There has long been debate about when that miserable period known as The Malaise Era ended. Some point to the 1990s, while others believe that evolving automotive technology produced light at the end of the tunnel by the second half of the 1980s. Certainly, this 1988 Mustang GT demonstrates that Detroit was on the right track when it rolled off the line. It offers a winning combination of respectable performance and striking looks, and this one’s desirability increases courtesy of its low odometer reading and overall condition. The owner feels the time is right for this GT to find a new home, listing it here on eBay in Carpentersville, Illinois. Bidding has raced beyond the reserve to sit at $16,400.
Ford introduced its Fox-Body Mustang in 1979, but the company waited until 1987 before performing a significant styling update. The front adopted a more “aero” appearance, with flush headlamps replacing the previous “four-eye” arrangement. This car features that look and the spoilers and other items that were an integral part of the GT package. It wears its original Dark Gray Metallic paint, with contrasting Silver and Blue on the lower extremities. The overall first impression is positive, with the paint shining nicely and the panels showing no evidence of bumps or bruises beyond a couple of small dents in the driver’s door. The seller provides a close-up shot of the front spoiler, where some paint chips are visible. There are no other issues worth mentioning, with the GT aero components in good order, the glass crystal clear, and the wheels free from stains. I would love to roll this classic out of the garage to examine the passenger side, but the overall impression is that this rust-free garage-kept survivor has no serious problems.
Buyers ordering a 1988 Mustang GT received the 5.0-liter “HO” V8 producing 225hp and 300 ft/lbs of torque. The power feeds to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission, which was the most desirable combination offered that year. After a decade when pony cars struggled to break the 17-second mark through the ¼-mile, this car’s ability to complete the journey in 15 seconds must have felt like a breath of fresh air. Ford claimed a top speed of 142mph, but aerodynamic drag meant that the GT fell slightly short of that figure. The seller states this car has a genuine 53,800 miles on the clock, but as is often the case, they don’t mention supporting evidence. It is mechanically unmolested, and the tires have plenty of life. They also provide no information about how this classic runs or drives. However, if they are approachable, that would be the first question to ask.
The lack of verifying evidence for the mileage claim is frustrating, although the interior condition is consistent with the quoted figure. The Gray cloth upholstery shows no evidence of wear or abuse, with the prone outer seat edges worthy of special mention. The remaining upholstered surfaces are spotless, the plastic is excellent, and there are no aftermarket additions. The seller states it has all the usual luxury appointments, meaning the new owner receives air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, power lumbar support on the driver’s seat, cruise control, and an AM/FM radio/cassette player with a graphic equalizer.
Fox-Body Mustangs have long been one of the more affordable versions of Ford’s pony car range, but values are climbing above the market average. This is particularly true of GT variants featuring the fuel-injected V8 we find in our feature car. It has already received nineteen bids, and I expect that figure to rise significantly before the auction ends. This car’s overall condition leads me to believe the price will comfortably climb past $20,000. If it doesn’t, it could be one of the year’s bargains. Is that enough to convince you to carefully monitor this auction, poised to submit a bid at the last possible moment?
Looks like a clean, well-kept Fox Body. It’s not perfect, showing some marks which would be expected on a 35 year old car. But it’s good to see one in this condition, as so many of them were beat on and thrashed. Not everyone likes the GT body features but overall it’s a nice package. Preferred powertrain; nothing like rolling down the windows and listening to the 5.0 as you make a quick run through the gears.
Good job Adam.
IMHO, The 1984 Mustang GT officially ended the Carter Malaise Era. This ’88 was way past that, but I always preferred the LX 5.0.
.. good your H about that BS opinion , Carter wasnt in office in 71′
i agree though, the Mustang GT is the car that woke up the US auto industry.
Id love a Escort GT, if i could only find one
in the write up Adam said “the aerodynamic drag” , hmmm
i thought aerodynamic made it faster ..
I had an Escort GT new in 91, traded it for a new Duster in 92. Both were crap!
In 1971, you could still get a 429 in a Mustang. Malaise car?
Agreed but I’d go with the ’82 model. Though it was only a 2-bbl, it was quick (especially for the time), sounded great, and blew the GM F-body into the weeds, prompting GM to come up with the L69 for 1983 and launching a new horsepower war. A 4-bbl was added for 1983 and then the ultimate carbureted 5.0 appeared in 1985 with roller cam and headers, before the SFI was introduced for ’86.
This is a nice GT but seller needs notes on how it drives like Adam says in his excellent write up here.
I was big into these at the time having leased the ’82, ’83 and ’86 GTs.
Car & Driver Top 10 in 1988.
Mustang had only 2 trim levels this year, the LX and the GT, latter costing an additional $1,000. with base cost at about $12,700.
My friends and I at the time called it the “hovercraft” look.
How nice to see this Mustang left stock.
Hope this Mustang ends up in a mature Home!
