The Ford Mustang SVO is an underappreciated classic by every account. We all know the reasons why, obviously, which is heavily tied to the fact that it doesn’t have a V8 under the hood. But so many other “checked boxes” are there, from a muscular stance to the scoop in the hood to the racy interior. The SVO shown here on Facebook Marketplace is a bit of a project, sure, but it’s also priced right at just $4,750. The car runs and drives and the seller has addressed several maintenance items. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Terry for the find.
Now, sadly, the cosmetics for this SVO are in tough shape. I would say a full respray seems likely. The cosmetics question is one that is incredibly personal for each potential buyer. Some of you won’t care a hoot about the lack of clear coat or paint; others won’t be able to look at it in their garage if it’s not absolutely gleaming. I hate to admit it, but I’m increasingly in the latter camp as it’s hard to enjoy a paint job that’s rough to the touch. This SVO appears to have straight body lines and no rot in the sills, so at least the stripped finish makes it easier to spot potential flaws.
Under the hood of this early model SVO is a 2.3L turbocharged 4-cylinder spitting out a healthy 175 b.h.p. and 210 lb.-ft. of torque. Obviously, the later models with the flush-mounted headlights got a bump in power, but this was a seriously respectable number in the height of the malaise era. Plus, turbocharging opens up all sorts of interesting possibilities from a modifications standpoint. You can build quite a sleeper out of an SVO like this, especially if you leave the cosmetics as-is.
The seller reports that he has addressed the following repairs: a new starter, battery, valve cover gasket, and air filter, and he has performed an oil change. Impressively, it retains all of its original glass and the sunroof doesn’t leak, but he does note that the windshield is cracked and he’s having some issues with the driver and passenger windows not rolling up. This will create complications for anyone storing the car outside, but fortunately, there’s no carpeting to worry about. Definitely a project, but one that seems worthy of reviving.
European 🇪🇺 flair from Ford’s Mustang