Back to the old cars for this week’s installment. Selling the Grand Marquis was quite a relief (and a hit to the bank account), but I was still interested in having another old car. This time I figured I’d make a choice that was more conventional, possibly easier to own, and definitely more fun than a Panther-body barge with a wounded transmission. This was a good idea, but it didn’t last…
The Fox body Mustang is a pretty safe choice for cheap collector wheels. They’re pretty plentiful, parts are available and cheap, and the possibilities for restoration or customization are endless. I started looking for one because my parents had owned several in the ’80s that we used as family cars. The back seat was not exactly the best place to be when you’re a 6-foot tall teenager who didn’t want to get too close to your sibling. My dad started with an ’84 Mustang GT in copper with the special TRX wheels, 5- speed manual, and the oh-so-80s T-tops. As I recall, we were able to get it barely used from a local dealer because it scared the daylights out of the person who bought it so they traded it in a year after they bought it. That car was definitely fast, but the ride was monumentally harsh (especially in the back seat). I also recall that the car had the Ford “Premium Sound” system that had an odd pull-down switch (like a headlight switch) beneath the steering wheel to turn Premium Sound on and off. The stereo was pretty sub-par with the Premium Sound on, and absolutely awful with it off. Never could figure out why they’d spend extra for a switch to make things worse. My dad traded that car in on an ’86 GT automatic, mostly because my mom didn’t want to drive stick (she said she didn’t have three feet so she wasn’t going to drive anything with three pedals). I did get to drive this one quite a bit as I’d gotten my license by ’86, and it was equally fun and equally harsh-riding, especially on bombed-out Ohio roads.
By the time I sold the Grand Marquis, the bad memories of the harsh ride and noisy interior had faded, leaving only the fond memories of being able to peg the (85-mph) speedo on that ’86. As fate would have it, an ’87 Mustang GT convertible in “Resale Red” showed up at the dealer where I bought the Town Car. The car had just over 40,000 miles on it, had the proper manual transmission, and was in great (but not perfect) shape. Since I couldn’t get to the dealership to view it in person, I learned from my Mercury mistake and asked for loads of undercarriage photos to ensure it wasn’t going to be another corrosion-laden money pit. The car was a bit on the expensive side (maybe $10k as I recall), but it was one of the nicest driver-quality GTs I’d found. I liked the idea of a convertible, too, especially for a weekend car. Around here, there are probably a couple of weeks out of the year where it’s not too hot or too cold to enjoy alfresco motoring, so a fun convertible was appealing. In a perfect world I’d have found a “four-eye” ’86 GT like my dad had, but you take what you can get. The ’87 was a bit nicer inside, as it was the first year for the redesigned instrument panel that wasn’t directly lifted from the Fairmont/Zephyr twins (like the austere orange ’78 Zephyr my wife had as her first car, with a rockin’ 85 hp from a 3.3 liter straight six).
As with any old car purchase, there were of course a few things to do once I got the car. I had the car delivered to my office, and I took one look at the age-cracked tires and got on the phone with a local tire shop (I didn’t want to go too far on these ancient tires). Of course, the Mustang GT used an odd sized tire (fairly wide, but with a small 15-inch rim), so my choices were limited and were various levels of expensive. Since I wasn’t in the mood to go big with some reproduction Goodyear Gatorback tires that are now offered for Mustangs that run about $300 a tire, I went with what fit and was in stock. Cosmetically the car was in great shape – some elbow grease on the paint and some shampoo on the seats and carpet was really all it took to make it look great. The top wasn’t torn or rotted, and the window seals were mostly intact. I got a few minor leaks from the door windows when I washed the car, but that’s not surprising for a 30 year old convertible.
Driving this car was certainly a throwback for me. The car handled much like the ones my family had in the ‘80s, the engine note was just the right amount of loud, and the car garnered a lot of thumbs-up from fellow motorists. The odd ignition switch interlock that manual transmission Fords of the day had was present here, and it didn’t take me long to get back in the habit of tripping it with my knee as I shut the engine off just like I did in my first Thunderbird. (You can just barely see the white switch in the dashboard photo above.) Maybe it was just the optimism of old age, but I thought the ’87 Mustang rode a bit better than I recalled our family Mustangs did. Would I want to drive the car every day? Probably not, but it sure was fun for a trip to Dairy Queen!
The convertible bodystyle was also a throwback – the last time I’d been in a convertible with any regularity was in the early ‘80s when my dad convinced my mom to let him buy a ’72 Olds Cutlass convertible as my first car (I think I was 12 or 13 at the time, so you can see the sales job). Fun with the top down, but not the greatest driving experience with the top up. Like that Cutlass, the Mustang came with an unlined top so things got pretty noisy at speed.
One of the biggest revelations for me was when I went online to look for some repair and restoration parts. Unlike my Thunderbird and Town Car with parts supply being mainly from unobtanium NOS sources, Fox-body Mustang parts were easy to get and reasonably priced. Reproduction interior parts for the Super Coupe? Forget it – the best you can get are used parts that may only be slightly nicer than what you already have. Reproduction Mustang interior parts? You bet – what year, what color, what style? We can have those at your doorstep tomorrow. The idea that I could replace knobs and switches that were worn, get OEM-style floormats and replacement carpets, exterior trim pieces – virtually anything I needed – was amazing to me. Even things like yellowed headlights and aged taillights could be replaced for very reasonable prices. The car didn’t need that much work when I got it, but it was good that I had the option to buy almost anything I needed.