That’s a big gap in the history report nice looking car definitely inspect in person for that kind of money
Fifteen second quarter mile times? These cars went high 13’s all day long, my wife’s 1989 5.0 went 12.95 @ 105.5 mph and that car was a carefully tuned automatic that had to commute everyday. It was a new era indeed.
My Dads car 1989 Mustang GT 347 stroker motor 21lb injectors automatic with a super shift kit changed the 273 rear gears to 410s only ran high 14s on street tires on 17” rims!
Your dad’s car sounds fun but it wasn’t necessary for me because my enjoyment (still) is tuning pure stock cars for maximum performance. I did use 3.73 ratio and advanced initial timing. Video is on YouTube of my white automatic coupe under foxtrot user.
A stock 1987-92 GT was a mid/high 14 second car out of the box depending on how loaded up it was. You could get one into the 13s with some straightforward mods (underdrive pulleys, cold air intake, manifold swap, better headers). 12s would have taken quite a bit in terms of speed parts, including a possible supercharger.
My oldest kid got an ex-Florida State Trooper car back about 20 years ago. I don’t remember how it differed from a stock LX, prolly better cooling and stiffer suspension. He put a procharger on it and it’d turn 12.50s all day long. Little twerp drives a Prius now! (sigh!)
Didn’t require a supercharger to run 12’s. All it needed was traction :–). I ran 12’s without all the parts you mentioned. Intake manifold showed no gain nor did headers. I ran mine pure stock though catalytic converters. Paying attention to tuning details made the car quick, not “bolt on’s”. The nice GT for sale here will do the same thing. My 5.0 was featured in Hot Rod Magazine and Super Ford when the Mustang 5.0 and Buick GNX turned the 1980’s around. Believe me, these cars are super strip killers as stock.
Yeah Gary, I had a stock LX 5 speed in 88 (I think). Never had it on the strip, but didn’t lose much on the street. My kid that had the supercharged cop car found himself unexpectedly rich (real estate broker) and bought a 2000 Cobra
R and put a dual turbocharger set up on it. Dynoed at rear wheels at 695. Street raced it for a while, then got broke and had to sell it. Like I said, now he drives a Prius!
Henry, your son will be the wiser and come out the better for whatever tried to slow him down. The Prius shows his new direction and when the time is right, he’ll venture back into hot rodding. Good for him. I’m still trying to grow up :–)
my 1994 Z28 looked like it had 40K when it was really 240K, damn those 6 digit odometers!!!!!
I had a 1990 and a 1990. Both were LX notchbacks. Black wuth 5.0 and 5 speeds. Only options were A/C and a stereo in both.
I loved those cars!!! Which l still gad one of them today.
Sorry. Meant to say 1990 and a 1993.
A very nice example. The gt was more flamboyant then the lx but still desirable. Major cudo’s as per it seems to have been maintained and the 5.0 wasn’t butchered with aftermarket crap. For my book a good buy.
I recall a magazine doing a test on an ugly shade of yellow, bare bones 87LX sedan and burning down the 1/4
A whooping 200 HP you consider the ending of the non muscle car era lol…
Anything over 10 maybe 12k is pushing it for a plastic disposable car
Bust out your mullet Joe Dirt.. I mean your wallet lmao 🤣😂
Actually a whopping 225 hp. and considering it was quick revving, low friction designed and a lightweight chassis the performance speaks for itself.
Don’t try and defend the fox body. Either you know, or you don’t. 225hp doesn’t seem like much on paper (or a computer screen) but if you you had one, or where around in it’s heyday, you know.
I had a 91 LX 5.0 Convertible. Of course I had to see how fast it would go. That’s probably the least aerodynamic version of the Fox Body Mustangs. I had it up to 135 mph when it suddenly jumped to the left side of the road. Until then I was still accelerating. My foot immediately came off the accelerator. Who knows how fast that thing would have gone, it scared the crap out of me. I never tried that again. Now I’m an old man and wouldn’t even care to try that again.
I would still like another one someday.
I had my 90 lx 5.0 going 190 190 190 190! 🤨
I had an 88 GT that I bought back in 91 with 50k on it. I used it for a field service car when I lived in Utah traveling about the western United States. It was amazing amount of tools you could fit in the back of one of those. I was looking at Camaros also but with the flat floor in the back of the mustang it was so much more practical than the camaro. If I wasn’t loaded heavy I could get 30 mpg on the freeway with the A/C on. I made many trips across Montana between Bozeman and Miles City, back in the time of reasonable and prudent. It would do 140. But you needed to keep it under 80 or 85 mph to keep from getting a ticket. I sold it after 5 years and adding 130k to the clock. One of the cars I regret selling. Good times, good memories
This one looks good. I had a 90 LX Convertible (5.0 5 spd). Man that was a great car!
Sold it after about 6 years for another Mustang, 2001 Convertible with a Saleen Body Kit. It looked awesome and handled great.
Looking for another one, not sure what yet, but right now I’m just enjoying looking at them.
SOLD for $17,100.