62K Mile Stock GT with a Five Speed: 1988 Mustang GT
It has been said with much seriousness that the 1987 through 1993 Fox Body Mustangs were the modern equivalent of the 1932 Ford coupe and roadster in terms of hot rodding. The craziest part of the car’s story is that this edition of the third-generation Mustang almost never happened. If Ford had gone through with their plans for a front-wheel drive replacement for the Mustang, then this 1988 Ford Mustang GT for sale on eBay in Brooksville, Florida wouldn’t even exist. However, this excellent example of Ford’s pony car does exist, and bidding is currently sitting at $10,200 with three days left. Does this 62,000-mile Mustang have the potential to one day bring 1932 Ford money and respect, or are the pundits overreaching in this case?
For those steeped in automobile history, the 1932 Ford was iconic for several reasons. First and foremost, this was the first year of Ford’s famous Flathead V-8. Throughout its production run, the Flathead fostered a whole aftermarket industry. Starting slowly before the war, the rise of top-speed runs on the salt flats of the west coast and the advent of the moonshine runner in the South fueled a new branch of the automobile industry that is still going strong today. That branch was the aftermarket speed parts industry. While people made hot rods out of nearly every make, model, and year of car, it was the 1932 Ford coupe and roadster that was most coveted and the car everyone wanted to make go faster.
Lightning struck a second time for Ford. While the first-generation Mustangs were sales successes that bolstered Ford’s reputation, the second-generation cars sold well but lost respect in the eyes of enthusiasts due to their Pinto underpinnings. When Ford redesigned the car for a 1979 debut, they used the Fox platform. Basing the Mustang on an intermediate-sized platform allowed Ford to share components and costs between the Mustang and their bread-and-butter sedans. It also retained the rear-wheel-drive architecture that had become part of the Mustang’s core construction. Enthusiasts called for a return to the Mustang’s roots and would accept no less.
The problem was that Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards were putting pressure on Ford to make cars more fuel-efficient. Detroit was buzzing with rumors that the V-8’s days were numbered no matter who was making it. That did happen for the most part for automobiles, as fewer and fewer V-8-powered cars were produced as the decade wore on. Trucks managed to keep their V-8s, but the only cars that kept that V-8 powered front engine rear wheel drive platform were those used for fleet service, a select few luxury cars, the Corvette, the Firebird/Trans Am, Camaro, and the Mustang. Sales on the luxury cars and the sportier cars were slipping, and bean counters were ready to pounce.
When word got back to Mustang fans that the next generation of their beloved pony car was going to be a front-wheel drive car jointly developed with Mazda it didn’t go well in a torches and pitchforks kind of way. Ford was overwhelmed with messages from the faithful that this was not to be tolerated. Rarely do you hear of customers having such an influence on the decisions of a corporation as large as Ford. The good news is that someone in Dearborn either listened or didn’t want their house burned to the ground and their yard salted. The proposed front-wheel drive replacement also made it to market as the Ford Probe. Nobody even remembers the Probe anymore.
Yet, the redesign of the Mustang for the 1987 model year lives in legend. Ford produced two versions of this heavily updated car. The LX was more of a no-frills version that was produced as a notchback, a hatchback, and a convertible, and could be had with either a 2.3-liter four-cylinder or a 5.0 (really 4.9) liter V-8. These were the ticket if you wanted to go fast, especially the magical combination of the notchback LX with the 5.0-liter V-8 and a five-speed transmission. The reason why they were faster is that they were lighter than the GT by over 100 pounds.
The GT managed to come out of the styling studio as a very flashy late eighties version of a muscle car. With aerodynamic body panels, a spoiler, and a distinctive nose, the GT went head-to-head with the Camaro Z-28 and the IROC-Z on the sales floor and out in the streets. While the rivalry had always been there, the car magazines poured gasoline on the fire with comparison test after comparison test. Both GM and Ford contributed to this madness by improving the cars each year, thus necessitating more comparison tests. In this sinful symbiotic relationship, dealerships sold a lot of cars, and the magazines wore out the clerks at the local bookstore.
Another aspect of the Mustang’s success was that aftermarket companies went crazy designing and selling parts for these cars. Drag racers especially took to the LX notchbacks, and these beasts still haunt the dragstrips of America. It has become almost impossible to find a V-8 Mustang of this era that hadn’t been souped up, wrecked, or all of the above. Ford even got into the act of selling parts through their Ford Motorsports catalog. Even though sales were starting to dwindle yet again, the reputation of these Mustangs probably brought people into the showroom who ended up buying a Ford product if the Mustang was too expensive or didn’t meet their needs. Everyone knew that it met their wants.