The downside of owning a Fox-body Mustang is the flip side of the benefit – Ford made a ton of these cars, and people like driving them, so the car didn’t exactly stand out in the car shows. There are a lot of very nice Mustangs out there, so my car didn’t look unique like the Thunderbird or Town Car did. The Mustang crowd did make up for it by being a lot of fun at the shows. Back home, though, people did really like to see it on the road and I did get quite a few compliments on it.
After all that, you’d think that I would still have it, right? Well, not exactly. I ended up selling it after only owning it for about six months. The good part was that I was right in thinking I’d be able to sell it quickly if I had to and that I wouldn’t lose any money when I did. I was able to sell the car for about what I paid for it in the space of about a week. It wasn’t a popular choice to sell it – most of my coworkers asked me why I would give up a great car like that. What was my motivation? Well, another car on my bucket list came up, and it was one that a) I had wanted to own for a while, and b) was nearly impossible to find in any condition, let alone the relatively untouched original condition of the example I found online. Let this be a lesson – if you’re looking for old cars online, you’re going to find something that will follow you home, even if you’re “just looking.” We’ll talk about that car next week.
Always loved that body style. Went to visit a friend in Phoenix in 1989 & rented a 5.0 convertible for a few days. Being a rental, it was an automatic, but it was still a great car. I considered buying a new one (5.0 coupe with manual transmission) but my budget wouldn’t allow it at the time. Had a lot of fun with the rental car though !!!!!
“Let this be a lesson – if you’re looking for old cars online, you’re going to find something that will follow you home, even if you’re ‘just looking.’”
Deleting my Cosworth Vega searches from eBay and Hemmings as we speak! (c:
My teenage dream-car!! The more time that passes, the more I’m feeling these latter-day Fox-platform Mustangs. Once everywhere, now increasingly rarer.
During the 2005-2015 period I juggled a few “weekend cars ” around . A 2000 Firebird 3800, drop top, a 2011 2SS Camaro 6 speed (hard top) and a 2008 Mustang 6cyl convertible.
As life circumstances changed the 08 went in on a 2015 EB Mustang. For the next 2 1/2 years the EB was my daily driver. Some weather tech mats, a careful foot, and a set Michelin X winter tires got me through the Ontario winters.
Just after Christmas I got the yearn for another rag top. My requirements were high. 05 -09 GT stick shift, convert. No graphics ,stripes Mustang decals, scoops or modifications . I wanted low klm’s with zero winter driving.
I spent hours searching Auto Trader and the other online markets. This one came up a Ford dealer 50 miles north of here. 13,000 Klm’s ! ( 8000 miles) on the odometer !!!! . The vehicle had spent less than 24 hours on auto trader. By the time I managed to phone, and drive up , I was 5th on the list of potential
buyers .
One thing led to another, I had to “reach” a bit ..but I managed to secure a deal. I kept my EB, so now at the ripe old age of 64 after a life time working for GM…. I own two Fords.
“after a life time working for GM…. I own two Fords.”
I know the feeling. It hit me recently that after a lifetime as a guy who has always found American cars more appealing than imports I have 4 Asian cars in the fleet (and a single Buick that I have never really liked).
These sing to me. After coming pretty close to buying an 85 GT fastback new, I rented a 90 convertible for the week of our honeymoon. It was a white LX with red interior, V8 and automatic. It lacked some of the fun stuff of the GT (including the better visual features) but was a really pleasant car for a fun time.
But I can also see the allure of something that is outside of the mainstream. I struggle with the universal popularity of my Miata. Something a little more off the beaten path would probably suit me better. But then every time I start getting itchy I drive the Miata with the top down on a pleasant day and the itch to get rid of it subsides.
I had an ’88 Mustang GT convertible as my daily driver for nearly seven years. Of all of the cars that I’ve owned over the past 50 years or so that is the one that I most regret getting rid of. After seven years and 95k miles it was starting to get pretty ragged and needed several thousand dollars in repairs. I was at a low place in my life at that particular point and made the decision to trade the Mustang away and get a new car. I regretted that decision from the moment I signed the paperwork, and regret it to this day. I have looked at a couple of Fox body Mustangs since then but could never find the one that had my name on it; it seems they had either been beaten to death and/or been modified past the point of streetability. I now have a 2014 Mustang convertible and love it but still have the occasional thought of trying to find a good, clean Fox with the 5.0.
Very nice, I love the seat fabric especially. Along with the engine of course. All it needs is the Vanilla Ice mix-tape and we are good to go. I personally prefer the LX 5.0 version but this with all of its GT accoutrements was certainly part of the flavor of the times along with the Reebok high-tops, very poofy hair, and let’s just say “interesting” clothing.
I’d say for $10k this was very well bought. Being able to sell it again quickly without a loss reinforces that. Glad you were able to relive the moment, this is a perfect example of our generation starting to appreciate and buy the cars that we loved in OUR youth.
