When is a barn find not a barn find? When it has been found sitting in a yard rather than a barn or a shed. That is the story of this 1986 Saleen Mustang. It isn’t perfect, but when you consider that it spent 14-years sitting outdoors exposed to the elements, its condition is nothing short of remarkable. It has been revived and is ready to be driven and enjoyed by a new owner. Located in Van Nuys, California, you will find the Mustang listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner says that he is firm on his asking price of $25,000.

The Mustang looks slightly weathered, but it isn’t bad for a car that has been exposed to unrelenting UV rays for years. The Oxford White paint still holds a respectable shine, and even the distinctive Blue stripes don’t look that bad. This Saleen is 1-of-45 to wear this paint code, making it one of the more popular colors in 1986. There is some deterioration, but it would still be considered acceptable for a survivor. The Saleen aero additions are all present, and while the front spoiler wears a few chips and cracks, it is definitely repairable. One saving grace for this Mustang is that although it has been sitting for years, it has been exposed to the Californian climate. That means that it hasn’t spent its winters buried in snow and ice. With that fact in mind, rust should not be an issue. The owner doesn’t mention any problems, and there are none visible in the supplied photos. The 16″ Riken wheels look pretty good, and the glass appears to be free from significant flaws.

The Saleen package didn’t bring any horsepower boost to the Mustang, so the engine bay contains the standard 5.0-liter HO V8 that pumps out 200hp. This power is fed to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual transmission. This combination should be capable of firing the Mustang through the ¼ mile in 15.4 seconds. However, the Saleen wasn’t about straight-line performance but about making a Fox-body Mustang more surefooted in the corners. It brought Koni shocks on all corners, along with revised springs and sway bar bushes. All of these components are said to remain intact, which is a significant plus point. Interestingly, the Saleen specifications sheet shows that all 1986 models were fitted with a shock tower brace, but this is not the first that I’ve seen with that item missing. The engine bay shows some oxidization, but it is a long way from the worst that I have seen. It has a genuine 58,000 miles on the clock, and it appears that there is documentation that verifies this. The owner has recently fitted new tires, and he says that it runs and drives perfectly.

Apart from an aftermarket CD player, the Saleen’s interior is original and unmolested. It presents quite respectably, but there are a few issues to be addressed if the buyer seeks perfection. The leather on the Momo wheel is starting to look dry, and it is in desperate need of conditioning. There are also some cracks in the dash pad and some deterioration to some plastic trim. However, when you consider the years of UV exposure, it has survived far better than I would normally have expected. The Grey upholstery looks presentable, and it is not a color that surprises me. Of the 45 Oxford White examples built during 1986, all but five featured this trim combination. Apart from the Momo wheel, the buyer will get a Hurst shifter, air conditioning, power windows, power locks, and cruise.

While the gauge cluster appears standard at first glance, the Saleen brought a couple of changes. These included an electronic Saleen tachometer, along with a Saleen speedometer that reads to 170mph. Both items are intact and appear to be in good condition.

It’s interesting to note that Saleen produced 201 examples of the Mustang during 1986 and that 190 of these were Hatchbacks the same as our feature car. The owner makes bold claims about how values are heading upwards, and he is right on that front. Over the past three years, the average value of a 1986 Saleen Mustang has increased by more than 25%. That represents a fair return on investment for anyone who purchased one back in 2018. However, I can’t help but think that the owner might be over-reaching when it comes to his asking price. Looking at both Hagerty and recent sale results would seem to support this, but the car’s originality and low mileage might get it over the line with the right buyer. It is 1-of-40 with this color and trim combination, which does increase its desirability. Potential buyers should also consider the past value increases because even if it is slightly over-priced, there is a possibility that this could be recouped if the Saleen is viewed as a long-term investment. With all that in mind, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Mustang head off to a new home relatively soon.