hot sedan that says 'power to the people.' If Ford does pull off a new 4-door Mustang, maybe that'll push Dodge to finally put a Hemi back in the Charger, but we digress.Christopher Stevens/FordWind Black the ClockThe thing is, the idea of making a Mustang sedan dates back to the '60s. Emboldened by the success of the original coupe, Ford actually built a prototype of a four-door 'Stang circa 1965. It wasn't just a coupe with rear doors slapped on; it was stretched out and offered what seemed like decent room inside.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt would've made for an interesting compact/midsize sedan had Ford greenlit it for production. The Mustang was based on the Falcon, itself a humble, basic sedan, and giving the pony car a more practical body style could've maximized the platform even more. Ultimately, it was decided to keep it as a two-door.FordView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleInto the '80sThe Mustang survived the Malaise era, and by 1978, it had shifted to the Fox platform. You have to remember that Ford was in financial distress at the time; the Fox was built to be modular to save on costs. It could be a coupe, a sedan, or a wagon, served in various shapes and sizes. The Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr were the first to utilize it.Ford retired the Fairmont in 1983 with the 'midsize' LTD, complementing its big brother, the LTD Crown Victoria. One can call it a more aerodynamic take on the Fairmont, as it featured a more rakish design. It wasn't the most exciting car from the early '80s, but it was popular, ranking among the top five best-selling passenger cars in America in '83 and '84. But because it shared the same underpinnings as the Mustang from the same era, you can probably see where this is going.FordThe LTD LXThe LTD's initial engine lineup consisted of three options. There was the 2.3-liter Lima four-cylinder, the 3.3-liter Thriftpower Six (inline-six), and the 3.8-liter Essex V6. The Lima mustered just 90 hp and 122 lb-ft, while the Thriftpower Six was barely any better at 92 hp and 156 lb-ft. As for the Essex V6, it produced 112 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque.AdvertisementAdvertisementBut in mid-'84, Ford released a performance version of the car. Dubbed the LTD LX, it came with a 5.0-liter straight from the Mustang. By today's standards, the power output of 165 hp and 245 lb-ft sounds weak, but America was just coming out of the Malaise era. That rating was exactly the same as the automatic-equipped Mustang at the time, and it was a healthy dose of power in its day. The sole transmission choice was a four-speed automatic.In no time at all, it earned the nickname of four-door Mustang. When Motorweek tested it over 40 years ago, it hit 60 mph in 8.7 seconds, and did the quarter-mile in 16.5 seconds at 81 mph. As far as sedans from the mid-'80s went, the LTD LX was quick. There were handling upgrades, too: a firmer suspension setup with thick sway bars and gas shocks, bigger brakes, wider tires, and even a Trac-Lok limited-slip diff. Obviously, it's no BMW 535i or Audi 5000 Turbo, but at $13,795 fully loaded (as tested by Motorweek), it was about $10,000 less than the Audi and more than half the price of the BMW.FordA Short RunThe regular LTD lasted from 1983 to 1986, which is fairly short for one of the country's best-sellers. However, the LX was only sold from mid-'84 to '85, an extremely abbreviated production run. That said, one would think that a Mustang-powered sedan would sell like hotcakes, but it wasn't the case at all. The total number made is still disputed, with some saying as low as 3,260, and as high as 5,287. Either way, it wasn't what anyone would call a smashing success.Still, this was Ford's first foray into building a midsize performance sedan. Its next attempt would be far more successful; the car that replaced the LTD was the Taurus, the car that would ultimately save Ford from ruin in the '80s. As we all know, the Taurus spawned the SHO model, and the rest, they say, is history.AdvertisementAdvertisementAs for the four-door Mustang idea, one can say it lived on in another way Down Under. The Falcon, the car the Mustang was based on, became its own thing in Australia and New Zealand. It bore its own performance models, some of which had V8 or turbo inline-six power but stayed rear-wheel drive. Now, had Ford developed the Falcon in America the same way the Australians did, the automotive landscape would probably look very different today.FordThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.