The Mustang you see here is an excellent example of what a Mustang GT looked like as it rolled off the showroom floor in 1988. While there are a few flaws in the paint here and there, finding one that hasn’t been beaten to death is difficult. The market reflects this, as good GTs and LXs of this era passed into five-figure territory years ago. This one is outfitted correctly with the five-speed transmission and presents well with its maroon and silver two-tone paint and chrome wheels.
While the ad is overflowing with pictures, the seller has put nothing whatsoever in the written description part of the ad. All we know is that it has exactly 61,932 miles on the odometer. We also assume that it runs and drives fine due to the multiple locations where the pictures were taken. While I would carefully inspect this car before purchasing, there are no outward danger signs evident. Even if you have an issue, parts will not be a problem in this century. Buy with confidence and take it back to your high school parking lot for old times’ sake. You wanted one then and you can have one now.
Did you ever own or drive a 1987 through 1993 Mustang? Was it stock or was it modified? Care for one now? Please leave your memories and thoughts in the comments.
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Comments
Well-done, thorough write-up Jeff. I had never thought of the similarities to the iconic 1932 Ford, but indeed there is a good analogy. Along those lines, let me throw out a similar idea: Have the Fox Body Mustangs, the aero-nose models specifically, displaced the Tri-Five Chevys as the most popular “everyman’s collector car”? For similar reasons: attractive styling, lots of models/trims, many produced, not ridiculously expensive then or now, good power, aftermarket support, easily modified and upgraded, fun to drive. And, because they are three decades newer.
Here’s a clean, unmodified example. It even has a manual transmission. Wish there was some verbiage. If you want one, don’t wait too long; I’m pretty sure they aren’t going to get any cheaper.
I get the 32 Ford thing,what it to be fast put a Chevy in it..
Owned a ’32 Ford but never a Mustang. Still not too far away from them as a friend who lives around the corner from me has a Fox body semi race and autocross version in his yard on a trailer and there is another one a couple blocks up that does great motor noises every morning on it’s way to work. Also have a life long friend out in Oregon who owns a bright red Shelby. Major automobile there. Nice car here.
I remember these were the stuff at the time. The numbers are kind of pedestrian compared to current cars, but the 5.0 Mustangs were the sign of a resurgence in domestic performance cars. I remember other car guys I knew being very optimistic about what was to come after assuming performance cars were dead. Nobody could have imagined some of the cars that you can but off the showroom floor.
I had an 89 lx 5.0 fun car
The only car from my youth I didn’t or couldn’t destroy.
All these 5.0, 302 cars will be around for years, got my 93 cobra in red I purchased new and love it. Tried the 4.6 cars and never to impressed. Have a 07 gt500 and 12 boss 302 all fun cars to own and drive
I had a 69 Mach I with a 428cj in the early 90s. That was my fun money pit. My daily driver was wearing out, and one of my options was a 93 LX 5.0 5 speed at the local ford dealer. I like the LX way more than the GT with all that plastic body garbage screwed on. Ending up passing on the Fox because I knew I would not be able to keep myself from modifying it. Bought a Sundance Duster instead. A regrettable but probably smart move.
I only remember the regret part
I had a 1983 Gt ford mustang. I beat every Camaro that tried to race me. I had a lot of fun in that car. I always wanted another one because of the style and features it had inside and outside. All that fun came to an end when I got rear ended by an escort. This are my favorite body style of mustangs.
These Fox Body Mustangs are great cars. My sons and I own 7, SVO’s, Coupes, a modified Capri and a 7-UP convertible. We’ve put thousands of miles on them. They’re real dependable and easy to work on when necessary. From the looks of it, you won’t regret buying this one.
1987 GT 5.0
Motor trend magazine car of the year!
Still have mine & a 25 anniversary.
Best cars I’ve ever owned!
I was house hunting about 20 years ago and looked at one in Lake City FL. House wasn’t all that impressive, but owner had an interesting car in the
garage. White Probe, but with all the badging for a Mustang on it…exterior emblems, hubcaps, horn button and interior trim all said Mustang. He had been a Ford employee before he retired. He said wouldn’t sell it with the house ’cause it’d be worth some serious money in the future. Maybe he was right!
Sadly for him, Probes aren’t worth squat. Probably never will be. He should have kept the ‘Stang.
I’d say that since this is one of about 20 “probe-stangs” that the factory built before they saw the error of their ways it’d be worth a ton…especially since it only had 50 miles on it!
