The third generation of the venerable Ford Mustang was built between 1979 and 1993. And a restyle took place in 1987 that helps zero in on what the seller is offering for sale because he won’t tell us the model year unless you email him with some serious questions. We’re told it’s been garage-kept since almost new, yet the car is covered with dust with no indication if it even runs. And the odometer suggests this Mustang could have fewer than 10,000 miles. So why all the secrecy in asking $30,000 for a convertible that’s indoors near Richmond, Virginia, and available here on Facebook Marketplace? A nod goes to Chuck Foster for sending this mystery for us to try to unravel.
The 14-year run of the third-gen Mustang began in 1979 and was based on the Fox-body platform that had been developed for the 1978 Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr. The larger body with an increased wheelbase provided more interior space for passengers as well as a larger trunk and engine bay. The trim levels of the car would vary over the years (for example, base, Ghia, Cobra, GT, SVO, and more). We believe the seller’s car to have been built between 1987 and 1989. Are we close?
Under the hood likely resides an HO (high output) 302 cubic inch V8. The GT returned to the lineup in 1982 and would remain through 1993. 1983 saw the resurrection of the Mustang convertible after being absent for nearly a decade. The seller’s car seems to be all of these rolled into one. We’re told it’s a “brand-new car from the 1980s” but I think a little more data is needed. Supposedly all you need to do is put in a new battery and off you go.
Nope. Not swallowing this one for one minute. This puppy has rolled over 100k. Underhood condition and condition of paint on top of the bumpers plus the alignment of the speedo numbers make this one fishy pony. More photos are needed for sure to prove otherwise.
I agree., the odometer has probably rolled over. Plus, if it has been sitting for any length of time, just throwing a battery in it won’t get it started, never mind roadworthy. It probably won’t even start without first going through the fuel system. Like a lot of Facebook ads, the presentation is terrible, and the seller has put zero effort into cleaning up the car. Also, the text has little info other than the seller is borderline illiterate. Good luck getting $30k for this pony.
Just a minor point Russ, but wouldn’t the third generation Mustang’s run from 1979 to 1993 be 15 years and not 14?
My 86 has an odometer that shows 100k position. Pretty sure this car would as well. That very well may be a 10k car but since it wasnt cared for kept clean and driven theres no way its worth 30 k. Maybe 20k.
What is the seller smoking? $30k is totally crazy for this thing.
I hear tell they have some mighty fine “wacky tabaccy” down in Virginia.
Virginia is for L❤vers
The seller simply made a mistake when he was listing the zeros. :)
Well, in today’s market, if some lucky clown can get 5k for his ‘06 Hyundai Santa Fe….
This good ‘ol boy is just playing games. I wouldn’t waist a phone call if he can’t disclose the year. Where is he going with this? The moldings on the front of the quarter panel don’t match the door. The front fender molding doesn’t line up with the door. The rocker molding misses the front of the quarter panel. If all it needs is a battery, why not buy one, detail the car and then present it with documentation?
Even if it really had 10,000 miles and was mint and fully detailed, he probably wouldn’t get $30,000, because it’s an automatic convertible, which is the least desirable of these. As it sits I wouldn’t even want to give 5 grand for it.
As to the year, I think it’s a 1987 or 1988 because if it was a 1989 it would have a pony emblem on the passenger side of the dash. Qnd a 1990 would have a driver’s side air bag obviously.
@bick… i feel you are hitting close to the bullseye about year… fox guys know these cars as i being a 2 time owner of 2 89 gt’s know a little bit, im assuming as you said it is 87- early 89 as early built 89’s didnt have the pony on the dash… (ive owned 2 early built gt’s), in 90 the steering wheel changed and airbags were added and the tilt wheel went away… so it defiantly is 87 – 89
I agree with Bick Banter and I’ll narrow it down to 1987 or 1998 which were “speed density” engines with no Mass Air Flow sensor block in the air plenum between the filter and intake. Too rough to have been garage kept and low miles.
