Ford did something unusual from 1984 to 1986. Rather than a great big honking V-8 in a Mustang GT aimed at folks that wanted to put their foot down and hold on, the SVO version was intended to compete with European sport coupes and had many unique features. This nicely refurbished car is listed for sale here on craigslist and is located in Cupertino, California. The price is $10,000 obo.
The seller states that the car was originally an east coast car but that it has been refurbished, including a “driver-quality” paint job that looks pretty nice in these pictures and an OEM windshield. The first two pictures here look like they could have been from Ford factory promotional materials for the SVO. Ironically, the 1986 “poster car” was even white. And while I’m thinking about it, thanks to reader Matt H. for this poster-worthy find!
The mechanicals of the rare Mustang (9,835 produced over a three-year period) also received attention from the seller, including an upgraded cooling system, a new exhaust, and a suspension refresh with correct adjustable Koni Classic red shocks, MOOG springs, and new Goodyear Eagle Sport tires.
I would rate the interior as “very good, but not perfect” with minor wear showing — bonus points for the factory SVO floor mats, though! Just look at the expanse of 1980’s plastic! If you are intrigued in the slightest by this unusual attempt by Ford to build a “driver’s car”, you owe it to yourself to check out this 1983 article by Car & Driver on the then-upcoming SVO. It really illustrates, more so than the subdued cosmetics, how far out on a limb the blue oval brand went to produce this Mustang. Items as trivial as pedal spacing to facilitate heel-and-toe shifting were debated and resolved.
As you might expect given the rest of the car, the engine has been checked and tuned and operates well. The air conditioning blows cold. If you want to go a step further down the performance path, a period-correct set of Ford Motorsport lowering springs and an aftermarket K-brace are included. And what refurbished Mustang SVO would be complete without an unopened factory mixtape! Let us know if you are the lucky reader that purchases this unusual Foxbody!
Not my favorite model but wow,pretty sharp. Looks like a relatively inexpensive way to join the cool mustang club wherever you live. Well shown, reasonable price IMHO. Good luck to the seller and happy miles to the new owner.
This one was written up here a week or two ago. Still an awesome car and it appears the BIN is now $1k cheaper.
If this was a east coast car, must have been a southeast because no northeast was ever this nice unless garaged.
I want it! Just that my garage is full unfortunately.
I would still be leery of hidden rust on this car. Look at the amount of rust painted over on the rear sway bar. Also new Moog springs (good quality) are a good thought. They will not be the same as the originals. (I have a set of originals if anyone needs them.) This car presents well and is my favorite SVO color. (I’m stuck with a black one.) This one makes me nervous.
Great car and faster than the 5.0s of the Fox body era. Nice shape! 4 owners averages out to 9 years each. Probably better cared for than most, just saying!
An ’86 Mustang LX or GT 5.0 was definitely quicker 0-60 than an ’86 SVO
If I recall it was faster than the 1984 GT. Not sure about the later ones. Bad timing though. Between development and market, the Reagan era had given everybody a nostalgic jones for old Americana, which was a V-8 and not a little 4 trying to be European.
Faster on a road course, I bet.
I know my mustangs pretty well especially fox bodies. But today I learned something new. The shifters on the SVO and the other fox bodies are completely different. I never noticed that before. I thought there was some kind of trickery here but I did a google search and indeed the SVO came with the ugly as sin straight up and down tall shifter. As you fox body guys know the standard shifter is a bent curvy thing that ergonomically fits right into the drivers hand….this just looks wrong to my eye. Did you ever notice this????
SVO had Hurst shifters. Also the pedals are different.
I WANT this one…..but its too far from South Carolina and I don’t have time to get it…..it checks ALL the boxes for me!!!
Damn!
Darrin, I believe that the shifter box/plate is also different. I have had close to 25 Fox Body Mustangs/Capris and an SVO. I currently have an SVO transmission sitting on a shelf and the the “ball socket” appears to be taller than a 5.0 transmission. Also the “ball” appears to be a smaller diameter. I can not be certain of all this as all of my last (and one current) 5.0s have after market shifters. But I have seen enough of these over the years that I think I am correct.
Is it an interference engine?
Nope. Rubber timing belt but no interference
I had a new 86 GT. Loaded, it cost me $14,000. My brother had a 86 SVO. Also loaded, it cost him $16,000. I thought it was nice looking, but couldn’t understand why anyone would pay $2000 more for a slower car with a buzzy 4 cylinder. I guess Mustang buyers agreed.
Had this engine in a 88 Turbo Coupe. Drove it 210000 miles before I sold it. Had a 5 speed and original clutch. Enjoyed driving it every day.