Another day, another 20th Anniversary Ford Mustang offered with a fairly ambitious asking price. These GT350 cars, which were not exactly well-received when new, pop up every now and again and in most instances, the sellers are looking for very real money for these Fox body rarities. Yes, they were produced in very limited numbers, but the collector muscle car market never really felt the need to hoist them up as truly sought-after machines. The seller feels differently, noting that his car here on craigslist is one of the very few equipped with the rare dash plaque, and it’s up for grabs for $40,000 in New Hampshire.
A few months ago, one of the Facebook groups I follow that tracks interesting cars going into the junkyard actually listed a real-deal GT350 as a car that had a date with the crusher. I forget which state it was in, the there it was – all of its special equipment still in place – sitting in a row of beaters like any other forgotten Hyundai. That’s the challenge with asking top dollar for a car like this: the cheap ones are really cheap, so a firm middle ground is basically non-existent. It’s either a beater with a heater or it’s presented as a prized pig, like this car is.
Now, of course, it does wear the iconic nameplate of “GT350”, but that was also a major sticking point for enthusiasts who recalled the first iteration of a Mustang to wear that badge. Let’s just say many of them did not feel this car lived up to its heritage which has as much to do with the generally low values as anything else. The seller’s car does have a very nice interior with its iconic “canyon red” upholstery still presenting quite well, and it features the preferred combination of a manual gearbox and 5.0L V8 power.
Now, the dash plaque is an interesting detail: the seller mentions that you had to send in for the special “horseshoe” dash plaque and that apparently, only 1,700 owners did. I’m not sure how you track down or otherwise confirm a number like that, but I also have no reason to doubt it. The plaque further confirms the limited-production nature of the car, but I don’t know that it adds a ton of value unless you’re a Mustang collector who has never seen a GT350 equipped with one. I have no issue with the seller asking the money that he is; I just hope he’s prepared to wait a while.
Rarity doesn’t always translate into a huge asking price. For $40k, this car should be in #1 or very nice #2 condition with lower mileage. It seems nice enough with reasonably low mileage, and it does have the desirable 5-speed with the 5.0 V8, though with only 175hp. Anyone interested has to decide if he’s willing to pay an extra $15,000 for a dash plaque stuck to the dash of a $25,000 car.
More like a $30,000 plaque and a $10,000 car. I hope he likes the car because at that price, its not going anywhere, anytime soon.
I agree, it’s not a bad car, just severely overpriced. The pics aren’t high quality but I don’t get the sense it has been cleaned and detailed for sale. No engine pics, I suspect it looks “used” underhood too. These do turn up but don’t have any significant extra value.
Barret Jackson syndrome strikes again.
Might be worth 10K to the right person, on the right day, given the proper presentation.
Agreed. I always loved the 4 eyes and had an ’82 GT, which to date, is probably the best sounding car I’ve experienced. And it was stock! But personally, I would hold out for a 1985 210 horsepower version. And this price is insane. Overpriced by half, at least.
I’m pretty sure the 84 1/2 had the same drivetrain (Holley 4bbl, headers, dual-snorkel, etc.) as the ’85. Stick cars only, of course, same for 1985.
A plaque that adds 3/4 of the value.I,m out.Its a decent mustang and from that mustangs where not that hot-sorry no big deal here. The plaque is nice though.
“These cars were not exactly well-received when new.”
Probably because of the ugly front end (IMHO).
Well I took the sellers challenge and I went to Auto tempest and found multiple Mustang’s for sale in better shape and cheaper I even found a GL model with 75 documented original miles hope the seller is able to find a buyer
He would be lucky to get $10,000. I am looking for one to replace the one I had in the 80s and I have seen much nicer ones for much less. I think $23000 was the most I saw and it was low milage and in almost showroom condition.
These “84 1/2” models just seemed like Ford trying to clear the decks for the much better ‘85. The GT350 was just an LX 5.0 with a stripe kit, anniversary badge and the GTs seats. Once the true ‘85s were launched, these were forgotten. ‘85 brought; Holley 4 barrel, larger air cleaner, roller cam, tubular headers, the quad-shock rear suspension and 16” Goodyear Gatorbscks.
Actually, the ‘84.5 5.0 was pretty much the same as the ’85…stick cars were all equipped with the Holley 4bbl, headers, dual-snorkel air cleaner, etc. No Gatorbacks until ’85 though.
I want what this guys smoking. Wow! I’ll bet you an “expert” appraiser told him that his ‘Stang was made of gold.
These cars were the cars that caused the lawsuit between Carol Shelby and Ford Motor Company. Ford started producing these without asking to use his trademark GT 350 name. Ford had to stop production after making a little over 2500 vehicles with the 5.0 with either a 5 speed and holley 4 barrel or the AOD and EFI. they were also available with the 2.3 turbo. All of the cars were white and maroon no other color options were available. These cars are about number 63 of the 100 rarest mustangs. They all came with badge and were to be installed at the dealer when they were prepped, I know because I installed some of these badges. The dash badge that the owner had to send for listed the production number of the car and the owners name. They had some unique body items i.e. the front bumper, running horse fender badge etc. These are truley a rare Mustang if they are a true GT 350 which is identified by the buck tag as it will read “ANN”.
As a Ford Sales manager in 1984, I ordered all inventory. When the directive came announcing the GT350 it specified that all models would be ordered with an automatic transmission. Since we sold approximately 9 manuals out of 10 GTs ordered, I ordered the only alloted unit with a manual. It was rejected. I ordered it again with a manual and again it was rejected. After the 4th order, the car showed up on the schedule with a manual.
This is the 2nd time I have seen a manual GT 350 here on Barn Finds. Ford must have come to their senses after others like myself complained of the ridiculous automatic transmission directive.
Nice dog-leg shifters in these Fords.
Probably a Chevy guy, tried to use a clutch once and decided that was too complicated.
Gee, that’s an intelligent comment. You should have followed it up with a big, loud rebel yell just for more effect.
The Horse Carrol came with the Vehicles but some (most) were removed by salesman as a trophy, the Emblem which you have to send in is the Rectangle shape “LIMIT EDITION” with the owners name and Special Vehicle Serial Number.
https://photos.classiccars.com/cc-temp/listing/110/9485/12529555-1984-ford-mustang-gt350-thumb.jpg
My 84 GT350 did not come with the headers. There are fake and once in a while a real dash plaque. Most I saw about 200 for a real one. Watch out for fake ones.