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Radwood Approved: 1988 Ford Mustang GT

As a child of the 80s, I’ve loved the so-called Radwood movement, which has embraced the style of the 80s and 90s car culture and made it into a full-fledged brand. It’s one of those things that when you grew up “in” it, you can spot a car from a mile away that captures the essence of the movement. This 1988 Ford Mustang GT is just such a car, fitted with numerous custom touches and enhancements that reflect what was seen at every car show around the country in 1991. The Mustang also sports numerous performance modifications, including a Paxton supercharger and nitrous oxide system. Find it here on eBay with bidding at $9,400 and no reserve.

Not surprisingly, the seller points out that the Mustang is a former magazine feature car, apparently featured in Muscle Mustang and Hot Fords. It has the looks of a center spread, with those period graphics splayed down the sides and color matched features throughout. The Saleen wheels are timeless and a bit newer than a 1987 Mustang, but they still fit the car perfectly. Small details, like the Mustang LX taillights with the black trim converted to white to match the car, reflect the type of detail obsession a show car builder tends to have when building a car. The bodywork sports many custom touches, from a hood that opens sideways like a piano to shaved door handles with actuators hidden in the fenders.

Other bodywork tweaks includes a recessed antenna, flared fenders front and rear, and rolled quarter panels to accommodate the larger street slicks. The interior is rife with custom touches as well, from the gorgeous Recaro seats with netted headrests to the Lecarra Mark IV GT steering wheel that retains cruise control functionality. There’s even a period cell phone mounted to the console. Surprisingly, the original radio remains in place and all A/C components are still installed, but the seller doesn’t clarify whether it actually works. The interior also reveals a Ford Motorsport short-throw shifter, plenty of additional Autometer gauges, and custom door panels to match the custom Recaro buckets.

The drivetrain is quite robust, with the Paxton supercharger modified by the Carroll Supercharging Company in New Jersey. In addition to the supercharger and nitrous oxide, the Mustang also features a Centerforce heavy duty clutch, high pressure fuel pump, welded roll cage, JBA headers, Flowmaster mufflers, and 4.11 rear gears among much, much more. Not surprisingly, the Mustang has won numerous awards and photos of its trophy collection are included in the gallery. This GT checks multiple boxes, from being emblematic of the tuning culture in the late 80s and early 90s to simply being a survivor showcar with evidence of loads of money being spent the right way. How much would you pay for a Fox body like this?

Comments

  1. Avatar Bob_in_TN Member

    This one is a bit difficult for me to get my mind around. Lots of modifications, big and small. Looks well done and in good shape. But have these modifications stood the test of time? I’d say mostly yes, but for me, not completely. Maybe it is just those loud stripes. And the back-to-back pics of the custom Recaro front seats and the stock rear seats was jarring. And those gauges– while I understand their purpose, they just look like overkill to me.

    That said, it will be right down the alley for many. But the ironic thing is that if it had fewer (or no) modifications, it probably would bring bigger bucks.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Ike Onick

      Agree. Looks like they called BR-549.

      Like 1
  2. Avatar MarveH

    I guess when you’ve come to the last page of the parts catalog you could rivet the catalog itself to the car.
    This is where I part company from most of my auto enthusiast brothers. I can’t stand any tack-on things on a car, no wings, skirts, spoilers, or spats. Or to get all Dr. Seuss on you no wangdoodles, or schnoodles, bizpuzzlers, or slats.
    I love a clean uncluttered look of an unadorned car where the shape and the color are on show. I cringe when I see people take a drill to a collector car.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Stan Marks

      Those ugly graphics has got to go, too.

      Like 2
  3. Avatar AMCFAN

    My son who was born at the end of the 1990’s embraces the Radwood era. The era wasn’t exclusive to the Mustang here. Many Imports were in vogue then as well. He is into the Hondas but respects all the builds regardless of make.

    There is a select group that covets these untouched era specific machines. It is a science finding all those (as someone said tack on parts) period parts. If the old guys can relate to the custom van era from 1970s by 1980’s it was gone. Now those custom parts command a lot of interest.

    These were primarily before the internet so one would have to pick up a Super Street magazine or Import Tuner. Anyone know what that is??……….Bueller??
    It was the only way to obtain many of the custom parts. This era let up to the Fast and Furious era. That has never died and very much alive.

    Like 2
  4. Avatar JoeNYWF64

    Stan, you should see some of the ridiculous graphics on the sides of the 4 doors in the early “Fast & Furious” movies. The later ones have Vin Diesel AND the Rock in them! Amazing but absurd stunts. Worth seeing.
    It LOOKS like the beltlines of the doors have been “raised” with white “hiding strips” across, giving the illusion of a lower roof.

    Like 1
  5. Avatar Stan Marks

    Joe, You may not believe this, but I’ve never seen one Fast & Furious movie.
    Not a one. I have better things, to do, than to pay $$ to see this crap.

    I worked in TV & movie productions, during the 70s, in L.A.
    When a movie comes out, that’s a big hit, the producers begin cranking out multiple sequels, just to stuff their greedy pockets.
    Just an example, I worked on the first two Jaws movies. That’s where it should have ended.
    There were four Jaws movies: Jaws (1975) Jaws II (1978) Jaws 3-D (1983) Jaws: The Revenge (1987) The third Jaws movie starred Dennis Quaid , Jaws 3-D (1983). The fourth and last, Jaws: The Revenge (1987) starred Michael Caine.
    I also worked on the first “Smokey & the Bandit” movie. Seven total were made. Three for theatrical release. Last four were made-for-TV.
    Oh brother…….

    Like 4
    • Avatar JoeNYWF64

      I rented the 1st 7 furious movies on DVD in 1 shot for FREE at 1 of the public libraries in my COUNTY – chances are you can too – the discs were all in a circular canister that looked like a tire & wheel. I did not care for the earlier movies, but later Vin showed up with some American muscle – including a charger & even a daytona. When the Rock also showed up then it got real interesting.
      Good reviews on
      http://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/16/05/1454687301-movies-fast-and-furious-6-poster.jpg
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_%26_Furious_6
      & even Jason Statham also showed up here
      https://thesource.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/fast-and-furious-7.jpg
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furious_7
      Look for Gal Gadot in both!
      A tragedy what happened to Paul Walker.

      Like 0
      • Avatar Stan Marks

        Joe, if you’re a fan of this type of movie, enjoy.
        I like Vin, Jason & Dwayne. But these F&F movies, are nothing more than cookie cutters. Same olé’ same olé’.

        I fell in love with Gal Gadot. She’s the perfect WW.
        Looking forward to seeing her current WW84.

        As for the late Paul Walker… It’s a tragedy. You live by the sword, you die by the sword. Besides he & his passenger, thankfully no one else was involved. That section of road, doesn’t have a high volume of traffic. It’s mostly a quiet, upscale neighborhood, with $3+ million dollar homes. It’s not a place to drive a high-powered car.
        I’m familiar with where he died. I have friends, who live in that area.

        Like 0
  6. Avatar RacinRob4

    I believe the magazine it was featured in was Muscle Mustangs & Fast Ford’s. Now on to the car. Way too over the top by today’s “standards” but in it’s era u could see this car cruisin thru the local park, or parked at the mall with a number of other cars and trucks with mods similar to the ones on this car. I wouldn’t have turned down a ride in it back in the day and probably wouldn’t today still. GLWTS !!!!

    Like 1
  7. Avatar JBD

    Old Mods include the Paxton worm gear drive supercharger. The Novi 1000-2000 series makes much more power, reliably.
    I may have seen this car on the show circuit retro 1990-93. Overall a good price for a well cared for, time warp Fox Body Mustang. One of the funest-ever driver cars.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar P42X

    Hideous

    Like 0

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