The owner of this 1989 Mustang LX is quick to point out that this is a vehicle that has never been abused or drag raced. This latter point is one that is worth considering, as the Coupe version of the Fox-Body Mustang has developed as something of a favorite amongst people who like their high-speed driving to happen a ¼-mile at a time. This is because when compared to its hatchback sibling, the equivalent Coupe tips the scales around 90lbs lighter. Leaving that fact aside, this Mustang appears to be an immaculate survivor that wants for nothing. It is located in Jacksonville, Alabama, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has been spirited on the Mustang and has reached $12,000. However, the reserve hasn’t been met.
When I inspect a vehicle like this Cabernet Red Mustang, one of the first areas that I consider is the front bumper and the front edge of the hood. Both of these areas are prone to stone-chipping and can make an otherwise lovely looking classic begin to appear quite tired. With this particular car, the news seems to be positive. Both areas look so clean that it makes me wonder if they have received a repaint. If they haven’t, then their condition is quite astonishing. I know that if I were to buy this Mustang, I would probably have one of those companies that “wrap” cars apply clear film to both areas. This would provide long-term protection without seriously compromising originality. The rest of the panels and paint appear to be very nice, with no signs of any dings, dents, or prior accident damage. The alloy wheels are free from apparent curb strike or staining, while the glass appears to be in good condition.
The Mustang’s interior generally presents quite well, but there are a few signs that this is a classic with a few years under its belt. There is some visible wear on the outer edge of the driver’s seat, along with some visible wear on the wheel rim. Neither of these issues is major, but they can be noticed. The rest of the interior trim and plastic looks to be in good condition, while the carpet is remarkably free of issues. Creature comforts extend to air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, cruise, and an AM/FM radio/cassette player.
By 1989, Ford had started to find its Mojo with the Mustang. This meant that the 5.0-liter V8 under the hood now pumped out a respectable 225hp. When you consider that it was only a decade earlier that the Fox-Body hit the market, things had changed significantly. On release, the most potent offering at that point produced 143hp. The performance of this car represented a quantum leap forwards from those dim, dark days. Backing this V8 is a 4-speed automatic transmission, while power steering and power brakes were standard fare. The listing indicates an odometer reading of 55,800 miles, but it isn’t clear whether this is accurate. If I were to judge it on appearance, I would say that it very well could be. Unfortunately, the owner doesn’t indicate how well the Mustang runs or drives. However, he does appear to be very approachable and would seem to be willing to answer any relevant questions about the vehicle.
This 1989 Mustang LX is a clean and tidy car, and it appears to be a vehicle that needs nothing…except a new owner who will enjoy this classic. It is a fascinating car on one very surprising front. If you wonder out into the market today searching for an ’89 Mustang LX, you will be spoiled for choice if you want a convertible or a hatchback. Vehicles like this one are very much the exception to the rule, and it is hard to find nice ones for sale. That doesn’t make it a rare car, just something that is a bit unusual. I quite like this Mustang, and with 33 bids submitted up to this point, it would seem that I’m not alone. I suspect that when the hammer finally falls, someone will be the proud owner of a very tidy classic.
Repainted with new headlights for sure. All ’87-’91’s had black body molding.
Obviously repainted, new lamps up front and the reason it wasn’t raced is it’s an automatic, so it’s got the milder cam & only 205 HP.
Manuals and automatics were both rated at 225 JP in ‘89.
“Never raced”? That’s quite a claim! Does that mean it has never been down a legitimate track, or local stop light drags or both? Going down the track is not the end of the world for a vehicle by any means. There could be more damage done by poor maintenance, or just a really heavy right foot. Good luck to the seller!
Wet too much money with over 55k miles.
Way too much money with over 55k miles.
Keith these are moving up in value quickly. I think in 3-4 more years, this will look like a bargain.
Repaint or no that Mustang is gorgeous. Just bring your magnet and inspect thoroughly lol
The lights do look different but I can’t put my finger on why
Its not factory headlights or even the corner lights.
I remember back in the day when the 4th Gen 5.7 Camaros blew these 5.0 mustangs away (in stock form). Most of the dudes I knew who had these 5.0s wouldn’t even race the Camaros because they knew better. 225HP doesn’t even come close to 275-305HP the 4th Gens had. Circa 1980’s-90’s.
It wasn’t so much the power that made these fast but the lack of weight. A no-option, 87-89 speed-density model LX, notchback, 5-speed with 3.08’s could break into the high 13’s with some very minor tweaks such as 16 deg initial timing, a 1/4 tank of 93 octane, removed air silencer, K&N filter, and an iced intake. Underdrive pulleys could free up a few HP.
That wasn’t my recollection. Camaros were losing badly until they got in the game with the 5.7. At that point they were about matched with the 5.0s. Plus you were forced into an old tech auto trans with the Camaro which slowed you down. The Buick GNs were the 5.0 competitors that were tough to beat.
Apples and Oranges. IMHO it would be more appropriate to compare the Fox-body Mustangs(’79-’93) to the 3rd Gen F-cars(’82-’92) then to the 4th Gens(’93-’02).
True about the 4th gen….. but when they came out….. they man handled the 3rd gen cars. I know….I owned many a 3rd gen……. still a fun pony car. With a 5spd and bolt ons…. it hauled.