Definitely not an ‘87 as the mirrors on the convertible attach above the door sheet metal, which I think was also the case for 1988. I could be mistaken but I think the pony on the dash was a mid-production add in 1989 so if it really is all original (but highly unlikely low mileage), my guess is it’s an early-production 1989.
These sorts of Facebook Marketplace ads bug me. I guess I have more “pride of ownership”, even when I am trying to sell something. I recently sold an old lawnmower on Facebook Marketplace. I’m sure I put more work into its sale than this guy did for his ’30k’ car (I changed the oil, sharpened the blade, installed a new air filter, cleaned it up, and took some good pics). It sold in three hours. Ads like this clearly are full of attitude, but sorely lacking in effort and useable information.
Off my soapbox.
This could be a pretty nice car, if cleaned up and running. But I guess we’ll never know.
On top on the radiator support I see yellow markings like from a junkyard marking what vehicle is from. Something’s very fishy no way this vehicle has less than 10,000 miles on it. This person was serious it would have been washed and waxed and detailed. Person is hiding something don’t trust it. 🧐
My guess it is an 88, look at the wheels. Be cautious bidders.
Sorry. 1987 or 1988.
This seller is some kind of joker.
“I will tell you the year only if you are serious” What type of idiotic statement is that?
I wouldn’t waste 5 seconds dealing with this clown, but if someone was serious, it would be easy to verify mileage – just get the VIN and run a History Report. I winder what would be needed to get the VIN out of them if they won’t even reveal the year.
Why the secret about the year?
Maybe a mid 1988-89, 1987 and some early 1988 models had the side door mirror’s like the hatch & notch
’87-88 (non california) cars had speed density vs the mass air as used in 89 up (88 up CA cars). This one had the lower mounted rear view mirrors which started being used a couple months into the ’88 model year which makes this one an ’88 model. Hope this helps.
My 1990 mileage looks almost exactly like that speedo milage!! I’m sure mine has been around but well taken care of. My car puts that one to shame in every way and I’m sure it would not bring $30,000. good luck on this one
I don’t see a MAF sensor , which if not present would make it an 87 . 86 and 87 were speed density injection using a MAP sensor only . I had a 86 LX 5.0 , 5 speed sedan for 14 years and put over 160k hard miles on it and none of those Fox Mustangs or Capris had 6 digit odometers unless you count the 1/10th mile row . If he cleaned it up and put it in the “right auction” on the “right day and time” with right 2 drunk guys that had big wallets and both wanted it bad he might get his price . The 88 was the best year performance wise . I bought and sold well over a hundred of these off my lot and most were used up years ago and now a lot of guys that had one or wanted one and couldnt afford one back in the day can afford to pay big for a nice one . I even went to CO. to buy a 91 SSP sedan , that’s the one I wish I’d kept .
Agree on the MAF sensor but I stopped pulling on that string when I saw the side mirror placement so am sticking with my guess as an early ‘89 (I have an 87 GT convertible in my driveway right now). Bottom line is WAY too many red flags to suggest $30k with a straight face.
No way. Driver door weatherstrip is damaged. Paint on front bumper damaged. Drivers arm rest not fitting well. Can anyone make out the tires? A10k car would have it’s OEM tires. Underhood insulation mat all discolored. Yeah, someone has jiggered the odo.
Yeah, it’s only got 10k that’s why they includeca whole four photos and pne of the four is an “under the hood” shot from 25 feet away.
I won’t make any disparaging remarks about the level of the seller’s integrity or intelligence. I will just say that this car would be worth the asking price if the following conditions were met:
1) 5-speed transmission instead of automatic
2) The stated mileage could be verified
3) The car was turn-key, ready for the road, needing absolutely nothing
4) It appeared from all angles, inside and out, clean and flawless, as if it had just rolled off of the showroom floor