As America emerged from the dark days of the mid-’70s to mid-’80s when V8s struggled to surpass 150 HP, Ford’s 5.0L V8 Mustang emerged as a serious affordable performer. Lightweights like this 1988 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 two-door sedan offered a Corvette-threatening 225 HP, launching with daylight under one tire after fitting nothing beyond sticky tires and axle gears. This amazing 29,000 km (18,000 mile) survivor comes as light as possible with crank windows and a claimed factory original radio delete panel. The handsome notch-back comes to market here on Craigslist, and an eye-popping $59,900 asking price tests the appetite for an almost-stock low-mile notch. Thanks to reader Curvette for spotting this beauty in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, just north of the Washington state border.
I’ve seen this view thousands of times having bought my ’89 LX 5.0 hatchback in November of ’88, the only difference being my ’89s MAF (Mass Air Flow) meter replacing this car’s Speed Density system. Notable pieces that often vanish over time include the Ford-logo distributor cover and the emission-labeled coil cover behind the battery. My Mustang even sports the same (not factory) K&N sticker on the air cleaner housing as seen here. Mine recently eclipsed a quarter-million miles and I’ve only disassembled any part of the 5.0 to replace one cylinder head gasket.
Ford wisely gave Ford’s LX 5.0 the identical performance options as the sportier-looking GT, making these notch-back sedans a bargain brute in ’88. While the GT’s exhaust exited through hidden turn-downs behind that model’s lower rear valance, the LX 5.0 got these glorious long stainless exhaust tips, shining warnings to anyone on the street that this was no four-cylinder “sporty” car, but a modern port-fuel-injected V8.
The typically all-gray ’80s interior with low-back cloth bucket seats didn’t threaten Corvette or Ferrari for sports-car styling, but the angled five-speed shifter and thick vinyl steering wheel offer driver-centric controls, and this no-nonsense platform enjoys a rabid aftermarket following. The compact OHV 5.0L (302 cid) Windsor small block is easier and cheaper to service than later Modular and Coyote V8s. Thanks to StangBangers for the Ford brochure and details.
Originality is everything on a low-mile collectible, so hopefully the original 10-hole 15-inch wheels (not mentioned) come with the sale. Similarly, replacing the original radiator with this car’s aluminum unit isn’t helping fetch that high price. If someone a $60,000 LX 5.0 driver, that cash would buy a 1.00+ g, 500+HP track monster. Keeping this one factory stock is the ticket to maximum value over time. What’s your top dollar on this almost-perfect V8 two-door sedan?
Low miles aside, 60 large for an LX 5.0 is wild
“Cheap at half the price”.
Very nice. Is this Canadian dollars? If so it would still be a healthy price, just not a nose bleed price. The deviations from stock on this LX are common (radiator, exhaust, wheels, et al) and won’t matter to most people, but for those interested in absolutely stock for such a clean low-mileage example, they are detriments.
Thanks Todd.
I saw this pic and had a thought, that is one of the great things about this site. All the memories that these cars bring back. The one I thought of today was that I have only ridden in a fox body like this just one time and I was cuffed while doing it. I am so happy that I survived my youth without physically hurting anyone other than myself. That was the last time I drank alcohol.
This one reminds me of the police package LX’s that the Texas State Troopers had in that era. They were much more nimble to turn around than full size cars and had a lot of punch to catchup with speeders.
LOL……….A bare bones 88 LX for that price is somebody’s pipe dream ! Even in Canadian dollars it’s priced WAY over the market. And unless there’s real documentaion on the mileage, it’s questionable since these cars were bought to be driven and they were.
Back in Metro Detroit, circa 1987, the high school parking lot was rotten with these things. Everyone’s dad worked for Ford or a supplier, or had the A plan discount…
Only the rich kids had them at my school, or else you had a Escort GT.
Yep, back in 93-94 there was only 1 87 GT Mustang in my High School parking lot, and it was in the top 5 quickest cars there at the time, only had 3.73,s and Off Road H Pipe and Flowmaster 2 chambers. Not the quickest car in the lot, but held it’s own with some earlier Muscle Cars, so good in fact it made me purchase my 86 5.0 LX Hatch right outta High School.
This model, or a Mustang very similar, were popular with the California Highway Patrol. One evening I was driving north on 101 in Sonoma County where the road begins to open up and there’s no traffic anymore. I am in my Porsche, at a reasonable speed not much above the speed limit, and get the doors blown off by a Camaro, then in the mirror I can recognize the distinctive headlights of a CHP Mustang. The cop pulls me over, “Why me, officer, weren’t you chasing the Camaro?” “I could catch you.”
$59900 Canadian is $43700 USD, still a lot of money. I’ve seen low mile 5.0’s sell on the big auction site for that kind of money but it’s still a 5.0 Mustang.
A member of our Ford V-8 club passed away about 11 months ago, unexpectedly, after a bout with pneumonia. Well, he was 84 years old, but VERY active before then. He had a 56 Ford with this same HO engine, a 50 Ford with flames, a 71 Ford car carrier truck, a Ford Model A, and several later non-Ford vehicles, 10 in all, most that sold for “peanuts” to settle his estate. He also had LOADS of automobilia and other collectibles, very organized, much better than my hoard in that respect. That brings to mind what will happen to my treasures? “One man’s ____, is another man’s treasure.”
Not to many years ago people would scoff at the idea of late-1970’s Trans Ams and Z28’s selling in same price range as this cars asking price, now it’s generally accepted that nice examples and special editions trade hands at that level. The Fox body Mustang may not have had the same impact in popular culture, but made more of an impact in the performance arena. Every general purpose enthusiast publication took them on as projects, usually LX’s both notchback or hatchback. It’s just a matter of time until low mileage cars with the right options like this one will trade at those prices. These are still common sights at race tracks, unlike 3rd generation F-bodies, there is a whole generation of people, now reaching they age where they have the disposable income to go after the cars they either wanted from their teens and early-20’s or had but didn’t keep. Sooner or later someone will step up and spend the money needed, it won’t be long before it will seem like a good deal.
Steve R
Having been a foxbody owner and fan for over 30 years this is a wonderful example of the basic 5.0 coupe which ws considered the best bang for the buck car three years running.
yeah, it has low miles but it’s a dealer trying rip out your eyes for 59k. no way there are a lot better cars out there for that price