Very few automobile series have the star power of the original pony car, even though some of its generations are less memorable than others. Still, the third generation “Fox Body” Mustang has its devotees, perhaps specifically due to its quirkiness and propensity for standing out in a crowd... though not necessarily in a good way.
With the third iteration being on the market for an exceedingly long time – from 1978 all the way up to 1993, there was enough Mustang material for Blue Oval buffs to separate the Fox Body in two distinct segments.
The enthusiasts grouped the 1979 to 1986 versions based on the distinctive quad headlight arrangement, while from 1987 onwards, the styling changes landed a more aerodynamic and modern look. It’s the latter that tends to appear in popular culture more often than not, though sometimes it’s still a clear case of a love and hate relationship.
This 1988 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 naturally belongs to the composite headlamps' category, and it’s a little gem find of some sorts for those looking for an affordable, low-mileage Fox Body Mustang. With less than 9k miles (8,980 miles/14,452 km) on the odometer, this Mustang had just two owners over a span of more than three decades.
Best of all, it’s listed for sale by AutoBarn Classic Cars at less than $15k ($14,995 if you’re nitpicky), meaning it could very well signal the start of a remarkably close relationship with its third owner. In our view, there are two ways its life could be continued meaningfully.
First, one could take the factory white exterior and Regatta Blue cloth interior through a thorough detailing and additional restoration process to make it look as if it’s 1988 all over again. There isn’t a lot of work to be done since the Mustang is already in good condition and has a lot of options, including a powered Navy-Blue soft-top.
Secondly, one could always use this as a white canvas for a far-reaching customization project. It depends on personal taste, but our basic ideas revolve around the 5.0-liter “Windsor” V8 that just went through major service. Back in the day, it could deliver 222 horsepower to the Ford AOD four-speed transmission and Trak-Lok differential.
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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