When it comes to modified muscle cars, my view is: the sleepier, the better. While not every trip to the store should necessarily involve a stoplight battle, it’s nice to know you have some prodigious amounts of horsepower at your disposal that no one knows about. This 1983 Ford Mustang LX is the extra unassuming “four-eyed” version with the quad headlights and a bevy of upgrades under the hood. In addition to the engine work, a fair amount of cosmetic repair has been undertaken under current ownership as well. Find the Mustang here on craigslist for $14,000.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for the find. This Mustang is claimed to have 42,000 miles on the clock, but due to being exempt, the seller can’t completely verify it as being accurate; however, it does look pretty clean. The work done to the car consists of some major mechanical upgrades and improvements, and the seller notes that the engine and transmission rebuild have a little over 14,000 miles of use. The big ticket item is a 347 stroker kit that the seller estimates is good for 396 b.h.p. and 407 lb-ft of torque, channeled to the ground via a 5-speed T-5 manual gearbox that benefits from a G-Force rebuild kit.
Interior-wise, this Mustang cleans up much better than most early 1980s models. The seats are in great shape and the same goes for the carpets, which sport some very cool and period-correct “5.0” floor mats. As you might expect, most of the interior is brand new, and the seller notes a length list of replacement materials like the carpets, headliner, arm rest pads, dash pad, instrument cluster cover, LED lighting, new Polk speakers, a new center console/armrest, and even going so far as to repaint the plastic paneling! This seller appears to have an eye for detail and it’s obvious in an interior as clean as this one.
A full paint job was completed in 2009, along with replacement of the front fenders and radiator support. The bodywork does look pretty tidy, and given this Mustang is in Pennsylvania, I’m guessing there was at least some mild corrosion to deal with. The engine build is significant, so check out the listing for all the details; other modifications include Energy Suspension sway bar bushings, a BBK/Gripp caster-camber kit, weld-on subframe connectors, and an SP Performance V2 height and damping adjustable coil-over kit. Overall, this seems like a ton of car for the money, all wrapped up in a sleepy wrapper.
Excellent. The only thing I would change is I would install some upgraded seats.
Good job Jeff. I agree with the tone of your write-up. Someone spent time and money to create an almost normal-looking four eye with some serious power. Without cheaping out on things like the interior. Even still has the common phone dial wheels. Lots to like for someone looking for a four-eye Fox Mustang.
Sleeper is right. Those phone dial rims look really good at night on a shiny Mustang.
Whoever went through this car thought about what they were doing and executed the modifications well. The price seems pretty good, the one concern is if it was wrecked or had prior rust repair, the sellers last statement suggests there could be some issues.
Definitely worth a look if someone is in the market for an affordable performance car.
Steve R
Even down to what looks like a well adjusted parking brake Steve 👍
This is one nice Stang. Everything you need nothing you don’t want. If it wasn’t driven in the winter and the odometer suggests that, being from Pennsylvania is not a problem. Although it would be nice to include some underbody shots.
When clean/undamaged, those are some of the best looking Fox wheels, IMO. As for the car itself, fresh paint, a new interior and with the engine & suspension mods, $14K seems like a decent bargain. You’d have a hard time recreating this car anywhere near this price…even if you could find a cheap project that wasn’t rusted out or subjected to boy racer abuse.
Very nice looking GT! I must also add that if I saw this on the street I already know it no sleeper, it could be bone stock and it’s no sleeper. These cars were very solid performance wise!!