Photo: Craigslist Scottsdale
The modern four-cylinder EcoBoost Ford Mustang is an absolute masterclass in clever engineering. The 310 horsepower juggernaut proved that you could make just as much power as a much larger engine with gasoline direct injection, turbocharging, and computerized engine management.
This wasn't the case 35 years ago, as is evident with the awful, dreadful, contemptibly drab, and shabby four-cylinder Fox Body Mustang. The third-generation Mustang Fox Body had a fair amount of fantastic high points in its day. Much more than any platform based on the lowly Fairmont could hope for. It also had some real downturns, its four-cylinder option the most obvious suspect. But, if you feel like torturing yourself, here's one from 1988 we've found for sale.
The engine making such a fuss is the 2.3 liter LL23 overhead cam variant of the venerable Ford Lima engine. The very same powerplant had its origins in the much-maligned Ford Pinto. Ironically, the Pinto formed the basis for the previous and much critically panned Mustang II. The impetus from this carryover of the Mustang II could only be explained by accountants taking too much control away from engineers during the Mustang's development.
And no, this is not the turbocharged SVO variant. The naturally aspirated engine made less than 90 horsepower when new. This particular one comes to us via an anonymous craigslist user out of Scottsdale, Pennsylvania. It has 49,000 original miles and has been sitting since 2017 with rust issues. The car does come with a new black convertible top and two new fenders.
Inside, the navy cloth interior is visibly dirty from photographs. But we reckon this could be a pretty decent DIY project for the kind of person who appreciates the slice of life failures of the auto industry more than polished restomods. It can be all yours for just $1,600, but that includes towing it out the garage yourself, you've been warned.
The engine making such a fuss is the 2.3 liter LL23 overhead cam variant of the venerable Ford Lima engine. The very same powerplant had its origins in the much-maligned Ford Pinto. Ironically, the Pinto formed the basis for the previous and much critically panned Mustang II. The impetus from this carryover of the Mustang II could only be explained by accountants taking too much control away from engineers during the Mustang's development.
And no, this is not the turbocharged SVO variant. The naturally aspirated engine made less than 90 horsepower when new. This particular one comes to us via an anonymous craigslist user out of Scottsdale, Pennsylvania. It has 49,000 original miles and has been sitting since 2017 with rust issues. The car does come with a new black convertible top and two new fenders.
Inside, the navy cloth interior is visibly dirty from photographs. But we reckon this could be a pretty decent DIY project for the kind of person who appreciates the slice of life failures of the auto industry more than polished restomods. It can be all yours for just $1,600, but that includes towing it out the garage yourself, you've been warned.
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