Vehicle Description
1988 Ford Mustang LX Hatchback
From its inception in 1964 until 1993, the Ford Mustang was offered
continuously in two roof styles: formal coupe and fastback. While
the fastback designation changed to hatchback with the second
generation in 1974, the overall shape of the tumblehome was
preserved in silhouette, freezing the iconic Mustang fastback shape
as the definitive version. The Mustang was a chiseled wedge in
reverse that looked as if it could leave the air undisturbed after
making its splashy entrance. We're talking decades before the
notchback Mustang, but hear us out. When the third-generation
Mustang debuted in 1979, there would be two versions as well: a
two-door sedan, (the windows were now framed), and hatchback. Ford
didn't want to change the formula that had made the Mustang so
successful, and that meant there should be a Mustang for every
person and every purpose. The job fell to Ford VP of design Jack
Telnack, who had three teams working on parallel designs, two in
Detroit and one in Italy. Thx To Motortrend.com
For consignment, a car that is just as capable on the street as it
is on the track. With a larger than factory engine with speed and
power upgrades a plenty, this car is now a pocket rocket Foxbody
Stang, with a sting right out of 1988. A 351ci Windsor engine now
graces the bay where a meek and mild 4 popper used to sit, along
with a 5-speed transmission, a roll cage, racy interior, and Weld
wheels with Mickey Thompson drag tires on the rear. Street lethal
if you will.
Due to modifications of the emissions control devices installed by
the manufacturer, please check your local, state, and federal laws
to determine if this vehicle is applicable for use on public
highways in your area.*
Exterior
This dual purpose hatchback is painted in Medium Blue Metallic and
has straight steel panels which mind their gaps nicely. A few chip
off are noted on the bumpers along with a few dents on the roof and
the top leading edge of the hatch being bent upward. A lighter hue
of metallic blue on the front of this skate fades into the darker
blue and expertly applied purple and pale blue flames lick back the
hood, front quarters, and doors. Body matching integrated front
bumper, dark tinted windows with black surrounds, and some
rectangular headlights, (now projector style and tinted), are
framed by a fairly bold and muscular cowl induction style hood with
pins to secure it on the front. Dark smoke tinted factory-style
wraparound tail lights are just below the rear trunk deck and above
another body matching rear bumper. All of this resides in the shade
of an aluminumrear racing spoiler that has been mounted to the
hatch. Weld Racing Prostar are on all 4 corners, and up front
wrapped by skinny 165/R15 tires, and on the rear, 275/60R15 Mickey
Thompson drag rubber. Save for the drag wheels, tires, and the
hood, this is a naturally occurring unassuming Fox Bodied Mustang
LX. BUT!
Interior
Framed with a 10-point roll cage with removable door bars, a full
on gray interior is provided for you straight line enjoyment.
Wrinkled and age folded deeply bolstered leather articulated bucket
seats grab you and hold you with a firm snuggle and both show with
outer upper bolster wear. The rear seat has been removed in the
name of weight savings and gives us a view of the relocated battery
and gray steel flooring. Lightly stained gray carpet covers the
flooring up front and floats not only the seats but the gray and
black plastic console with a small storage area/armrest and a Hurst
shifter with a white ball atop. A Grant GT rally steering wheel
sits atop the factory column and a factory instrument cluster
floats just ahead. An AutoMeter tachometer and shift light have
been added to monitor engine rpms and in dash central we see a trio
of white face supporting gauges. Just below this menagerie of
readouts we note a Painless wiring custom switch panel with various
toggles for ignition, line lock, the starter, fuel pump and an
electric fan. Hovering just above the rollbar is a gray felted
headliner, tight and alright.
Drivetrain
The 351ci Windsor V8 engine has all the fixings and is adorned with
worked over cast iron cylinder heads, a fairly radical camshaft,
and an Edelbrock intake manifold. Feeding the proper and copious
amount of air and fuel is a QuickFuel 4-barrel carburetor perched
under an open element chrome lidded air cleaner. On back is a
Tremec T5 5-speed manual transmission. Making the connection from
the transmission to the rear axle is an aluminum driveshaft which
sends power to the Summit Racing aluminum differential cover
equipped Ford 8.8" and in turn the rear tires. Sheesh! I'm sweating
with anticipation on the test track, which will be a straight-line
version today! Buckle up!
Undercarriage
A 4 link and coil spring rear suspension with Lakewood drag shocks
and an adjustable anti-roll bar make up the rear suspension.
Subframe connectors are seen tying the unibody together and giving
the chassis some extra stiffening. Up front is a tubular K-member,
and an independent front suspension with coil springs. All solid
and rust free, nicely put together, and topped off with headers and
a Flowmaster mufflers setup exiting with turn down tips just prior
to the rear axle underneath. We see the catalytic converters have
been removed from the exhaust and for the steering we note a manual
rack and pinion arrangement and the whoah factor is provided by
power disc brakes up front and power drums in the rear.
Drive-Ability
It fired up with a thunderous roar, and our test driver, who
doubles as my sidekick decoder, took her for a spin, and spin it
did, especially for the rear tires. He said launching was awesome,
and of course did not get close to any top speed, but it is
reported it goes like hell. Racing aspect aside, this skate can
still be driven as a hopped up street car with nearly all functions
operational save for driver's power lock notfunctioning and the
brake lights not illuminating when the pedal was pressed.
Take a Fox body and spend some cash on it to make it go straight,
and you now have a super 'Stang, a Muscle Mustang, and a powerful
pony. A few faults and flaws on the body but overall an excellent
build with quality parts, and capable of being a multi-purpose
tool. Smoke the competition on the straight line and look good at
the local shows.
1FABP41A0JF151136
1-USA
F-Ford Motor Company
A-Passenger Car
B-Manual Belts
P41-Mustang LX Hatchback
A-2.3 Liter 4 Cylinder
0-Check Digit
J-1988
F-Dearborn, MI Assy Plant
151136-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.
