As Seen At Foxtoberfest: 1986 Ford Mustang GT
With Fox-Body Mustangs so popular in the classic market, it is unsurprising that enthusiasts will clamor for promising projects. Such has been the case with this 1986 GT. It is a tired-looking car, but you must peel back the layers to discover that it is a solid and original diamond in the rough. Returning it to its former glory will entail more than a weekend’s tinkering. Still, a competent owner should be able to tackle many of the required tasks without needing professional support. The Mustang is listed here on eBay in Concord, North Carolina. Frantic bidding has pushed the price to $3,900, although that figure is short of the reserve.
I have always liked the frontal styling of these Mustangs, with the quad-headlights and single-slot grille opening providing a sense of purpose. It wouldn’t cut the mustard on modern cars, but it ticks the boxes for me. The ownership history of this Mustang is unclear, but it is reasonably safe to say it hasn’t seen a road for a few years. Its Oxford White paint has deteriorated significantly, and surface corrosion is developing. There is a dent under the rear quarter window on the driver’s side, but this is hard to spot clearly in the provided images. However, delving below the surface reveals a classic with no significant penetrating rust issues. The seller describes the floors and rails as solid, and there is nothing visible externally that could cause the new owner sleepless nights. The glass and plastic look acceptable for a driver-quality build, and the wheels may respond to some hard work with a high-quality polish.
This GT features the most desirable drivetrain combination offered in 1986, with the fuel-injected 5.0-liter “HO” V8 bolted to a five-speed T5 manual transmission. This engine delivered 200hp and 285 ft/lbs of torque in its prime. After years of automotive misery during the late 1970s and early 1980s, drivers could finally slip behind the wheel of a car capable of producing a sub-16-second ¼-mile ET. Proving the GT wasn’t simply a “point and squirt” proposition was a claimed top speed of 139mph. The seller indicates this Mustang is a numbers-matching classic that can be coaxed into life by squirting fuel into the intake. However, it isn’t roadworthy. The brakes require attention, everything needs detailing, and a thorough inspection will undoubtedly raise other issues for the winning bidder to tackle. It looks like there is nothing major, meaning the buyer can be hands-on with this aspect of the build.
Car interiors from the 1980s often suffer deterioration due to age, wear, and UV exposure. This Mustang is no exception because the pad is cracked, the carpet is heavily stained, and some plastic pieces are beginning to crack and fade. However, it is far from a lost cause. Addressing the more severe defects won’t break the bank because spending $230 on a replacement pad and a similar amount on a carpet set would lift the presentation enormously. The seats are free from significant wear, with the same true of the remaining upholstered surfaces. The mentioned items are the most apparent problems, but I would clean everything thoroughly before compiling a more extensive shopping list. I’m unsure whether the original radio is intact, but this interior features air conditioning, power windows, and cruise control.
Gauging the relative desirability of some classics can be challenging, but this 1986 Mustang GT leaves no doubts. It has attracted an incredible seventy-one bids from twelve people eager to park it in their workshop. The auction is heading into its final days, and it will be fascinating to see if the action intensifies. Will you join me in monitoring the fun, or will you become a willing participant?
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Comments
I think I paid about $3900 for a beautiful ‘86 GT back in ‘09. Did a bunch of work to it and then sold it for about the same amount a year later to Bob Bondurant’s right hand man. Didn’t make any $$ but did get 6-7 hot laps with Bob in the latest Corvette as a perk of the sale!
That’s about what my wife and I paid for our new 86 GT convert.
Times three and then some, if you got a smoking deal. I had a new one. You did not buy a new 1986 GT Convertible for $3900.
Oh my goodness what a ghastly mess.
But in some ways, it’s almost beautiful in how spectacularly it deteriorated. This should be a modern art masterpiece. It really hits home, I suspect, for those of us who remember these brand new.
Rough n Tumbler here, but this model was a real runner from 85-93.
I had an 86 T top 5spd around 1995,an 85 T top 5spd around 2008, currently own a 95 GT coupe (5 spd naturally)I like the uniqueness of the 86s, being the last year of the four-eye but the first year of fuel injection.Visually identical to the 85 if im not mistaken…
Jeremy, which did you prefer, the carbed ’85 or the FI ’86?
Those are my 2 favorite years of Fox Body
I owned a brand new ’86 GT. Had a computer glitch that took Ford months to figure out. But, when it ran right? It was a blast. Always preferred these “four eyes” to the plastic garbage that they stuck on the ’87’s.
I had an ’86 GT, stick car w/optional 3.08’s when I was 18. Quick and fun. Awesome car. I may look for another one. This one is a nightmare, though.
This car has spent a few years in a swamp.
FWIW, the Autocheck shows a registration in 11/01, and then it was not registered again. So my guess is the owner parked it, obviously outside, somewhere between 11/01 and 11/02, which is over 21 years ago. So we can see here what the GA sun will do over the course of two decades! Incredible.
And yet, if it indeed has little structural rust, it could be a better starting point than many of the cars we see here.
The mere thought that this Four Eye is a restoration possibility might be an indication that the inventory of the newer (and more popular) Aero Nose Fox Body restoration candidates is thinning.
Agreed Bob, though those interior and exterior trim pieces are going to be a [censored] to obtain. Plastic paint can only take you so far when dealing with this much sun damage. Plus, the condition of the engine bay definitely worries me in terms of possible rust though as you observe, we’ve seen bidders eagerly bidding on cars far worse.
I bought a silver GT auto in winter of 91..had 40k on clock think I paid 5k for it
Nice Mustang.
For me I’d keep it low buck. Clean it, and clean it again.
Make it road worthy and get it running right and you’d have a cheap hot rod ready to run. Of course I’d be hoping the rust is minimal. And you’d have to deal with standard issue cheap broken ford plastic bits …
Not into the whole restoration bit. My idea of fun is to use it as intended, not spend a bunch of money to build a garage queen resto.
My buddy when, we were kids, bought an 85 gt w/ 5 spd brand new. That car rocked.
Sale ended at $5,300. After 85 bids.
Somebody got a nice toy with lots of potential in my book.
I wouldn’t do anything to it other than oil, filter,lube and just drive the hell out of it.