Sometimes a car will appear on our desks here at Barn Finds, which is a genuine mystery machine. Such is the case with this 1986 Mustang Convertible. The seller repeatedly indicates that it is an LX, but it carries the decals, wheels, and front bumper, suggesting a GT. Whatever the truth, it is a tidy classic that features a desirable drivetrain combination. It has been in the care of the same elderly owner since the day it rolled off the showroom floor, but the time has come for it to find a new home. Located in Ontario, California, you will find the Mustang listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has raced to $5,488, but this remains short of the reserve.
I have always liked Ford’s styling changes on the Mustang from 1985. The four headlamps and single slot in place of a traditional grille give the car a purposeful appearance. This Mustang wears Medium Canyon Red paint, and it’s hard to fault its presentation. It shines beautifully, with no significant issues or defects with the panels or paint. The Black soft-top is free from rips, although its appearance suggests that it would benefit from applying a conditioner. The back window has avoided the clouding that can plague these cars due to UV exposure, while the remaining glass and exterior plastic look excellent. However, this is where we need to discuss this Convertible as a mystery machine. The owner repeatedly refers to the car as an LX derivative, which may be right. However, it wears the decals that suggest it is actually a GT, along with the GT’s front bumper with integrated foglights and 10-hole alloy wheels. That raises some questions in my mind, and due to the potential value difference between an LX and a GT, interested parties would be wise to pursue this further.
Lifting this Mustang’s hood reveals the fuel-injected 5.0-liter V8 that produces 200hp. Bolted to the V8 is the desirable 5-speed manual transmission, while this classic also features power steering and power front disc brakes. After a decade of misery, the Mustang began to exert its newly-developed performance credentials by 1986. If the driver aimed this beauty down the ¼ mile, it would gallop through in 15.4 seconds. The seller says that this classic has been in the care of an elderly owner since it drove off the showroom floor. It has never been abused or driven hard and judging by the included paperwork, it has been appropriately maintained throughout its life. It has 77,000 miles on the clock, and the service records would seem to support this. The car runs and drives perfectly, and with summer fast approaching, I can’t think of many more pleasant experiences than to hit the road in this Convertible with the top down.
The first thing I noticed with this interior shot was the dash cover. It isn’t clear whether it might be concealing a nasty surprise or whether the owner installed it as a preventative measure against the rigors of the harsh California sun. Looking beyond that, we discover an interior that presents beautifully. Its gray cloth upholstery appears excellent, with no wear or physical damage. The same is true of the door trims and carpet, while there is no evidence of brittle or cracking plastic. It is also nicely equipped in a 1986 context. Apart from an aftermarket CD player replacing the factory radio/cassette player, the buyer will receive air conditioning, power windows, a remote driver’s mirror, a tilt wheel, and a sports gauge cluster.
While this 1986 Mustang Convertible presents impressively as a survivor, it would be vital for potential buyers to clarify whether it is a GT or an LX. While there is nothing inherently wrong with the LX, it is worth considerably less in today’s market than a genuine GT. It appears that the seller is approachable, so he may be willing to clarify this matter. I would pursue that further before submitting a bid. So, which do you think this Mustang is?
This is 100% a GT, not an LX. There is GT badging everywhere. Then the Marcel fog lamps, only on the GT. Also it has the sport seats, only available on the GT. The LX had really plain seats these years. The owner is probably a flipper who doesn’t realize that the 85-86 GT’s didn’t come with spoilers.
As for the rear windows, they are glass, so no chance of fogging up.
LX’s aren’t that much less than a GT. An LX notch may be about the same $ as a later Fox GT
The paint has clearcoat issues, common on these. The paint quality wasn’t very good. Mine needed a repaint after only 5 yrs.
It has 174k miles, not 77k according to the paperwork shown in the pics
Still a great car for less than $10k that is done depreciating
Maybe in the short term, but later? Not sure when, but one of these days all cars will be electric and will there still be affordable petrol for these cars? What is the value then? Sure it provides a different experience then an electric, but if performance in general is what you want, an electric car would embarrass this. This is a Gen X wet dream, but what about todays 30 year old? When they turn 50, what will they want? Whats the value then? Do not buy to ibvest, but for today and for your own pleasure.
