Don’t be fooled by its tired appearance because this 1987 Mustang GT has plenty to offer its next owner. The seller purchased it as a father-and-son project, and their eager eyes left no stone unturned in their quest to transform the car into something genuinely stunning. They have decided to move on to another project, so they have listed the Mustang for sale here on eBay. It is located in Nesconset, New York, while the bidding has hit $20,000. That figure is short of the reserve, although they offer a BIN of $26,000 for buyers who find the GT too tempting to resist.

This photo begins to reveal the story behind this Mustang. Once its owners unloaded it and wheeled it into their workshop, they painstakingly dismantled the car with the goal of completing a high-quality restoration. While they elected to reduce the GT to a pile of components, they handed it to professionals to complete the work and reassembly. The cost and effort appear to have been worth it.

Is that one of the most stunning transformations you’ve ever seen? The Mustang shine like a new penny under a fresh coat of its original Scarlet Red paint. The painter applied this over panels that were massaged until they were laser straight. It is no surprise that there is no evidence of flaws or defects. The aerodynamic pieces that form an integral part of the GT package are free from cracks and imperfections, while the restored original aluminum wheels are perfect. The factory glass top is crystal clear, which makes sense when you consider that every piece of glass on this classic is new. I’m not sure whether the overall appearance could be described as showroom fresh, but it is one of the tidiest ’87 Mustang GTs that you are likely to see. If you took it to a show or a Cars & Coffee, there’s a fair chance that this classic would attract plenty of attention and positive comments.

If the Mustang’s exterior makes a positive impression, that theme continues when we examine its interior. Once again, the owners were striving for perfection, and it looks like they achieved that goal. Before turning their attention to a retrim, they removed everything and laid on some Dynamat to improve sound insulation. A new carpet set found its way into this classic before the upholstered surfaces received the TLC required to return the presentation to a high standard. The Tan cloth upholstery is spotless, with no evidence of wear or physical damage. There are no signs of wear on the remaining upholstered surfaces, while the dash and plastic components are free from cracks and UV damage. The sellers replaced the entire air conditioning system, and it blows ice-cold. The Mustang features power windows, power mirrors, power lumbar support, and cruise control. It isn’t clear whether the factory radio/cassette player remains intact or whether the seller fitted an upgraded stereo.

The transformation of this GT wasn’t merely cosmetic because its drivetrain came in for plenty of attention. The seller pulled the motor, stripped the engine bay, and treated it to a repaint. They sent all of the brackets and pullies to a specialist for powdercoating so that everything would present immaculately following final assembly. The motor received a professional rebuild, as did the transmission. A new clutch found its way into this classic while the seller added new tires. That 5.0-liter “HO” V8 should once again be pumping out 225hp, which finds its way to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. After the motoring misery that had been a hallmark of the 1970s and early 1980s, there was evidence that American manufacturers had cracked the code that allowed their V8s to offer excellent performance while remaining capable of meeting tightening emission requirements. This GT would have stormed the ¼ mile in 14.9 seconds when new, and I can’t see why it couldn’t do that today. The Mustang is a turnkey classic that is ready to return to its rightful place on our roads with a new owner behind the wheel.

The longer you examine the supplied photos of this 1987 Mustang GT, the more you begin to appreciate the extent of work that this father-and-son team completed. The car presents superbly, and while it may be stretching credibility to describe it as being in as-new condition, it seems to need nothing. With values climbing relentlessly, the time seems to be fast approaching when Fox-Body Mustangs will slip beyond the average enthusiast’s grasp. If an in-person inspection confirms this classic to be as good as the photos suggest, the BIN price would be highly competitive. If you have the available funds and long for a Fox-Body, it could be worth contacting the seller to organize an inspection. After all, it costs nothing to ask.