Low Mileage Survivor: 1986 Ford Mustang SVO

Well, I had to scrape the drool off my desk looking at this one. It’s well known that I love the Mustang SVO and would very much like to own one someday when planets and priorities align, and now I know I’d like it to look just like this fine, fine specimen. Showing just over 37,000 miles, this SVO is indeed a time capsule, but the mileage isn’t so low that you’re guaranteed to find a car in condition like this. The SVO has clearly been loved by its previous owners, and the low mileage is just a bonus at that point. The SVO is a later model with the flush-fitting headlights, and the paint appears to be absolutely gorgeous. Find the SVO  here on eBay where bidding has reached $14,000 with the reserve unmet.

All the little details are right with this car. The black textured surfaces still appear quite lustrous with no signs of sun fading. The flat-face alloy wheels still gleam and show little evidence (if any) of curb damage. The trim that lines the bumpers and doors is likely not faded and all accounted for. The paint is super nice, and the seller references one repaint in its history file. The SVO retains its factory-style exhaust, and in general, I see no signs of modifications. While a project-grade SVO is still plenty cheap, survivors like this go for real money as the current bidding suggests. If I were the owner, I would have shown this at the recent Radwood show in Greenwich, Connecticut – it’s a perfect candidate for that audience.

The interior is likewise mint with the heavily bolstered bucket seats showing no visible damage or heavy wear to the bolsters. The leather surfaces look practically new, which is very impressive for a car with near 40,000 miles. When I see examples like this with low but not crazy low miles, it’s even more apparent that the owner(s) simply took the best possible care of it that they could, and used it solely for nice weekend drives with no exposure to wintertime conditions. Everything is stock inside, which is a good thing because the original SVO cockpit was a treat with a classic three-spoke steering wheel and a gear shift that fell right into your hands. All power functions are said to work as intended.

The SVO’s engine bay is like the rest of the car: bone stock and presenting extremely well. The details are right with this one, with the black hoses, belts, and other surfaces all looking like they just left the factory. The seller reports no mechanical issues or leaks at this time, and I can’t say I’m surprised given the condition on display here. It is fully documented and comes with the Marti report, build sheet, window sticker, and its original bill of sale. The current bids fall well short of what an SVO like this is worth, and while the respray is a bummer, it at least looks like a very high-quality job in photos.