Yeah, this quandary applies to all gasoline cars, particularly 1960s era muscle cars that are selling for the price of a home in many areas. Once the Boomers leave the roads, I’m not sure who’s gonna buy those for even more money?
And somebody hilariously recently posted here that 1980s cars will take off once Gen Xers get some disposable income. Well, the front end of Gen X will turn 60 next year my brother. So that generation is either really late bloomers or that’s just simply not gonna happen. My money’s on the latter.
As you say, buy the car because you can afford it and will enjoy it. I wouldn’t buy Any gasoline powered car as an investment at this point. There’s just not enough interest in cars in the younger generations. Before I get screamed at, I’m not saying nobody in the younger generation is into cars Radwood has a great following. But with a few exceptions, it’s not big money.
Have you looked at the values of Supras and RX7s lately? Oh, and Hagerty just bought RADwood. Classic cars are one of the only investments that you can experience. They arent going anywhere.
I just done VIN search on this Mustang and it is in fact an LX.
Looks like a pretty good Four Eye. They haven’t had the following compared to the later Aero Nose cars, but interest in them is picking up. Get a nice one while they aren’t too expensive?
A fuel injected 4 eye drop top, with a stick? Perfect! I like!
Fun fact (from the vast reaches of “useless” information within my brain): I recall back in the day (reading in either Car and Driver or Motor Trend?) that Ford explained why the fuel filler door was on the passenger’s side (and not the driver’s) on Fox body Mustangs. They said that statistically more side impacts happened on the driver’s side than the passenger’s side, so it was done for safety sake. I don’t know if that is statistically true, but I do recall that was the reason given.
Mikefromthehammer are you “Cliff Claven” in disguise?
Only when I’m at Cheers Bar in Boston, LOL. And don’t get me started about Jeopardy. I gave the right answer, honestly.
And, in the ’80’s and before (and today if you believe the manufacturer’s hype, and example being my 2014 Audi, although the dealer’s sales people will discourage you) you could “special order” many cars and if you were willing to wait 12 weeks or so, get exactly what you wanted. So, it could have some of the characteristics of both models.
This car has been on CL locally for the last five days. Each time in a different city. Anaheim, Chino and now the eBay listing in Ontario. So where is it located exactly? Possible red flag.
Also the odo obviously has rolled over so it’s more like 177k miles.
Definitely a GT not an LX.
From the smog test history and recent CA plate, it’s been in CA for possibly just two years. Passed smog in 2020 after one fail. Run the test history using the VIN in the eBay ad and no tests are found, which is odd and maybe another red flag.
Price isn’t too bad but the car is probably worse than it appears. Having previously owned a Fox vert for 13 years, I would not overpay for one today and would just move on to a later model. Frankly I don’t get the high prices for them but everything is overpriced now.
Covertible ✔️
Manual ✔️
Luggage 🧳 Rack ✔️
Grab your sunglasses 👓 pick this fox up in California and drive the coast.
This is absolutely a GT. Interior, dash,wheels, bumper, steering wheel all authentic GT. I had THE very first LX 5.0 ordered for the 1986 model year. Yes the LX 5.0 package came with them wheels and “Goodyear Gator back” tires. As far as price between GT and LX, big back in the day, 14k vs 9500. And that wasn’t the killer, what made me do an LX was the difference in insurance! They hammered us at age 22 back then! Fun car! GLOTS.
Per Autocheck :
3 owners
24 Historical events
0 Accidents
Last reported event : 6/23/2020
Last reported milage : 74348
I bought and sold well over 100 of these back in the late 80’s – late 90’s and I believe from interior condition it is 77k orig . I had an 86 LX coupe 5.0 , 5 speed fully loaded car I kept for a semi-daily driver for over 15 years . I bought it @ 71k miles , all stock , one owner , new car trade from the back lot of Bob Davidson Ford in Baltimore and when I stupidly sold it there was 66k showing . It was THE 5.0 I had wanted for years , loaded , 4 eyes , a trunk and an EFI 5.0 , 5 speed , only came like that one year . The car got Hooker long tube headers , 3″ 60 series Flowmasters , 3″ off road H-pipe and custom bent stainless 3″ tailpies the day after I bought it , the next day I did 3:55 gears and new rear clutch plates and spring in the posi carrier . It had 2 clutches put in it while I owned it and second gear blocking rings twice , third once a World Class T5 went in @ 125k , I never did a thing but tune-ups on that 302 and I ran it hard . What a great little car it was . I love the look of this car but I’ve had several Fox convertibles and even with frame connectors welded in they are cheesy . If it was the same light blue mine was I might be tempted . Every time I have bought a nice example of a car I loved in my younger days it has been a let down and I’ve done it 3 times now . I think I’ll just keep fond memories intact and go bang some gears in my Hellcat . It is a sweet car though .