I cam THIS close to getting a ~10 year old LX convertible back in ‘99 as a weekend/fun car. 5.0, 5 speed … and I preferred the LX trim to the GT’s aero package and tail lights. Ended up with a motorcycle instead for 3x the price, I think Fox Mustangs were at the low point of price/value curve in ‘99. Around here, now, they’re usually modded and/or thrashed. I still have the bike; I wonder if the Mustang would have lasted as long in my garage.
Nice car! My dad still has the ’88 GT convertible he bought for my mom in ’90, albeit a little worse for wear. When I got to take it to high school, it was the coolest car in the lot by far. The only downside is its AOD; the five-speeds were FAR quicker in those days. These days Mom drives an ’18 Ecoboost Mustang with a 10-speed, and it would walk the ’88 like it was tied to a tree.
Nice car- I would’ve kept it. I still regret selling my ’01 GT.
I’m a-gonna just leave this here:
Nice Nice Baby! (Sorry I couldn’t resist it, and no one had done it yet!) I just love these cars! I couldn’t find a nice one in my price range so I got a ’96 GT convertible instead. I still have and love that car. It is technically a better car than the earlier Fox body but those older cars have more soul.
My son did some horse trading a few years back and ended up with an 88 Mustang LX 5 speed with the 5.0. He went travelling between college courses so it got parked at my place for a couple of months. I told him to leave me the keys so I could run it occasionally. Having come from a long line of underpowered vw’s I wasn’t used to the power on tap. The first time out I gave it what I thought was appropriate power and proceeded to lay a strip in front of the house at 7am on my way to work. After that I would put about 1/2 a toe into the throttle and pull away without drama.
He sold it a few months later and now has a fuel sipping Honda Civic, which should keep him from wrapping himself around a tree or worse. But I still miss being able to recreate what the cool guys in high school were driving.
Great stuff- I’ve got an ’87 GT ‘vert here in the U.K. I’m slowly going through it to bring it up to scratch as and when funds allow. Parts for it are indeed cheap and readily available, it’s just the shipping cost from the U.S that’s the killer!
While not that fast by today’s standards it’s still a remarkably practical and fun car, it’s manouverable, compact and not too thirsty either, but I find the AOD box is a total mismatch for the car. Personally I like the ground effect body kit, it’s evocative of an ’80s car like tail fins are of a ’50s car, once the numbers have thinned a bit more I reckon they’ll be a sure fire collector.
I bought a new ’88 LX 5.0 hatchback when I graduated from school and still enjoy owning it. The clean LX styling and dark shadow blue color with gray cloth interior have aged well. I can’t believe it’s 30 years old. Some Koni adjustable shocks on the softest setting have eliminated much of the ride harshness. I’ve made a few modifications but haven’t gone overboard. I used to use it as a daily driver including Michigan winter driving (!) but I’ve stored it during the winter for many years. I had it Ziebarted when that was the norm and that kept most of the rust away although I still had to do minor rust rapairs behind the front wheels. BF Goodrich still makes the Radial T/A in a 15 inch size and I like them better than the original Goodyear Gatorbacks. Every Spring is like Christmas when I take it out for the first time after a long winter. I have always felt that I would regret it if I ever sold it so I will continue to enjoy the V-8 power.
“The Fox body Mustang is a pretty safe choice for cheap collector wheels. They’re pretty plentiful, parts are available and cheap, and the possibilities for restoration or customization are endless. ”
I will agree with you on the parts being both cheap to buy and plentiful and restoration/customization is endless
However, I disagree on them being plentiful. I live in the same area as you do and yet other then car shows and Apple Ford’s Mustang days, I have not seen a 79-93 Mustang on the road in 10 years. By contrast, I have seen more of the following in the last 10 years
1st Gen Camry
3rd Gen Firebird and Camaro
79-91 Ford LTD Crown Vic/ Mercury Grand Marquis
There used to be a person that owned several Fox body Mercury Capri on Gilford Rd and for years i would see a customized by ASC 84-86 Capri convertibles rolling in and around the Laurel MD area.
“…, but you take what you can get.” Couldn’t agree more. In my opinion, the ’87-’93 Fox-bodies (especially the LX 5.0s) are the best-looking & overall packaged of the whole Mustang bunch since the original 1964 1/2 model. The front end alone gave a feeling that there was still plenty of life left in a proven but aging platform. Truth be told, the only Mustang I’ve ever actually driven OR ridden in is my dad’s GT500; all those horses under the hood let themselves be heard QUICK! The excitement has only gotten higher than ever with the latest generation of Mustangs. Given how light the old Foxes were, the results of racing a properly modified one (i.e. brought up to the most modern performance standards possible) against any of the new Mustangs could be pretty interesting.
I came very close to buying a clapped out ’85 GT as my second car (I settled for a clapped out ’89 LeBaron GTC Coupe instead). I still would like to have a pre-87 GT or 5.0 LX ( not a fan of the later GT body cladding)
I just cannot help it; these plasticky, bubblegummy Mustangs invariably bring this plasticky, bubblegummy song to mind: