Many ideas seem like good ones at the time, but then turn out to be very bad ones. However, sometimes it is possible to salvage something worthwhile from what seems like a disaster, and that probably sums up the story behind the 1990 Ford Mustang LX Limited Edition Convertible. The car was originally being developed as a promotional “give away” for the 7-Up brand. The plan was to build 30 cars for the competition, but after only 2 had been built, the whole promotional scheme collapsed in a heap. In the end, Ford went ahead with production, but for an entirely different reason. This example is an extremely nice one and has been owned by some individuals who have been meticulous about not only protecting its originality but also its condition. The time has come for it to go to a new home, so if you think that the new home could be yours, you will find the Mustang located in Tampa, Florida, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $6,000 in a No Reserve auction. It is also worth noting that the owner appears to be extremely flexible, and might entertain the idea of a trade. So, if cash isn’t your strong suit but you have something interesting in the automotive domain, then it would be well worth contacting the owner and asking the question.

Plenty of work went into developing the distinctive vehicle that became known colloquially as the “7-Up Mustang.” However, when the promotional scheme collapsed, Ford was able to turn a potential disaster to their advantage. The reality was that the company was coming under increasing pressure from various quarters, as they had made no plans to develop a 25th Anniversary Mustang. The collapse of the 7-Up deal provided them with the car that they needed. Thus, instead of being known by the soda brand, the car became known as the Limited Edition. Likewise, instead of planning to build 30 cars, that number swelled to a planned 5,000. In the end, only 4,103 cars were built, but the extra volume at least covered the initial development costs. All examples of the Limited Edition were finished in Deep Emerald Green Clearcoat Metallic and featured color-keyed exterior trim, 15″ GT alloy wheels, and a White power top. Today, cars that are 30-years-old can begin to look quite tired, but that isn’t the case with this one. The panels look nice and straight, the paint has managed to retain a fantastic shine, the GT wheels look clean and free of any damage, while the White top remains not only tight but free of stains and discoloring.

Under the hood of the Limited Edition, you would always find the 5.0-liter HO V8 engine, producing 225hp. Other standard features included power steering, power brakes, a Traction-Lock rear end, and upgraded suspension with different spring and shocks. The big choice that owners had to make was between a 4-speed automatic transmission or the T5, 5-speed manual. Only 1,360 owners chose the T5, and that is what I believe that you will find in this one. Having said that, the owner lists it as both an auto and a manual, while the original Window Sticker indicates that it is a manual. Arrgh! The owner states that the Mustang has covered a genuine 73,000 miles, and given the amount of documentation that he appears to hold, I have no doubt that he will be able to verify this. The vehicle has recently been fitted with a new Flowmaster exhaust from front to back and also wears new tires. The owner states that the new exhaust is not overly loud and that the Mustang is a pleasure to drive. As well as the Window Sticker, the owner has quite a bit more documentation and memorabilia that is included with the car. Of these items, the unopened bottles of 7-Up from the abandoned promotional program must rate as both interesting and rare.

Choosing a Mustang Limited Edition in 1990 meant choosing an interior trimmed predominantly in white. You received white leather on the seats, along with lashings of white vinyl and white plastic as far as the eye could see. Now, white upholstery and trim are not the most forgiving in the world, and it isn’t at all unusual to see many trim and upholstery items looking stained and discolored after 30-years. That isn’t the case here, with the interior looking just as nice now as it did when the car was new. The outer bolster on the driver’s seat has started to compress a bit, but that is one of the few faults visible in an interior that is, let’s face it, very prone to having any issues show like flashing neon lights. As far as equipment levels are concerned, the Mustang is nicely outfitted in a 1990 context. What the owner got was a driver’s airbag, air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power exterior mirrors, tinted glass, a leather-wrapped wheel, cruise control, and an AM/FM stereo radio and cassette player.

One thing appears to be a fact of life with the Fox-body Mustangs, and that is that values have been creeping upwards at a steady rate over the past few years. What we’re talking about here is an increase across the board of around 30% over the past 5-years. That isn’t an enormous increase, but it is a healthy one nonetheless. This is a trend that looks set to continue, and where it would have been possible to secure a nice Limited Edition back then for around $11,000, today a similar car will fetch $15,000 or more. On face value, that is the sort of price that I would be expecting this car to achieve, so if someone can secure it for a lower figure, then it could be a pretty respectable investment.