Why not rely on the sellers own maintenance records instead? Look at the pictures on Ebay that show the records with close to 30 entries. It starts at 110k and goes to 152k miles. It was at 152k miles in 2005, 17 years ago. The car could have 177k or even 277k for all we know be definitely not 74k.
Additionally, the seller suspiciously left out the VIN number or typed it incorrectly into Ebay. Some sellers know that when they include the VIN then we can see a lot of potentially negative records and give a low autocheck score. So this seller may be a flipper who conveniently doesn’t want to highlight the high mileage or title errors but is trying to sneak in the truth in the pictures so he has some disclosure covered.
That said, if you could buy this a lot cheaper because of the high miles, it may be a decent deal because these engines will last if you keep them relatively stock and maintained. You can probably buy and drive this all summer without having to do any major repairs.
As for frame connectors, i’ve driven mine hard for years and never felt I needed to add them. If you are keeping it around stock HP and not expecting it to be a Hellcat than you don’t need them. This car went 177k miles and a lot of years without them just fine.
The last Fox vert I kept for any length of time was a 91 LX loaded with leather and a 5 speed . I foolishly installed the 347 I had built for my 86 coupe in it . It already had frame ties and 3:55’s long tubes and a B303 cam in the 302 . It only had 45K on it and I figured it would be bad assed to have my $8500 stroker in a drop top . First time I beat it with MT Drag Radials out back the top wouldn’t latch until it set on level ground for 15 minutes . Then the paper thin overbored junk Ford block cracked in the #1 bore . I bought an aftermarket block had it relieved and then put a Procharger on it along with the 100hp shot it already had . That was right around the time LS swaps started to get big and I could have made 25% more HP for 50% less money . I had never cared much for Ford products and that was my last foray into the blue oval blues . I still have a penchant for expensive motor builds but now I ride under the Buick Tri-Shield with my wallet . I still will always have a soft spot for the 86 LX coupes and if I ever see a low mile original car I will be hard pressed not to spend stupid money for it , if it happens I will not modify it whatsoever . Well maybe Flowmasters and 3:55’s . And maybe an off-road H-pipe and long tubes . (or I could do it right and LSX454 it) . God I hope I don’t see a nice low mile 86 coupe .
Well, if it’s gone 177k miles it’s going to be a lot flexier than when it left the factory. Mine was a ’90 LX vert bought with 80k miles. Subframe connectors and a shock tower brace tightened things up nicely. There was a lot of cowl shake before installing them. The notchbacks are much better in that regard but hard to find and of course pricey.
Asking price of this car on CL is $10.5k.
The eBay listing claims one owner while Autocheck says 3. Another anomaly. Or red flag.
Another thing about these, along with the flexy chassis, cheesy interior and lousy brakes, is the clutch is incredibly heavy. A real pain in stop and go traffic. If I still had mine I would convert to hydraulic.
Yes, the brakes are a weak spot in ’86. You can retrofit the ’87+ 11″ brakes to the front to improve if you want to. The clutch is heavy. Change to a Center force clutch and/or add a hydraulic kit. I kept it stock and never had an issue with either. As for interior, American mid 80’s cars were all cheezy. I have a few and they are all the same quality. I still think this is better than buying a 6 cyl Maverick, Nova, a vomit green Automatic Pinto, a Chevy Citation, a late 70’s luxo barge, and all the other “everyday” cars you find on BF for more $ that everyone claims to love but never seems to buy. Idk, top down, rowing the gears and listening to the sound of a 5.0 with flow masters seems like more fun than driving around in a green automatic pinto but to each his own.