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Ford Lets Mustang Owners Personalize Their 'Stangs' With Clear-Coat

Although clear-coat has been around for more than 30 years, Ford is now allowing Mustang owners to have special clear-coating
Posted: February 26, 2024 - 8:33PM
Author: Marc Stern

Since the middle of the 1980s, Ford car owners have been able to have a type of clear matte film installed on their new car products. Indeed, the 1986 Ford Taurus came with a matte clear film product, though the factory didn’t discuss it.

Film Coverings Not Publicized, but there

Indeed, owners of the very first aero-style Ford Taurus found that their vehicles had a type of matte clear film product installed, though the factory didn’t publicize the product. It was just part of the entire delivery package for those who purchased the “aero”-style four-door, front-drive vehicles.

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This wasn’t the first time Ford offered this package to those who purchased their new products. It was the first time, though, that the factory didn’t mention the addition of the clear-film product. It was laid onto the new vehicles at that time to protect the new “aero-style (jellybean)” vehicles, ostensibly to protect the new vehicles from ozone and other forms of air pollution. It was a small fillip given to those who purchased the mid-80s “aero” car.

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Indeed, Ford probably doesn’t even think of this as a remarkable achievement, but it was 30 years ago, and though it wasn’t remarked on by many, it was still there. It is another story today as the automaker now offers Mustang customers an all-new way to personalize their ride with the car’s first-ever factory Matte Clear Film, giving Mustang a stylish satin-like finish while protecting its paint.

Ford Calls This  Personalization Option

Mustang Matte Clear Film joins other personalization options, including wheel choices, interior colors, contrasting seatbelts, factory-painted brake calipers, and bold and exciting paint colors.

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Matte Clear Film is available on all Mustang coupe models (EcoBoost, GT, and Dark Horse) and in all factory paint colors, with first deliveries slated to begin in June. It will be available on all Mustang convertible models in the fourth quarter of 2024.

“Mustang has been about driving freedom and freedom of expression for 60 years, and our new Matte Clear Film provides a choice.”

The 2024 Mustang Matte Clear Film is a product of PPG. It’s designed to withstand harsh detergents used at hand or touchless car washes, as well as road salt, bird droppings, bug splatter, and asphalt residue.

Available to order starting Feb. 27 and priced at $5,995, this new option comes with the same 3-year/36,000-mile factory warranty for all 2024 Mustang cars.

New Film Means Some Changes

Customers who order the Mustang Matte Clear Film for the Mustang Dark Horse will not get the standard Hood Accent Stripe or be able to select the Painted Racing Stripe; Matte Clear Film is not available with the GT California Special package or the optional graphics packages on the Mustang EcoBoost and GT.

Graphic delete will also be a standalone item on the Mustang Dark Horse for customers who prefer a more under-the-radar appearance on the most track-capable 5.0-liter Mustang ever,

Ford Motor Photo

Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971. His automotive articles have appeared in venues including Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, and others. You can follow Marc on Twitter or Facebook.