Sometimes, the simplest cars offer the most appeal. Today, it seems the new-age collector is obsessed with how many options a car left the factory with. Power features, comfort equipment, luxurious touches – all of it is now used as a means of asking exorbitant prices for secondhand vehicles. For me, the opposite holds true: show me a vehicle that the original owner simply focused on performance and driveability, and nothing else. This 1986 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 notchback coupe is offered here on craigslist with a 5-speed manual and an asking price of $22,800.
The seller claims he bought it from the original owner. While this makes it a 2-owner car, I doubt he has registered it in his name, so it could be considered a 1-owner example. Regardless, it isn’t completely original, since it does sport a respray in presumably the original colors. The seller notes it presents well with a few door dings. The old-school California sunset license plate points to a long-term history on the West Coast, and its stock appearance indicates the prior owner never went down the rabbit hole of performance upgrades. And, it’s a notchback, while many of us tend to favor the liftback-style body.
The interior is a mixed bag, but it can be easily improved. Fortunately, the hard stuff is already done, as the seats and carpeting were recently freshened up. The dash pad is missing, but those are widely available via any number for Ford Mustang parts specialists or you could find an original one in an enthusiast parts marketplace. The 5-speed is the real story here, as you simply don’t see many four-eyed, notchback cars with three pedals and wearing the sleepy LX trim. While I don’t want to invite the Marti Report into the conversation, I’m willing to bet this configuration makes this a fairly limited-production model when you factor in the specific trim/options combination.
It’s always nice to see the factory intake assembly and various decals/stickers still in place in the engine bay. My assumption is that the color is definitely original to the car, and given the engine bay paint still looks quite nice, the exterior likely just showed some fading from the California sun. The seller notes the engine benefits from new gaskets, hoses, spark plugs, wires, and distributor cap/rotor, and the clutch was also recently replaced. In 1986, this Mustang produced 200 b.h.p. and 285 lb.-ft. of torque, a number that is still more than enough today to have some fun. This looks like a terrific weekend driver for the money, and thanks to Barn Finds reader Tony Primo for the tip.
Sweet!
I always preferred the LX over the GT. The basic Fox body shape didn’t need the added body kit as far as I was concerned.
If I could take this one on, I’d install a new dash top and leave the rest pretty much as-is. It appears the original owner kept it in pretty good nick.
Though weak by today’s standards, the 200 horses of the 5.0 delivered good performance. The 5-speed’s shifter was not the best ever, being a little notchy, but it got the job done and, like the engine, seemed robust.
Assuming the chassis (brakes, shocks, tires, suspension bushings) is in good order, this is a jewel, and at a fair price.
For ’86, the GT didn’t have a body kit like the ’87 and later years so you got the same clean look with a GT with fog lights and a nicer interior, as long as you didn’t want the notch back which was LX only. It’s a nice car but not so great splotchy respray without bodywork and not a great seat recover job. I would just put in the nicer GT seats. This was born with gray cloth. Better to get one all original with a dash pad for that price
Looks like a great four-eye Mustang. It’s always interesting to realize that the basic notchback in basic trim is perhaps the most desirable Fox Mustang. This is my favorite color for them; the respray is to be expected, as this color simply “faded away” over time. Per the Marti Report, well-equipped. Not low miles, but it looks like this was somebody’s baby. Lots to like.
Yep, one purty car. I like both the notches and the hatches. The hatchbacks were handier.
Crazy price ask – no dash pad? Are you nuts twice?
No dash pad, missing the lower window trim on doors, mediocre respray (as noted by JCA)…not disrespecting the car, it looks pretty clean, but not perfect. The seller has it priced more like a perfect Fox. 16-17k I think is more realistic.