There are a lot of fun things to do in Naples, Florida and one of them might be to go test drive this 1984 Mustang SVO. Listed here on Craigslist, the seller is asking $11,500 for this special, low mileage Mustang. Over 9,800 SVO Mustangs were built from 1984 to 1986.
The gray cloth interior looks impeccable and the car is equipped with factory Recaro seats. The dash, carpet and door panels look to be in excellent condition. Shifting of the Borg Warner T-5 five speed transmission was handled by a Hurst shifter. This car is one of 4,507 produced in 1984. This car has only racked up 43,000 miles.
Equipped with a turbocharged 2.3 liter inline 4 cylinder engine, the SVO Mustang delivered 175 horsepower and 210 ft lbs of torque in 1984. The 2.3 liter engine was boosted to 14 psi by a intercooled turbocharger. Horsepower ratings were pumped up to over 200 horsepower in 1986. This car is unrestored and looks striking in its silver paint and 16 inch wheels.
So, I think this is a great price for this car. I used to blow these cars away in my 1979 Trans Am in high school but today, I appreciate Ford’s engineering and efforts much more. I think it would be fun to drive this car and enjoy it for what it is. With 1980-1990 Ford Mustangs appreciating, should you buy this and keep it?
It pains me to see antique plates on this. We are both getting old..
Mid eighties turbo Ford. At least they were trying to breath life into driving again. I like this cars original condition.
They were never Recaro seats. If memory serves me correctly they were made by Lear-Siegler. Not sure on the spelling but that was the company who made them for Ford. Anyway, it’s a beautiful example of a rare and unique Ford vehicle.
If you wanted Recaro seats, the same engine, and a dual plane wing, the solution was simple: buy a Merkur Xr4Ti.
While you were correct in the hp for 1984, the hp in 1986 was NOT over 200hp, it was 200hp. Early 1985 SVOs were the same 275hp, but the 85-1/2 version was 205hp, which was then set at 200hp for 1986. In addition to the Hurst shifters, all SVOs got Koni struts and shocks, unique lower control arms, 4-wheel disc brakes and 16″ wheels which were extremely rare in 1984. The only other production vehicle to feature 16″ wheels in 1984 was the Chevrolet Corvette.
the only other American production vehicle maybe… both my 1979 and 1982 Porsche 928s came with 16″ wheels from the factory.
The 2.3 turbo in my 90 Mustang LX, 5spd, is from a 84 Turbo Coupe with the cp, injectors, and VAM from a 88 Turbo Coupe. 175 hp isn’t bad. But to feel it, the pedal must be put to the metal for the turbo to get to 12 boost. The other day I was smoked by a modern sedan. I wasn’t really trying to get up to full boost. I was just driving and enjoying the ride. Then the sedan went zooming by me. In 2018, the previous owner showed me what it feels like at around 22 boost by moving the manual boost selector a couple of turns, and it does give quite more kick. But how much more horsepower would be interesting to know.
Those seats where just performance seats Ford offered for the car. There never was a Recaro seats as a option. The only option was leather.
I know my 83 turbo t- bird would blow the doors off 81 ,301 firebirds back in the day,done it many times in front of the Miller Brewery they built and mothballed for a long period the guard out front seemed to enjoy having something to watch.That car and the intercooler was good for 30 more ponies than mine.