Stroker Notchback: 1990 Ford Mustang LX

There’s a sentiment within our hobby that finding pure, unmodified cars is strongly preferred over a vehicle that has been upgraded and customized. It’s understandable, given many of those modified vehicles are done according to the owner’s particular tastes and that doesn’t line up with what the next caretaker wants. However, every now and again a modified car comes along that is so well done that it’s hard to argue against the upgrades. The 1990 Ford Mustang LX coupe shown here on craigslist comes with a 427 stroker kit that the seller claims makes approximately 500 b.h.p.

Thanks to Barn Finds reader Tony Primo for the find. The seller claims this Mustang was a barn find with the last owner for 25 years, and you can see some clear coat failure on the roof which may suggest many years parked in the same place. As you can see, the tasteful upgrades made to this Fox body continues to the interior, with aftermarket sport seats trimmed in color-matching material. There’s a simple auxiliary gauge on the side of the cluster, and what looks like a short shift kit.

The exterior of this Mustang doesn’t suggest the extent of modifications that reside under the hood. It’s been lowered on factory 5-spoke wheels, which is always a great look. The 2-tone paint scheme is a standard configuration, with no garish decals and giant intakes sticking out of the hood (yes, it is an aftermarket hood, but it’s subtle; the seller confirms the original hood is included). The 427 Windsor features a 351 non-roller block, a 427 stroker kit, and Trickflow aluminum heads and intake with 11:1 compression. The seller  adds it features a Tremec transmission and 373 gears.

This is the angle that gets me: what a killer stance, with the front wheels tucking ever-so-nicely under the front fenders. There’s not even any window tint on this Mustang, keeping the mostly stock stance on the exterior. While you would know this Fox body was modified from the outside, it would be difficult to predict what resides under the hood based on this image alone. The seller reports that documentation is included with the sale that captures the build in-progress, which is hugely valuable to anyone who owns this car next. This looks like a solid deal to me at $20,000, and one that will continue to appreciate if the current modifications are preserved, or if it’s returned to stock configuration.