5-Speed Project: 1991 Ford Mustang Convertible

Life getting away from us can have myriad impacts. We see our friends less often, we find it difficult to create opportunities for exercise. The project car almost inevitably gets put on ice. The seller of this 1991 Ford Mustang LX convertible had all the best intentions of getting this strong-running droptop back on the road, but he admits that child rearing is the priority at the moment (as it should be.) The Mustang comes with all the critical parts to complete, but I suspect there’s still a fair amount of parts sourcing to be done. Find it here on craigslist with a very reasonable price of $2,500.

That’s a truly fair price for a 5-speed Fox body with the preferred 5.0L V8 under the hood. The convertible will always go for less, but if you’re not taking it to a road course every weekend, the lack of structural rigidity shouldn’t phase you too much. The luggage rack on the trunk lid is a classic 90s convertible detail, as you’d find them on everything from a base model Cavalier to a Saab 900. How many people ever actually used these things? And were they ever functional, or purely decorative? One has to wonder what designer felt this was an attractive detail to add, and to drill into the trunk, no less.

The seller took the interior apart and doesn’t explain why; regardless, it’s all included. Perhaps he was planning to refinish them, or paint every component, but the reasoning is not explained. Some owners go to great depths to rid interiors of filth and stains, so perhaps that was the motivating factor here. Regardless, what I’m seeing doesn’t appear to be in great condition; usable, yes, but far from perfect. But that also fits with the Mustang’s overall condition, which does look slightly tatty. Both the front and rear headlights and turn signals show signs of damage and will need replacement.

However, those are enormously easy fixes. You can find replacement headlights here on eBay all day long. The paint will clean up with a proper buffing and this Mustang will look significantly better without oxidized paint, smashed lenses, and a missing interior. The seller could have likely asked for more if he had taken those simple steps. The 5.0L V8 and its 225 horsepower and 300 lb.-ft. of torque should still help this Stang move out smartly, especially with 3 pedals providing the motivation. The seller has priced this Mustang to move, and I think there may even be some potential upside for the next owner. What do you think the next phase of this project should be?