The seller claims this tired-looking 1984 Ford Mustang is one of 362 GT350 “Anniversary Edition” Turbo hatchbacks ever made, equipped with the same engine as an SVO sans the intercooler. The Mustang doesn’t run currently and is in need of complete restoration, but the Anniversary editions actually packed some decent upgrades beyond just the turbocharged mill. Find the Mustang here on eBay with an opening bid of $2,800 and no action yet.
The numbers the seller cites aren’t confirmed, although I did find a lower figure indicating only 350 Turbo GT350 models were built – both convertible and hatchback models. Over 5,000 Anniversary cars were made, but far fewer came with the turbo engine. The other upgrades I spotted were a bit less obvious than the motor, such as the TRX handing package that featured a four-link rear axle and coil springs along with unique shock absorbers. It may even have its obsolete TRX tires still attached.
The Canyon Red interior also got some additional tweaks, like the Turbo boost gauge on cars so equipped and the nicely bolstered bucket seats. The dash in this example is cracked and will need replacement if restoration is your goal, and hopefully, the upgraded power windows still motor up and down. An upgraded “Premium” sound system was also offered as an option; it’s not confirmed if this Mustang has it. The seller mentions having “…the anniversary badge and owner numbered badge,” so perhaps there’s some added bling not seen here.
The engine looks quite tired and dusty, with no evidence that anyone beyond perhaps rodents has been under the hood in quite some time. The good news is it’s not hard to find parts or even entire replacement turbo 2.3L engines if this one is toast. While far from being the most valuable Fox Body out there, there’s no denying this Anniversary Edition Turbo was produced in very small numbers and is worthy of restoration, even just to driver-grade condition.
Those look like TRX rims to me, Jeff. The good news is you can get repop TRX tires from Coker. The bad news is that they are north of $440. Each.
Of course after the costs of repair, replacement, rebuilding, repainting and reupholstering, a couple grand-worth of new rubber might not seem like such a big deal….
I try not to be the guy who brands BF cars Lost Causes, but this is a lost cause, at least to me. And I like Fox-body ‘Stangs, too!
I believe there are also repop (imperial) TRX rims, to avoid the metric tires. I always thought these were nice looking rims on the ‘Stang.
sad little pony. probably worth saving if it was a 302 but not sure there is enough enthusiast interest in the turbo-4, despite its rarity.
these were great looking cars when new, super clean white body with red stripes & call outs made them seem special.
a friend of my parents had a convertible with the V8 that she traded in for a 7-up convertible several years later.
probably wind up being a labor of love only to restore it…
I might be more interested in the panel truck next to the Stang.
If a car is rare because it has an engine nobody ever wanted, does that make it a valuable car?
I don’t think so.
A Corolla with no cruise is rare too, still not valuable. Put it at $1,500 buy it now, and it will sell.
By ’84 interest in V8 muscle cars was revived thanks to gas which was cheap again, the robust economy, Reagan era American pride (with Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” blaring in the background), and the then-young Boomers coming into their earning prime – people who were raised lusting V8 muscle.
So I don’t think the rarity of this car had anything to do with the turbo 4 being undesirable per se. It just wasn’t the right car for the right time.
Superdessucke, what you just said wat that the car was undesirable at the time because it was not a V8.
Yeah, pretty much, though more due to the era than anything actually wrong with the engine. The SVO Mustang pretty much met the same fate.
SVO Mustang owners would disagree with you.
I had this same engine in an ’85 XR4Ti 5 speed and it was a great performer.
Didn’t say SVO wasn’t good. Just saying that it didn’t sell well at the time due to the thirst for V-8 muscle.
Yes, that and the fact that they cost more than the GT.
I’ve had two of these engines, an ’87 Turbocoupe and an ’84 SVO… never had an issue with either one. I could pull 20lbs of boost all day long, just ignore the overboost buzzer!. They produce power easily, can be cheaply modded compared to the V,8 and are pretty bullet proof motors. What’s not to like?
Canuck, the early turbo engines were really bad.
The first dealer I ever worked for had a beautiful 1979 Mustang in black with the turbo engine.
The rod knock was very loud. That was common with the early turbos.
I am not sure if they had fixed that problem by the 1984 model year.
The 79-80 models were a headache, featuring draw-through Holley carbs, ran at 9 psi, and prone to detonation issues, hence rod noise. It was brought back in 1983 with unchanged lower end, but with ODB I and EFI. Unchanged until the end of it’s run in the 1988 turbo coupe. SVO and 87-88 TC’s were intercooled. These are bullet proof, been my hobby for the last several years (running an 86 Xr4ti motor now in a 90 Mustang). Have a V-8 too, the turbo is way more fun. If the feature car were running and the underside is good it may be worth it.
Good to see one kind of junky. I would put on the repop tires and rims, clean it up, replace necessary rubber and gaskets, and just enjoy.
New TRX replicas with tires are a thousand shipped (normal size 16 x 8″) The originals are 390 mm = 15.4″. Even when the Michelin’s that fit the originals were available they were stupid expensive. BMW was the only other manufacturer to use them.
Quoted from Wikipedia: “TRX tires were available either as standard or optional equipment on certain models of European makes such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Citroën, Peugeot, Ford, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Renault, and SAAB. They were also available on certain models of the Ford Mustang, Ford Thunderbird, Mercury Capri, Mercury Cougar, and Mercury Lynx during the 1980s.
Although most TRX tires were produced by Michelin, a few sizes were made by Avon, Continental, Goodyear (mainly for the American market[4]) and Dunlop. Dunlop fitted their version of the trx tire as standard equipment on austin montegos and austin mini metros.”
I don’t remember them being a great tire on my ’82 Mustang GT, but surprised by the number of Ferrari models equipped with them. Not the highest performing models, but must have had some redeeming qualities, despite the cost. Nose on the ’83 & ’84 Fox bodies were my least favorite.
Ferrari used the Michelin TRX tires too…
Had to have one of the first 79’s (a white fully dressed “Cobra”) with the turbo motor. 36K mile warranty and traded it at 35.8K as it was already burning oil and the interior showed signs of poor craftsmanship and design (OK, it was starting to fall apart). Had a buddy that worked at Ford that told me to get the V8 but I had to have the turbo. Always thought something like this with one of the modern 4 cylinder EcoBoost motors in it would be a blast (give you roughly double the horsepower and better reliability).
A rare ugly car has zero value….
Id buy it and drive it as these were common to find back then and the early ones were easy to fix . The t birds were fun also ,got one wrecked in rear fixed it drove it for a while not a bad car.
If memory serves me correctly (could happen), I recall Ford being sued by Shelby for unauthorized use of the “GT350” name. Anyone recall that? And I whole heartedly agree that a new ecoboost would run nice in there, although a nice rebuild of the original motor could perform just as well and look much better (the plastic ecoboost looks like crap)
With chassis stiffening, suspension upgrades, custom wheels, and performance tires, this Mustang could be a perfect recipient for a Coyote engine swap, especially if the Coyote engine came from Roush.
Yes, Shelby did sue Ford for using the G.T.350, I own two of the V8’s,
450hp and 600hp both strokers,fun cars