God, I miss the 80’s and early 90’s. Still prefer a ttop manual Z28, but would love a ttop manual GT too.
The cheap aftermarket lenses and new paint make this car look like a die-cast model. And they look like they don’t fit flush in the housings like the factory lenses.
Being an 89 5.0 LX shouldn’t this have the tweed GT seats like the hatchbacks & convertibles did ? This one has the plain Jane interior …
Believe it or not, the sport seats didn’t become standard on the 5.0 LX until 1990 or 91. I looked this up the other day, and I’ll have to find the link again.
The car looks showroom but $13K or more? If you like to just drive as is, this is the car to buy. I do like this color.
i wonder how whoever got those wipers to park so low – like on a ’70 ford XL.
I wanted one of these bad when they were new. I priced out a stripper(no a/c, radio delete, etc.) LX 5.0 notchback/coupe/sedan with 5-speed in black and was ready to order from a willing dealer. The car would have been right around $10K, but being under 26 the insurance was $3K/yr., even with my clean record. With an insurance premium higher than the car payment there was no way I could justify the expense. :-(
The color looks like Ox Blood Red a color I saw on a 75 Olds Cutlass once that was for sale up in Denver for about $7500.
Wow, lot of cash for plain jane LX 5.0…
The LX’s are the ones to get, GT’s with the ground effects and front spoiler didn’t age well. Everyone I knew was buying the LX, that’s what they people more interested in performance bought, the GT’e were for the poseurs and secretary’s. The prices for LX’e are much stronger and will only appreciate faster as time passes.
Steve R
I agree. In ’89, I was an LX 5.0 evangelist to anyone who would listen. It was the only new car I lusted after. For any serious car guy, it was the car to get. I had one spec’d out with all the modifications I would do many times over. Unfortunately, I was still a broke teenager in ’89 so my tastefully modified LX 5.0 wasn’t a reality. After a couple years of saving, I ran across an ’86 GT. It was almost everything the ’89 LX 5.0 was minus the headlights, which I think look a little goofy anyway. 30 years later, I still have my GT.
But back to this LX 5.0, it is a notch which is a plus, but being an auto is a non starter for me. If you bought an auto when you could have bought a stick, that means you are a poser in my book. All of the sports cars in my modest collection are all manual trans. Secondly, this car has the base seats and the cruise control wheel. Auto trans, base seats, cruise wheel equal poser status to any car guy.
Bought one exactly like this new for 11,200 out the door
They must have sold a ton of these! & weren’t the ’89s a lot better when it came to rusting, compared to say stangs from the ’70s & earlier? If so, why don’t i see them on the road anymore? – & at even very high mileage, barring no serious accidents, at the worst, you would just have to replace cheap easily avail mechanical parts! & throw on some seat covers.
& there is maybe what – just 1 inexpensive to rebuild computer on manual trans cars?
How about those cup holders? Is that a classy aftermarket add? I don’t recall seeing anything other than an ashtray in the console.
The front seats have been recovered or replaced. The pattern isn’t correct for a ’89 LX coupe.
The comments are great on this 5.0, but the author stating Ford had just started finding their Mojo with these in 1989 doesn’t jive. 1987 is when Ford got it just right, then the switch from speed density to mass air,,,,outside of that Ford stopped what seemed a yearly increase in power and just sat on it. The mass air meter actually didn’t increase the power at all and some guys removed the small screen inside as one more “free horsepower power” trick. I kept hoping Ford would come out swinging with even more power even if it meant a 351(5.8). They didn’t.
Rumors of a front wheel drive Mustang for the next generation was awful news!
I’d say the aftermarket was just gettin their Mojo in ’89 with smog legal parts coming out, some weren’t, and it just exploded from there. It was a lot of fun, and the tubo Buicks were always loads of trouble. The fourth gen Camaro was the ugliest Camaro I ever saw but man they made strong power out of the 5.7 and now it got the manual transmission. Look out Ford ,, out came the Cobra which was pricey and to me was what Ford should have building earlier on. Not a special limited car. When Ford did finally offer the kick in the pants 5.8 it came in the form of a showroom class racer, very limited numbers and hardly easy to obtain.
Imagine nowadays walking into a Ford dealer and driving out with a brand new Mustang with awesome power…..stripped of dumb gadgets and a raunchy sounding exhaust all for ten five, maybe eleven thousand bucks. Even fifteen. Cheap thrills really sold the LX 5.0.
I guess I would be a poseur because I want cruise control when I am driving 1,100-1,200 miles in a day. I don’t care either way if a car is manual or automatic, nor do I care if it even has air conditioning, but I want my cruise control for long distance driving. Actually, I need it.
Slam dancing in the early 1990’s after slamming a pitcher of Long Island iced tea, I twisted my right ankle and now I am getting arthritis in that hoof lol. But I am a poseur lol.
1200 miles is 17 hrs a day of highway driving. That’s rediculous. Who cares what you own, there is no fun in that. Sounds more like work. Might as well get an economy car and get your gas costs down…A poseur is someone who is able bodied but buys a sports car for pleasure driving and chooses the auto over the stick. They just want to look sporty. A stick makes most any car more lively and fun to drive. I’ll take a light cheap econobox ant day over many better cars with an auto. Other than the US, a manual trans is the norm. It costs twice as much to rent an auto trans in Europe than a manual because even Grandma drives one.
What’s reserve price so someone buys it?