This car was born before Autocheck and carfax 5 digit odometer I have seen some really clean cars with well over 100k miles on them so personal inspection by someone with lots of knowledge is recommended. Yes I know those companies are only good for what is reported to them but they can be a useful tool for basic information.
I had a ’91 GT 5 speed in about 2000. It wasn’t the most powerful car, but I would say it had the right amount of power for the car. Enough to be a lot of fun, and plenty enough to get you in trouble if you weren’t careful. I drove that car harder than any other car I’ve ever owned, and I’ve owned a lot of muscle. Got twisted up a lot, but never hit anything, amazingly. Stupidity of youth. I’d love to have another one. Most fun car I’ve ever owned, period, full stop, no question.
The chromed pony wheels were definitely not stock to this car in ’88. They are from a later year, possibly a Cobra. This should have turbine wheels
You are correct but they looked better on a Ford F150 truck with a mild lift.
Agreed. I had a 1989 exactly like this, except with red interior (yes, it did clash with the maroon exterior). I actually prefer the turbine wheels, but a lot of folks replaced them with the 5 star pony wheels when they came out.
Prior to the maroon one, I had a red over gray, gray interior 1989 GT 5 speed. Loved that car, but wrecked it, sadly.
When I was a freshman in high school, there was a senior girl who had a dark blue over gray GT with T tops. It had a lighter blue pin stripe on the gray molding. That was a sweet looking car. The girl was so-so, but she looked pretty good in that car.
Wheels are not from any year of Mustang Cobra. Probably chrome aftermarket remakes.
Ford definitely produced OEM chrome Pony wheels. I think they came on some yellow GT convertibles. Ford also made white painted Pony wheels that came on red GT convertibles.
We had some from 87,91, 92, 93, Gt’s, Lx’s and a Saleen. I still have an 86 Saleen t-top car. Got it back in 88. Always liked these cars.
Well with 3 teenagers in the house in 1989 I wanted a Mustang so bad, I bought a Thunderbird instead! My Dad rolled up in a 1989 GT hatchback white with blue gray sides oh that one hurt! Fast forward Dad and Mother are gone but Mother gave me the Mustang!! Now a 347 stroker AOD with shift kit and 410 gears! Fast forward and have passed the car to my daughter! About 14 years ago bought 1987 Mustang GT convertible 5 speed many mods daily driver 2 motors and 3 transmissions! Now this year finished up doing the dirty all aluminum LS1 and 6 speed out of 2000 Corvette this Fox is WOKE up now!! Will not sell Sally just keep reinventing her !! I wanted to do Coyote but stupid $$$$ to it, so Sally is a Hybrid lol 🏁👍🇺🇸✅
Good writing Jeff , Just imagine what would the Mustang be if things had taken another course. Nice Fox body l’m partial to the cov myself.l don’t know if the fox body will ever be collector car status but I believe they’re always have a following and this one is a good example.
I rented a 5.0 LX notch back from hertz on St. Louis airport back in the day. They would do 140. Couple years later I bought an 88 GT 5.0/5 speed. With 50k on it, sold it with 185k, used it as a service car for work driving around out west when Montana’s speed limit was reasonable and prudent. I was getting 30mpg @ 70mph with the air conditioning on.
Had several mustangs over the years now I wish I still had my 641/2 289 pro stock was the best . You know the story wish I never sold it but then came along my 88 lx kept that car for over 25 yrs had a 2.4 liter I can’t remember but it was a 4 banger with spilt exhaust sounded great to me but ppl always said it sounded like a mad bee lol great gas mileage got close to 35 mpg kept it til stepson totaled it
The first new car I ever bought was an ’88 GT. 5 speed, black with an orange stripe around the belt line. Kept it stock. Those wheels aren’t correct for an ’88, though preferable to the turbine wheels, which were a b!tch to clean! Totaled it on Halloween night of ’93. Track days at Summit Point were a lot of fun. My favorite memories was going down US-50, when a late 70’s/early 80’s Corvette pulled alongside us. We gave each other the nod, and I blew his doors off. His buddy in the passenger seat was hysterically laughing at him! 😆
My only new Mustang was a 1988 GT. Blue/Silver. I lived in Jax, Fla at the time and my buddy had a connection with State Trooper, which were driving the Mustangs then and got me a “120 MPH speedo” to replace the 80 MPH one. He also advised me to request a “no charge” upgrade of 308 gear to replace 273 stock one. We removed the cats, put on Motorsport off road kit. It was an awesome machine at the time. I currently have my 67 Fastback 390, that I purchased in 1980. Thanks for this site!