While I sometimes wax poetic about cars and trucks that will forever be cheap, the notchback Ford Mustang is not one of them. This is a model that seems to still have some spring in its step, and even with cars like this low-mileage 1993 model going for $27,500, that’s likely not the top number for one of these fan favorites of the Fox body era. The 1993 Ford Mustang LX listed here on craigslist has a lot going for it, from having only 73,000 original miles to being equipped with the preferred 5-speed manual and painted in a desirable factory color known as Reef Blue.
This particular Mustang is said to be recently exhumed from long-term storage, and is being listed on behalf of the owner by a collector car storage facility in Rhode Island. It seems like the only modifications it has are an induction-style hood and a Hurst shifter. This alone makes a Fox body notable, but it really elevates a car that was already sporting a desirable configuration. The seller notes that there is no rust on this Mustang despite residing in New England, which is always the next question when looking at a car from the Northeast. The Pony wheels are missing their center caps, which is admittedly quite distracting visually.
Those are the small details I would personally fix before listing a car; I’m always amazed when sellers don’t take the additional week to get those parts bolted on prior to listing it for sale. The interior of this Mustang is quite clean with no apparent modifications besides the aforementioned shifter; even the radio remains stock. Check out the photos in the listing and you’ll see how clean the upholstery is, and that the back seat looks like it’s never been sat in. This is a car that again, would truly benefit from a highly curated presentation, as the bones look incredible.
The only real disappointment (other than the missing center caps) is the engine bay, which the seller could have spent a few minutes detailing. The open-air intake is a bummer as well; I would have thrown a factory airbox in here before listing it for sale. The sticker from Karl’s East Coast Speed brings back fond memories, as I lived down the road from this shop when we resided in Rhode Island. It appears to have closed since that time, which is a bummer. This notchback Mustang looks like a true survivor underneath, and I’ll bet an enterprising Fox body fan could buy this, change the hood, ditch the intake, and pretty it up a bit and be able to pull a respectable profit if they were inclined to flip it. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for the find.
Fox LX notchbacks with a 5-speed in a unique color, certainly a sweet spot in the Mustang world. I’m with Jeff, this one looks good overall, though the presentation isn’t the best (especially underhood). I’d go back to a stock hood, install the on-order center caps, and pitch the mud flaps, returning it to the clean look which is one of this model’s strengths.
I agree with Bob’s Comments!
I agree with Bobs comments as well. This is a great color combination. The LX just has a nice clean look about it. I’d absolutely keep the rims and just get the center caps, and while mud flaps are great on tractor trailers and SUV’s, they kind of take away from the nice lines on this Mustang, I’d remove them too. 302 and a stick will have a smile on my face the entire time I’m driving it.
Great color, poor presentation as has been stated.
Intake manifold is quite desirable, but judging by the amount of rust in the engine bay and on the components, a prospective buyer better be climbing/crawling all over that car. It has clearly been in storage for an extended period of time, and rust never sleeps. It can hide well, but it doesn’t sleep. I’d put money on there being a spot or two of body cancer on that thing somewhere.
Like you think, I’d bet the car looks better in the pictures. There is an awful lot of corrosion in the engine compartment, an area that isn’t effected without other areas being so. You know what looks worse than these wheels without center cap, new center caps on a wheel with oxidized clear coat.
This car was probably stored in a damp area. It’s very desirable, but has been highly modified and needs to be gone over with a fine tooth comb. The asking price is for a premium quality car, that’s questionable.
Steve R
This car was likely driven on the salty highways for several years. All engine compartments end up looking like that.
And like Steve R mentions, that’s the tip of the iceberg.
Not sure why a seller thinks that the car is worth their asking with zero effort put in to take it to the level that justifies the price.
The seller indicates he has the wheel centers on order…. I agree with ditching the mud flaps, but I will put in one lonely vote for keeping the hood.
All that said, the price and condition of the engine bay make me want to pass on this example.
Seems an insane amount of rock chips
Striking windshields these days I for one appreciate the mud flaps on this sedan
Those rock chips are another indication that this spent a majority of its 73K miles driving on Route 93.
For this kind of money? Add $3,000 and you can find a low mileage 2014, in much better shape, with twice the power, and you still get the solid rear Axle.
The car has good potential but most people want a stock car to realize that kind of money. I would try to return it back to stock if I was trying to get the most money out of it. You could probably sell that GT40 intake for enough cash to buy all the stock parts. They are going for a lot now. You could also sell the ford motorsport mud flaps,hurst shifter,strut tower brace & hood to pay for a good detail. Never been a fan of the Stormin Norman hood on the foxbody. IMHO the stock hood or a nice 2-1/2″ cowl hood have cleaner lines.
That is not a Stormin Norman hood rather just a Ram Air piece. The Stormin Norman hood was a cross between the Ram Air and cowl hood with a 3″ rise in the rear. I had one on my 87 GT years ago and yes, it was gaudy as hell but it looked better than the dented hood plus it came free with the car. This car is certainly not worth the asking price for a Mustang fan but there’s a butt for every seat.
This poor car was driven hard and put up wet and hot. For crying out loud the wipers are rusty. The hot air intake and the GT 40 intake manifold that track bar under the hood and aftermarket coil. That’s just a quick glimpse of what I saw. That’s the missing passenger door speaker, broken ashtray door, this is not worth the asking price from others I have seen, too much trouble ahead for the buyer, at least at that asking price.
The car is obviously a driver not a show car. But this after market hoods is one of my favorites. A clean up in the engine bay would have definitely helped presentation. It makes you wonder about the regular maintenance if any that was done. But unique color as everyone said and a five speed notch( the lightest of the body styles) . Someone has a great car coming their way.
Drives better than it looks ain’t saying much. Asking a lot of scratch for car they took 0 interest in preparing for sale…imho.