Vehicle Description
5.0 Mustangs like this 1988 Ford Mustang GT were arguably as big an
influence on car culture as the original small-block Chevy. Putting
traditional high performance within reach of almost everyone with a
checkbook, it shouldn't be a surprise that Ford built millions of
them. However, for those same reasons, finding one that hasn't been
thrashed to within an inch of its life is definitely a challenge 30
years later.
Fortunately, we were able to round up this 5-speed GT hatchback in
an appealing red-over-black color combination. Judging from the
overall condition, this car has led an easy life despite the modest
upgrades under the hood. We believe that's original red paint with
a black vinyl wrap to add some contrast, and since red is
especially tough to maintain, you know this car has been properly
tended. Today it's showing a soft gloss and surprisingly little
orange peel, although there are a few minor signs of use here and
there. The urethane ground effects that give the GT its unique look
are in excellent condition, and both doors fit well. All the black
rubber parts that usually turn gray with age and UV damage are
supple and dark, and with recent parking lights, the nose is bright
and clear. A Saleen rear spoiler, some window slats, and a set of
taillights from a 1985 GT give this one a unique look without going
too far astray.
The beautiful red cloth interior is inviting and functional, with
supportive buckets that were some of the best on the market in
1988, and they're in absolutely fantastic condition today. The dash
is simple, with great high-visibility gauges, fingertip controls
for headlights, and big rotary knobs for the A/C system. An
aftermarket steering wheel blends in rather well with the stock
interior, and the big tach on the center stack is a familiar sight
to Mustang fans. The center armrest and ashtray door are intact,
two plastic items that rarely survive the years and early Mustangs
like this also got adjustable thigh supports that were eliminated
in later cars. This GT offers A/C, power mirrors, interval wipers,
and a recent AM/FM/CD stereo head unit in the dash. And since this
is a pre-airbag car, it's got a tilt steering column, which makes a
big difference in terms of comfort. The hatch area is big enough
for just about anything, with fold-down seats and a retractable
cargo cover to keep your gear safe.
The 5.0 liter EFI V8 under the hood is the reason the Mustang was
the pony car of choice for an entire generation. Great sound,
bulletproof performance, impressive torque, and an aftermarket that
could transform it into anything your wallet could afford. It has
the usual 5.0 upgrades, including a GT40 tubular intake that's
probably worth $1000 all by itself, performance heads, a slightly
bigger cam, silicone hoses, an upgraded alternator, and cold air
induction with a mass-air sensor conversion. This pony also carries
the highly desirable 5-speed manual with a fresh clutch, which
feeds a set of 3.08 gears in the Track-Lok 8.8-inch rear end. The
underside is extremely clean, and features a set of subframe
connectors and a new Flowmaster exhaust system. The 17-inch Center
Line wheels look exactly right and carry staggered 245/45/17 front
and 275/40/17 rear performance radials.
Sensibly modified and with a known ownership history, you won't
find many 5-speed 5.0 Mustangs that are still this clean. Call
today!