There is probably no sadder situation than to be placed in a position where you are forced to sell your beloved classic car due to ill health. It would undoubtedly compound the owner’s pain if they had owned the vehicle in question since it rolled off the showroom floor. Unfortunately, that is the situation with which the owner of this 1986 Mustang GT must now come to terms. He has traveled many a mile in this classic, but it now must go to a new home. Located in Union Grove, Alabama, the GT is listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has pushed past the reserve and currently sits at $14,000.
The Black Mustang presents well for an unrestored and original classic of this vintage. The owner says that nothing has been changed or replaced, and there is no evidence of any repairs or repaint work. The paint shines nicely, with only a few very minor flaws. There’s nothing horrendous and nothing that would justify sending the vehicle to a paint shop. One of the advantages for potential buyers of a shiny black finish like this is that it allows panel imperfections to stand out from a mile away. I can’t spot any of those types of problems because the panels appear as straight as an arrow. There is no evidence of rust, and the owner doesn’t mention any problems in his listing. Some of the exterior plastic trim has begun to show some “matte” patches, but I think that some careful cleaning with a high-quality conditioning product could address this. I have seen people attack this type of trim with the polish designed for fiberglass boats, and the results can be pretty impressive. The alloy wheels have started to show some mild deterioration, but a decent alloy polish should have them presented in as-new condition once again.
After years of performance mediocrity, Ford started to put some bite back into the Mustang GT in 1986. This car features the 5.0-liter V8 that pumps out a conservative 200hp. All of this pony’s, er, ponies, find their way to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission. A ¼-mile ET of 15.4 seconds and a top speed of 139mph both showed that this was a car that was more than a pretty face. This GT is a numbers-matching classic, and apart from the usual servicing needs, the owner hasn’t felt the need to perform any significant work. He doesn’t make any outrageous mileage claims, with the odometer sitting at 106,000 miles. Apart from adding a remote starter and sub-frame connectors, the Mustang is as it left the factory. This is simply a clean and unmolested vehicle ready to be driven and enjoyed by a lucky new owner.
For me, this Mustang’s interior is something of a highlight. Age and regular use can see these looking pretty tired. Seat upholstery is one known weakness, with the outer edges of the seat bolsters renowned for significant wear. That isn’t the case here because while it might not be perfect, the buyer won’t need to spend money on the upholstered surfaces. There is no significant wear, nor are there any splits or heavy spots of wear. The plastic and carpet are equally as impressive as is the dash. The original radio/cassette has made way for an aftermarket stereo, but the rest of it is as it left the factory. Comfort and convenience features include air conditioning, power windows, power locks, cruise control, and a tilt wheel.
I have always liked the Fox-Body Mustang, and I think that the four-eyed version with the single slot in place of a traditional grille is the best of the lot. That frontal treatment gives the car a sense of purpose, which is backed by performance levels that could be considered pretty respectable. The fact that this GT is a one-owner vehicle is a benefit to potential buyers because it should give them clear access to the vehicle’s history since day one. It is sad to think that this car’s original owner is being forced to part with a classic that he obviously loves due to circumstances beyond his control. I can only hope that its next owner treats it with the care and respect it has received over the past 35-years. It deserves nothing less.
Looks like a used but taken-care-of four-eye Fox Body. For the four-eyes, the 85-86’s seem to be the favorites due to their performance and styling, but in general the four-eyes have taken a back seat to the later aero-nose models. But the bidding on this one is evidence that they, too, are now getting plenty of respect.
Low-stress collector car, easy to maintain, lots of support, modern enough to drive in modern traffic conditions.
When they were new the 87+ flush headlamp cars looked a whole lot nicer and more modern, but these four eyed Mustangs are really growing on me.
The interior at a minimum has been restored not that that’s a bad thing. This is a nice car.
I’m glad that it does not have the same horn as my 79 Mustang Cobra. To honk the horn, you had to push the turn signal stalk towards the steering column. Sure enough, the one time I had to use it in an emergency, I automatically (without thinking) hit the center of the steering wheel (where all horns are usually located). When nothing happened, I remembered where Ford’s better idea for a horn location was and managed to blow the horn just before the pickup truck backed into me. Luckily there was only minor damage, but there would have been no damage at all if the horn was in the “right” location.
For me, I don’t really think it is hard to get used to the horn button on the signal stalk. I would just keep my left hand as I normally do on the left side of the steering wheel. A quick tap with my fingers and “beep”. From what I recall the Army LMTVs had that same set up.
I would say the interior upholstery has been replaced. I also think something is going on with the decal on the hood. I have the same car with tan interior and my decal is more of a dark gray. Otherwise beautiful car and I would be happy to get 14 grand for mine.
Would the horn have been located on the directional stalk on an early 80’s Capri also? I think I have a memory of that.